Pictures on the Go

Smitten with the cold stuff

2012-01-18T21:15:00.001-07:00

I love ice cream. I love it plain, I love it topped. Butter pecan, smore's, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, praline pecan, fudge ripple, peanut butter, cookies n cream, caramel, cherry chocolate chip and so many more that I can't name. Sometimes I'll eat mint chocolate chip just because I got to have ice cream. I love it full fat, 1/2 fat, no sugar added, sorbet, sherbert, gelato and fro yo. Simply put I love it.

What I don't like is the waiting. The waiting for the ice cream to hit the perfect temperature where it is still semi solid but melty enough to be a little runny. This texture can only be achieved by patiently waiting with your hands around the bowl. The rub lies in the fact that you have to stare at the wonderful stuff as you try and remain hands off. Whatever you do, don't rush it. Don't think for a second that you can put it in the microwave and heat it up so you can eat your cool creamy treat faster. It's not the same and quite honestly microwaving it ruins it. Don't do it! Wait and you will reap the rewards. The reward of the perfect bowl of ice cream.

Now that I've waited as I typed this post on up, I'm off to enjoy me some cookies n cream. Yeah.....

My nephews are all so cute

2011-11-09T20:23:00.000-07:00

All of my nephews are just so dang adorable. They say the best things. They look like the cutest person ever. They do the funniest stuff. I wonder if, if I ever get one, my nieces would be so cute.

This gem comes from Nathan. I personally think it's the best "love" note I've ever read. I wish I was Amy. I sure hope where ever Amy is that she feels loved.

I tried something new

2011-09-21T20:28:00.001-06:00

I'm not a fan of change. For the most part. Yeah, some things are easier for me accept than others so I can't say I totally don't like change. I like what I'm used to and what I'm used to is The Greek Pizza.

I went to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch today. I believe in all the times I've ever gone I've always gotten The Greek Pizza. I love it. The feta! The cucumber sauce! The avocado! Love, love, love. When I eat it I silently sing Everlasting Love in my head. But today is the day I tried something new.

It was so very difficult to choose another type. There are so many good sounding ones that my thought is since I can't choose, stick with the greek. But I was determined to change. I narrowed it down to 4 other choices; wild mushroom, chipotle chicken, roasted garlic and chicken and lastly, white pizza. When it was my turn to give my order, I froze.

Once I thawed I ordered the chipotle chicken on a thin crust. It was good. I missed the greek but chipotle chicken, pretty tasty. And I love the thin crust. Wow! All in all pretty happy with it.

I also tried a new dessert. Tiramasu. Pretty good. Not a very strong coffee flavor so I could handle it. A delicious rum flavor though. Yum yum yum.

I'm glad I tried something new.
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Time and Space as a Backyard? Sounds good!

2011-08-23T21:26:00.000-06:00

I feel like I should post this here instead of on facebook. Why? I wouldn't want my friends of leisure to think I was obsessed to the point of delirium. Obviously if you are reading this then you know you are a close friend who would love me regardless of how obsessed I was with something. Thanks guys! You rule, the school. And the pool. And the fool. Let's get to it.

I love this clip. Everything about it. I smile, sheepishly at points, nearly during the whole clip. Yet I'm also very saddened in the middle. Imagine what it would be like to be that old. Strange and sad. Watch it then read the rest of this post.

Now you can see why I like it so much! Here are just a few of my favorite parts.

I can feel the cheese when he says "Gandalf. A space Gandalf. Or the little green one in Star Wars." What really, really sells the cheese factor is the light saber sounds he makes in conjuction with the twirl. Just pure golden cheese and I love it!

The next part would be "the involuntary snort....of fondness." They play off each other so well. I giggle during that entire exchange.

Then we get the more serious and sad part. "Because I can't see it anymore." I would probably recite his whole spiel of "burning ball of gas" and so forth but I think it's just better if you watch it. Over and over again. Why not? Don't make me be the only one. I hate being the lone ranger here. Let it be known though that I want his "backyard". Don't be dirty people.

Then we move back into comic relief with a little bit about who his companions are. I love the way he stalls when he is forced to answer how many of them were girls. "Slightly, a little bit over." Biggest understatement if I've ever heard one before! It's just too bad that to the casual observer(meaning you) you would never know that he has had male companions before they just don't show them in the clip parade that follows. Captian Jack, I've only seen a few episodes with you but you do seem pretty cool!

Now aren't you glad you watched it? I guess I need to end this post before I quote the entire clip. "Young?" "Everyone's young compared to me." Only 4 more sleeps before I get a new episode. Good night!

Dear Body,

2011-07-28T18:37:00.001-06:00

I know I ate my weight in pasta and chicken. I know I ate that pasta and chicken after going 11 hours without eating. If you, dear body, could find it in your heart to forgive me I'd be very appreciative.

Love,
Your personal abuser
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Gleam what you will

2011-05-26T22:22:00.001-06:00

"The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always.... soften the bad things. But vice versa - the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant." Doctor Who, 2010
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My ride in the paddy wagon

2011-05-21T18:10:00.001-06:00

Today I was to run in the Ogden marathon. While I started and prepped for it, I only made it 9 miles before I asked for a ride to the finish.

My only reasoning would be that I never had a good clear mental image of myself finishing. I had many constraints that were making me nervous and anxious about it. The biggest being able to get to mile 17.3 before 4:30hrs. Of course that goes in hand with the fact that I've yet to develop speed. I barely maintain a 16 minute mile on a 3 mile run. So add not enough training to this list of constraints.

And for some reason being the last racer affected me this time. I've been last in numerous of races. That is not new to me. I can only assume that with such a long race that I just couldn't bear being the last. I didn't like that at an aid station they had gotten rid of all the liquids and I'd have to go 2 more miles for any. I panicked. I went the 2 miles but my performance decreased way too much. I didn't want to do it anymore.

Of course I'm going to do another one now though. I'll work on my training and get faster. But my heart is disappointed, as it should be, that I bowed out. I know that I'll always think of this race on all my others and that will help carry me through. Yet I'm extremely happy that those near and dear carried on without me and did a wonderful job. I'm jealous of you all.

But at least I got a new hair cut!!
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A quick hoppy easter

2011-04-25T21:34:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it's been 2 years since I started this blog?! One of my first posts was concerning Easter. This Easter I don't quite have the time so I'm going to just quickly tell you a few things.

Ham or Turkey? That was the question this year. Most of didn't care but we had those who felt ham is easter and nothing else. Well we ended up with both BUT that fabulous gravy would not have been if there had been turkey!

We put together an impromptu egg hunt for the children. They had fun collecting the eggs and sharing the dollar bills that were in only 4 of them. Then afterwards the kids wanted us to do an adult egg hunt. Don't take that dirty please. The kids hid the eggs. My sister and I were the only ones willing until I bribed my brother with the bet that if he could get more eggs than myself and my sister combined then I'd pay him $5. We lost. He cheats! It was SO much fun the kids wanted us to do it again.

For our egg dive at the recreation we had a sack race. I was going to race but it got put away before I could. But the real highlight was seeing 2 grown men race and the picture I've included shows the results of that race.

Yay for Easter!
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2011-03-31T21:22:00.001-06:00

Two nights ago I was rescued by pasta roni for dinner. I love pasta roni. But when I'm in training for a marathon boxed, processed foods is nearly the last thing I should be eating. But I had no energy and no idea for dinner, so it came in handy.

The next morning though I got up early so I could put the roasts into the crock pot. This time I had planned. Italian Roast via slow cooker. Served with mashed potatoes made with cream. Ah, does the cream ever add a delicious flavor that will make you never want to eat them another way. My first time trying them made that way and I sold my soul to never eat them another way. That whole meal was wonderful. Meat and potatoes.

Since the roasts made so much meat we used it again tonight. Stuffed philly cheese steaks. French bread dough stuffed with beef, peppers, onions, mushrooms and cheese. Baked till golden brown. Hmmm. Mine needed more cheese. Next time. I served it fries, waffle cut, and made a homemade fry sauce. Not too bad! I think I'll make fry sauce all the time now.

I love cooking. It's great. But every now and then I love pasta roni.
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We're friends? Acquaintances, maybe?

2011-03-30T22:47:00.001-06:00

Within the span of 36 hours I came across two instances of whether someone was a friend or an acquaintance. Which led to me thinking...do I make long lasting friendships or just of the moment acquaintances?

If you were to take a look at my social life at this given time you'd see it consists of my family and several co-workers. Now I do consider these folks to be friends. I want to do stuff with them. When I think of an activity I want to do, an event I'd like to attend or a restaurant I'd like to eat at my first thoughts go to these people. Maybe they'd like to try it. We can try it together. Do they only come to my mind because I spend the most time with them, physically and verbally. (Is texting considered verbal?)

I could list several upon several instances of people I either went to school with or worked alongside of that I would spend plenty of time with and considered a friend that now, not being in school or working with, that I hardly, if ever, hear from again.

When I was a young child I can remember a fight that occurred between myself and my two best friends. We got over it and made up, because of pair of jelly sandals, and our good times forged ahead. My parents then got divorced and I can honestly say I never had what I would consider a best friend again. Of those two best friends, I haven't heard from one of them since elementary school. The second one I reconnected with briefly in High School and then again via facebook.

In Jr High I made several friends and can fondly remember our times using the words stoopid and phat. But when high school came they went to Bountiful High and I went to Woods Cross. We tried to stay in touch and I even sluffed my school to go to their seminary class. Brother Southwick if I recall correctly. And I was a home schooled cousin visiting for the week. But eventually we grew apart.

There is gag that my only friends are ones from work. I will admit at first I was embarrassed about it. I've thought about it quite thoroughly and intently and have yet to make my mind up. I'm not embarrassed anymore about it because some work friends are my most favorite. But I question why I couldn't keep a friendship? Do I need the closeness? Some people are friends and only chat or see each other a few times a year. Why can't I? Why didn't I maintain contact with those where it was lost? I don't remember those little, yet hugely effective, details. I guess the most important part is I remember the fun times we had.

I would never want to forgot those.
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A dish best served cold

2011-01-10T23:17:00.001-07:00

I tore an icicle from the side of the Sizzler building tonight. It was rather large. Upon holding the icicle I thought "wow, this would make a great spear." So I threw caution to wind and yelled out to my father, who was quite a distance away, to watch out. I hurled the icicle into the air and it flopped down barely halfway between myself and my father. Ice is hard to throw.

The great thing about holding the icicle though was revenge. Which I exacted onto my 9 year old nephew by placing my bare frigidly cold hand under his shirt and onto his warm bare back. Hahahahahahaha! Revenge is sweet.
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My sister has it so together...

2010-11-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

Here is the clutter that is my life...

My trunk

Hundreds, if not thousands, of items. Most is not mine. But they are in my possession so therefor it is my clutter.

Here is her organization....

Her freezer

Nice and tidy. Prim and proper. Q's and P's minded. I'm jealous, aren't you?

Flashing. But not that kind.

2010-10-07T23:04:00.001-06:00

I'll wait while you get your mind out of the gutter.

I mean flashing your headlights. Why do people flash their headlights at you?

My first thought is they are notifying you that a headlight is out. My second is that they are notifying you that a cop lies ahead. My third thought is they are just being rude and want to flash them at all the more people they can.

So in a week, the first time I get flashed I pull into my driveway and check my lights. They are both a-okay. 100% good. Then the second time, within a week, I look for a cop. Nuthin, nada, zilch. Maybe now my lights are out. Nope, still working 2 beams. So the 3rd time in a week that I get flashed, I curse humanity and it's insane ways of working.
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Grrrrr to Pictures!

2010-08-03T00:52:00.001-06:00

I know the name of this blog is Pictures on the Go but lately, the pictures I take just upset me.

I am not positive as to the reason. I believe it is just that my blackberry seems to be taking some pretty awful pictures. I try low light. I try flashing. Nothing seems to produce a good picture right now.

**side note AND completely off topic! but does anyone else notice that they PAINT Mel B. aka Scary Spice into her dresses on Dance Your Ass Off? Anyone?**

My sister and I were talking about new phones and I will definitely look into one that has a much better camera. Plus I want one that has better options. My last phone has the function to change to b&w, sepia or other color tones.(Refer to, one of my first posts, the Dr. Purple picture.) I miss that!

I realize though that if I want good pictures I should just really buy a camera. And I plan on it. Just after I buy new runnings shoes, a new watch, perhaps a tv, key less entry, new pots and so many more things.
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Second guesses

2010-07-29T00:40:00.001-06:00

I'm a second guesser. In everything. Or mostly. Sometimes it can come in handy and be useful or other times it can be a big hindrance.

Today, it was the latter. I stand by my decision though. I could've sought input from others but I wanted to move on. When I've waited it just seems less pertinent and/or usually more complicated.

My second guessing usually comes into play when I want to research. Either to be more knowledgeable or be covered legally. In todays age I worry a lot about legal issues. But it also occurs when I'm out eating. I waver between menu choices constantly. I most definitely have entree envy about 85% of the time when I go out.

At the age of 30 I've started to realize I cannot wait and inquire of others opinions. I need to make the best informed decision I can. In the end there is just myself and my mind with my decisions. If I can't trust me then I'm in a world of hurt. Or maybe I could just order 2 entrees?

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I want to do an entry...

2010-07-10T09:26:00.001-06:00

...but I can't seem to find the time. I shall at some point though. I have many things to share concerning Wasatch Back, Parade of Homes, 4th of July, etc..

For now I'll just have to hope that ya'll will fill in my blanks and create stories for me.
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Lessons Learned on 6/11/10

2010-06-14T23:47:00.001-06:00

Even if something seems like it would be simple, it is probably because you didn't plan for instances where you hit a snag.
*Plan for mistakes, problems, etc.*

Of course on that same note you don't know what snags you could hit if you don't fully try to make a test run of said instance.
*A test run is a MUST*

That I'm unaware of how a skirt is supposed to work. I'm sure glad I wore my biking shorts underneath, otherwise many of people would've seen my underoos.
*Learn how to wear a skirt before doing so*

That I have the best support one could ever have. Seriously.
*My sister dropped everything to assist(and calm me down MANY MANY times) me without question.
*My brother who put up with us at 3am in the morning and all the crap we had going on.
*My mother who quietly did what she was told even though she feared she was doing it wrong.
*My oldest sister for not expecting replies to her texts during the time of said event.
*My last sister who knew enough to just stay away from me.
And last but certainly not least,
*Julandy, who shows up early to help set up and stayed with me the entire time. I do not know of a better cake cutter partner than you.

But alas folks, I'm outta of the wedding cake business. Cake pops though, I'll do. They are just so stinking cute!

Oh and to Steph, who gambled on me. I'm not sure what her thoughts were but I'm grateful. She is an awesome person and deserves more than she gets.
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Look at him!

2010-06-06T10:24:00.000-06:00

The hair, it just needs curls.

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Picking up where you left off

2010-06-05T08:37:00.001-06:00

Six years ago I ran my first marathon. Then within 2 years I ran 5 marathons in total. As what always happens, life got in the way and I nearly had quit running.

My once a year Wasatch Back was my only race for 3 years. Each year I'd make a promise that I'd train better next year. But I never did. This year will probably be my best trained for Wasatch Back. I owe that to Julandy for running with me.

In the past year I've run 3 Relays, again with the same promise that I'd be a better runner for the next. Somehow, finding the motivation always escaped me. I still wouldn't say I had found any but with each relay it became easier. Or seemed that way at least.

But a marathon distance still called to me. A friend has always wanted me to run the St. George marathon but I have never had an interest in it. Once I found a marathon I was interested in training finally became fun again.

I went 3 years thinking I would never find my passion, or any passion, for running. I'm glad I found it again. I'll fight to keep it this time.
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2010-06-02T00:39:00.000-06:00

I presume my dreams have been so vivid due to the stress in my life of everything. What I am unsure of is how much I should read into them.

I've always been one to dream wildly. My worst dream that I had many of times was the spiders dropping off the ceiling. I'm sure my fear of spiders stems from that dream. I've also had one where I'm riding a water slide and it just drops off into nothing and I keep falling until I wake up.

Obviously neither of those things ever happened. *knocks on wood*

I do feel strange senses of deja vu quite often and I generally contribute that to dreams. Of course the rational part of me, which is generally the biggest part of me, says that I'm stretching both reality and the dream and falsifying a connection that is at best thin to begin with.

So life goes on.

Doesn't mean I can't keep dreaming though.
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Please don't stop the music

2010-05-29T00:29:00.000-06:00

I know it is blasphemy for me to say this but there are other artists, other than MUSE, that make my toes tap, head bop, heart go pitter patter. People who could just read the phone book and it would be lovely. Strum their fingers in the air and produce an interesting melody. Of course, MUSE, can do those things as well. Better than anyone, in my humble opinion. Nonetheless I am interested in artists music.

I have never understood why an artist doesn't release the entire album of songs. Why create an album of 10-15 songs to only release 4? And how do you go about choosing which songs are then released? I have always wanted someone to spend the time it would take to release an entire album. Show that every song they invested time and heart into is worthy for the ears. In this vein, I'm compiling my list of albums that deserved full exposure.

To make it easier I'll just tell you now that every MUSE album is on this list.(6 albums) Every Matt Nathanson album as well.(6 albums) Dido.(3 albums) Garth Brooks.(7 albums, I consider everything after that awful Chris Gaines thing to not be him.)

These are in no particular order:

Kim Richey - self titled - released 1995
I came across this album from the song titled, Let The Sun Fall Down, after it appeared in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A lot of my music comes from tv shows but when 1 song prompts me to buy an entire album, then it must be good. Kim has such a way with saying tough things but making it sound beautiful. Her songs have been rerecorded by numerous artists but she sings them better. I've actually dubbed Just My Luck as my life theme song.

Dar Williams - The Beauty of The Rain - released 2003
The title track off of this album was featured on an episode of Alias. Which was a gold mine for pretty heavy, beautiful, poetic music. If you only want to listen to one song choose The One Who Knows. Whispering Pines is very eerie and peaceful and introduced me to Cliff Eberhart.

Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine - released 2005
I liked songs of her before this album, but never the full album. This was the first time her full album caught my attention. What appealed to me was the delay in its release. I got it on sale at Target for $10. One of the best Alexander Hamiltons I ever spent. I would listen to this album if it was nothing more than the melody. Fiona just adds to it greatness. The playfulness of Extraordinary Machine, the piano on Parting Gift and the grandeur of Waltz(Better Than Fine). I will waltz to it, I promise.

Oleandar - February Son - released 1999
I used to fall asleep to a cable broadcast radio station, which is where I heard Stupid. At the time cdnow.com was the place to buy music online. (They later joined with amazon.com) I immediately purchased this album. They cover The Cure's 'Boys Dont Cry' and it was one of the first remakes I heard that rivals the original. I find this album to be a great running soundtrack.

Poe - Haunted - released 2000
Written as a tribute to her father and as an accompaniment to her brothers novel, House of Leaves. I always found the album haunting, pun intended, and am nervous about ever reading the novel. But I love her style on this album. One of the first concept albums I ever listened to. The first 9 songs are so different from the final 7 but it works as a whole. Spanish Doll, Amazed, Control and Terrible Thought. Take a listen.

Benny Benassi Presents the Biz - Hypnotica - released 2003
One of my all time favorite electronic albums. As the title suggests I go hypnotic when I listen to it as a whole. Again an awesome running soundtrack right here. I came across this album as I was researching what songs appeared at the Berlin Love Parade. If anyone can catch that reference, let me know. I also find this album to be great to clean to because I just keep going right along with the beats. Never stopping.

Patty Griffin - Impossible Dream - released 2004
Folksy women singers are my favorite. In case you hadn't started to see a pattern. Patty Griffin is no exception. I ran the Ogden Marathon to this album. It marked the first time I had ever used an MP3 player during a race. Again I heard Kite Song on an episode of Joan of Arcadia. The lyrics are just wonderful and inspiring.

Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes - released 1992
I remember my older sister having this album but I didn't listen to it until it was several several years older. I was intrigued by the lyrics of "But what if I'm a mermaid?" in Silent All These Years. Then I heard China and Crucify. I bought the album, my own copy. I listen to it heavily still.

The Von Bondies - Pawn Shoppe Heart - released 2004
I heard C'mon C'mon on X96's top ten at 10 when I would drive home from working at the Clearfield Pool.(Which as a side note was how I discovered MUSE as well.) I purchased the album from Virgin Records, which is now long gone and at the time the clerk asked me if I was going to the concert the next night. No I wasn't but I so considered it. I love the garage feel the album has to it. Again, they cover Try a Little Tenderness to near perfection.

Lostprophets - Start Something - released 2004
I dont recall how I ever heard of this band. I just know I love how the songs end then go into something different. Nearly each song. I love trying to stay caught up with the fast paced that most of the songs have as well. I'll never forget how I really didn't know the lyrics to I Don't Know. I thought they were saying "I suck at it all and cant find my way home" which later turned out to be "I'll stop getting lost and find my way home". I also think that they write some wonderfully complex stuff on this album.

Keane - Hopes and Fears - released 2004
Piano heavy music, what is not to love? This album slowly built on me. But I'm glad I kept giving it time to seep into my mind. I loved the music video to Somewhere Only We Know. I enjoyed this album so much that I made sure I purchased the follow up, Under the Iron Sea. Not quite as good but maybe I haven't given it time.

Remy Zero - Villa Elaine - released 1998
I love the names they give their songs. I bask in the ego that I feel that Prophecy put outs. Gramarye? Never heard of it. But I checked into it. Will you? The bipolar disorder of Hollow, starts off slow-ish and ends fast-ish. Life in Rain, lyrically superb. Motorcycle makes me want a black motorcycle. Just listen to this album already folks. I read a bit ago that they decided to disband and it made me sad.

I did not include compilation cd's on this list because of course Erasure, Pop! 20 hits would be good. It contains all their synthesized gloriousiness. But I'll admit I don't stray from that album because I have most of the best of them. Perhaps I am missing better, maybe not. I also didn't include Chris LeDoux or Patsy Cline because they are legends and should never be categorized. MUSE is on their way there, it's only a matter of time.

The big 3-0! Well, it's not that big but still....

2010-05-14T21:24:00.000-06:00

Nearly 1 week ago I turned 30.

Hmmmm....insert a picture of me wearing a beautifully funny birthday hat. I guess I deleted it instead of moving it off my phone. I knew blogging while intoxicated was not a good idea. Who egged me on?

Of course my berfday was spent working. Who's isn't? I did this.

Hey look what I found in the other folder. Ha! This was truly a bad idea.

I also did this.

For far too many hours. I can't recall right now.

And why can't I get blogger to put my writing in alignment with the left. The stupid drop down box says it is but I don't think it is.

After doing all that I went home and slept. I was going to go out but I was too exhausted. I still think I'm exhausted. Plus my allergies were acting up. Which they are again today.

The day after though I went running. And I gave myself the best gift. This..

Not quite my picture though. I didn't take me phone with me and I couldn't run fast enough to get it. It disapaited(I make no claim that that is spelled correctly) before I could. So I researched it. I have NEVER seen or even heard about it but it was awesome. It made me want to keep on running, so long as that was my view. Apparently it is rare to see a cloud rainbow so I'm glad I was there to see it.

Since I had been keeping Mandy at work for so long she never found the time to go shopping. I'm presuming both for me and her mother and mother in law. No hyphens for me tonight, thank you. A few days later she gave me more piggies. I need more piggies from her. I like piggies.

My nephews, or devil children as I affectionately call them, also found me a piggie. They were stoked to give it to me.

They are also stoked to tell me about the new Twilight movie.

I really wish my hair was already 6 inches so I could cut it. I can't wait to have short hair again.

Well folks I'm sure that is all. Oh I also had a cake at Mothers Day. It co-celebrated my berfday. I didn't get a picture of that. I'm going to go make a cake for a friend.

A Night to Remember

2010-04-06T21:04:00.002-06:00

Yet another great night has come and gone. Yes, I did see MUSE but four very long months ago in Vegas but this show was different. Big Stadium vs. Small Club. Both terms are used loosely. Now to fulfill the trifecta, I'll be attending a show in Europe. Who else is in? Hello. Is this thing on?

Anywho, as we waited for the concert to start I remembered why I generally don't do general admission. I never realized Utah had so many giants living here! Who like MUSE enough to go the concert, none the less. But MUSE took to the stage thankfully on pedestals. See all the giants heads in the way?

I know I said after the Vegas show that I would bring a better camera. Well I didn't. So I get the crappy shots from my phone. I knew I should've gotten the phone that had the 10 MP camera. But perhaps next time I'll make better on my promise.

I love the columns by the way. They did all sorts of tricks with those things! The graphics they had of Matt playing his guitar, excellent. The beautiful shots they had on them during Feeling Good, gorgeous. And last but not least the falling pieces they had during Knights of Cydonia, epic. Plus it allowed me to see them over the giants.

I'm typically not the kind of person who wants to be stuck in the middle of a crowd so we hung back a ways. But then MUSE started playing New Born and I wanted to be closer. At that point I was glad we did do general admission. A friend and I took off from the other 2 in our group and made our way into the crowd. Later I realize we did not make it that much farther. We were like maybe 10 feet away from our original position. Oh well, I had fun being right in the middle of the action.

Before the concert started, a friend and I were discussing lights during a concert. We both stated that sometimes we can drift off looking at all the fantastic things people will do with said lights. This concert was no exception. Thinking back on it now though, I believe they only ever used the color green. Why not use others? This is The Resistance tour and the album is chalk full of color.

Of course, I was happy with everything they played. I was extremely happy that they played New Born, it riled me up as it always does, Map of the Problematique, a genius work of art, and Stockholm Syndrome, purely because I had never heard it live before. And I do have a lot of recordings of their live stuff.

They really mixed the show up between new stuff and old classics. I wish that we would've gotten the Cross-Pollination part of Exogensis but I still found it awe inspiring to hear the Overture. Here is a link to the set list for anyone who wants it. Plug in Baby was played and Matt twirled and twirled around whilst playing guitar and I wish I would've gotten video of that. Dom's drum jam before Undisclosed Desires was fabulous. I just need to list the entire concert don't I? I'm sorry, sometimes I let my mind run away.

The day after the concert I got a lot of questions of "how did you like it?" And I summed it up(which means I took it from one of my favorite movies) best to one friend: "I had an experience. I can't even explain it. I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever. I wish I could share that. I wish that everyone, if even for a moment, could feel the awe, humility and the hope. That continues to be wish." So even if MUSE isn't your cup of tea, then find something that is.

Click here for some SLTrib photos from the event. You'll see what I mean about the 3 columns. I'm getting a new background picture!

And again I ask, who is with me for Europe, Wembley Stadium Sept. 10, 2010. How come I didn't turn this thing on?

My Pig Book

2010-04-02T21:17:00.000-06:00

How sweet! I feel loved by someone who always teases me relentlessly. I was given a book about the pig of happiness.

It's'a very touching story. My favorite part is when I, I mean the pig, tells another that they have a beautiful bottom.

Moral of the story-our moods are infectious so be happy!

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Pretend this was posted on Daylight Savings Sunday!

2010-03-15T22:36:00.001-06:00

I set my alarm for 7:45am this morning. My goal was to get up, run, shower, work, eat, return to work and then rest the night away. That was my goal. I didn't achieve it.

My alarm went off and I snoozed it for an hour, cursing the loss of an hour. I knew springing forward would be bad but I was hoping to still make my goal. Then to make matters worse when it went off again I snoozed it for another hour. Goodbye shower! Hello oil!

My hair gets oily when I don't shower. So if you see me around please don't ever ask what product I'm using because it's more likely just natural oils from me not showering. Which will make me feel all self conscious about not showering and I'll vow to never go without a shower again but in, not joking, 2 days I'll be back to not showering. It's a vicious dirty, oily cycle.

Bright side alert! I made it into work. And I ate. Hmmmmm...I love eating. Nothing keeps me from eating and I'm living proof of that. After my second helping of work, you thought I was going to say food didn't you?! You know me too well! But this time it was work.

After my second helping of work I made it shopping and while shopping I realize that I gained an hour of daylight. For because of the time change the sun would disappear about 7:30pm instead of 6:30pm. I look at my watch, it reads 5:23pm. I rush to check out but get home and find that my mom has delivered as promised. Baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy await me. I sigh and make me a plate.

But I didn't give up on my goal! I made a smaller than normal plate and said to myself, "I'll eat small and still run!! I can get in a good hour still!!" After my plate I helped myself to a second helping. Yes, this time it was food. I love the salty sweet gravy the ham juice makes and I'll be damned if resisting it isn't the most hardest thing anyone can ever have to endure. That's how we can get terrorists to crack, I promise it's foolproof.

As I go to my room with my very very satisfied belly I still think I'm going running. I change into my clothes and realize that I skipped shaving last week but still ran because I figure it was hardly noticeable. Plus, if someone is looking at my legs when running then I probably want you to be repelled by me, so it was win-win. But I also never found the time to perform the task during the week so my legs are starting to get real bad. But still I said to myself "forge on ahead and know that you are one dedicated runner. Nothing stops me!!"

I throw on my clothes, shoes, grab my ipod and car keys and I'm out the door. I'm in my car and I get to the trail head at 7:07pm. I figure I can get an hour still. The sunlight is on my side and is sticking around. I tie my shoes and realize that the pants I wore have no pockets. Conundrum alert! Where am I going to put my car key? Why are the odds trying to make it impossible to run? Why didn't I grab my jacket because it's starting to get cold and I've only been out of my car for 5 minutes.

I walk towards a pole on the trail head and lay my key next to it and cover it the best I can with weeds. Weeds because that is what grows down there. I start running, but I'm cold and really wish I had grabbed my jacket. I start thinking running will kick in and the temp will be tolerable, 10 minutes pass and I'm not getting any warmer. I mix up my running plan hoping that speed will make me warmer. It doesn't and the speed I kicked in is really messing with my breathing. I decide to turn back around and I look at my watch and I've been going for 20 minutes.

Not bad, I say. In all I ended up running 45 very cold minutes. Which isn't really that much away from an hour. Achievement alert! Granted it wasn't in the order I wanted originally when my alarm went off at 7:45am but I still got it all in.

I, for one, love the time change.
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1st full week of twentyten

2010-01-10T22:59:00.002-07:00

And what a week it was!

I started it by getting my top 2 wisdom teeth out. My experience is definitely not what I was expecting and nothing like I've ever heard before. I did not go to an oral surgeon-my regular dentist took them out. I didn't get put under-I was basically given a valium. I did not get any pain killers-I took 4 ibuprofen the entire day. My dentist was done within five minutes of starting, I did keep the teeth but will only show you the vagueness of the bag, I had no swelling or bruises. Simple & quick. I am still amazed.

As many of you already know, I joined facebook! I'm trying to decide exactly how I want to split my life up so I know where to post things. Twitter will get all the little mundane things, facebook gets family and friend things and my blog will get my humble opinion on things. Sound good?

I made maple cinnamon rolls. Recipe courtesy of Pioneer Woman. It took me several hours but they were worth it. I didn't read the instructions thoroughly and thought they wouldn't take as long as they did and exactly how many they would make. I was under the impression I'd get maybe 25 but I got 38 and I started thinking I'd done something wrong. Turns out it was 25 per roll, recipe yields 2 rolls. Hee!

I went and saw Leap Year. So cute and adorable. Those who rode w/me to Vegas know that I've decided(or rather came to the realization) that I would come to be with a man named Matt.(Sorry mom! Guess the whole me and Rob thing isn't going to work out.) So of course I was excited to see this film b/c of that BUT also b/c I love films where they go European. It's a dream for me to do the same.

Now that I've had such a hectic week I'm going to try and slow down. Focus back on running-160 days until Wasatch Back and I'm bound and determined to make what is possibly my last one to be my best one.
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A Year in Review...what I can recall anyways

2010-01-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

Ask Crystal, I'm not a fabulous rememberer of some things. I guess I just don't like living in the past. Which could be why I do not see the fascination of ancestry.com that my sister and my father seem to be sharing.

I threw that in because I just got a text from her about the site.

Back to 2009-what I would categorize as my most memorable moment would probably be my MUSE concert. The excitement leading up to it is still just as strong for my April MUSE concert. I already blogged about the night so I won't spend forever going into it. One thing I did forget to mention was they had a big screen that they would display texts on in between the artists. My sis sent one in for me that said "Mary, it's MUSE!!" Oh the excitement. I hear they're to play Mandalay Bay on April 10th, 5 days after the SLC concert. Hmmmm......

I went to my 1st midnight movie premiere. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Oh wait...I'm lying. It was Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Both were long, very loooonngg. But only the latter wasn't worth it. Of course the latter was the movie I saw twice. It was good-just long. Harry Potter was great, when wouldn't it be?

I also didn't file my taxes on time. I thought I had mailed them. Pretty 100% sure I had. I was totally blaming our mailman. So I called and re filed, got my moneys and all was good. Then I cleaned. And then I found my tax returns. Oops! My bad. Well it only would've been bad if I needed to pay.

No vacations this year. Why? Not sure. Hopefully I can take one this year. I am turning the big 3-0 so maybe that requires a grandeur trip. I'm dreaming of something.

Other 2009 favorites:

TV Channel: USA and HGTV. Great, grrreat shows.

Ragnar Relay: Wasatch Back.

Movies: New Moon, Star Trek, The Hangover, Julie & Julia, Taken and Angels & Demons.

Magazines/Books: Cooks Country and Illustrated, Racheal Ray, EW

I figure I don't need to tell you what my favorite music was, it's quite obvious. Other music I enjoyed hearing is anything Snow Patrol. Some Lady Gaga. And a Calvin Harris song that rivals Sir Mix-a-lot's ode to women.

That's 2009 folks.
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An a-MUSE-ing night

2009-12-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. They aren't the best of pictures. I really wish they were better. But I'm super glad and fantastically happy that my memories remember them perfectly.

MUSE was wonderful! It took what seemed like forever for them to get on stage but once they did time flew by SO quickly. They played only 11 songs and were off stage before midnight. A little disappointing but still more worth it than what I would've got if I saw them open for U2.

I can't recall what order songs were played, other than Uprising opened the show and Knights closed the show, but I know each song that was played. The Resistance, United States, Unnatural Selection, MK Ultra, Starlight, Super Massive, Time is Running Out, Hysteria and Plug In Baby.

I loved hearing Time and Hysteria because they were the 1st two songs I ever heard from them. Time introduced me to them and Hysteria solidified my unconditional love for them. I can remember Absolution being one of the first albums I LOVED listening to completely.(It also spoke to me on a different level that I shouldn't discuss on a blog.) I don't have very many albums, soundtracks and broadway not included, that I can lay that claim on. Every MUSE album I own though holds that distinction.

There are so so so many songs I wish they had played! I ease my complaints hoping that when they come to SLC they can play longer and more. I only have to wait until April 5, 2010. Let the countdown begin......
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Testing the video

2009-12-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

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A twins birthday

2009-12-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

I celebrated my nephews, Noah and Zachary, 5th birthday today. In some ways they seem so much older than that.

I know my sister is worried that the cake she made will end up on the ever popular Cake Wrecks site but I feel she doesn't deserve that. So I'm posting her pictures without her permission.

I took some videos of the kids opening up there first few gifts. They were hilarious. I don't think I've seen children go beserk for a gift like the boys do. I'll try and post the video in a separate post. Not sure if I can do so with my phone.

I got Zachary the Peanuts Holiday DVD collection. At the party the boys seemed more interested in their other toys but after wards Zach wanted to know how I knew what he liked. His mom tried to explain but he maintains that I have a crystal ball and I watch him. He's asked his mom for a lead vest that he can wear so I won't see him nekkid in my crystal ball.

Children. They live in a complete other world but still somewhat and loosely grounded in ours. At what point does someone lose that? Or do we never lose it but it only surfaces sparingly. Maybe I could somehow make that a New Years Resolution.

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A new tradition

2009-12-08T23:14:00.000-07:00

This past saturday I invited the whole family down to the Festival of Trees. Usually it's just Crystal & Hunter who get invited but I decided to branch out and invite my more "handful" nephews. I'm glad I did because I had a ton of fun.

Amazingly, we were able to get the children to look at a TON of trees. Of the 800 they had we covered a GOOD 50%. Even Hunter last year got bored and really only saw a few handfuls. We devised an awesome Christmas Hunt for them and it tricked them into seeing more. Next year, because there will be a next year, we'll bring clipboards.

The best tree-a very pretty oriental umbrella(can't quite remember what they're really called) tree. I was too lazy to look for the photo I took, so watch for me to post it on Twitter.

The best "green" tree-the one made from soda cans. Truly awesome!

Thing I never thought I'd see sold at Fest of Trees-bleach. No joke. Look at the picture. .50cents, pretty good deal. Just not entirely sure WHY it was being sold.

After all that walking we hit up the Mayan. Great theme but eh, okay food. The kids adored it so I'm glad we went. Noah said it looked like the temple of doom. They loved the divers. It was fantastic.

Even though we were gone from 9am to 7:30pm it really was a great time. The train rides, the trees, the show. I wouldn't want it any other way or with any other people. Best gift I've ever given myself.

That excludes my MUSE tickets though. So excited!!! 3 more days.
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2009-11-09T15:27:00.004-07:00

There is really no words for this cake. They don't show it on this video but you should've seen the mess the kitchen was. You do get to see her scrape chocolate out of the bowl SITTING on the ground.

Youtube....you are riot.

2009-10-19T21:24:00.004-06:00

I love when I run into great, just plain fantastically great videos from youtube. It really makes me feel that watching youtube is not just a complete waste time. I do waste a lot of time there.

A friend mentioned this one to me and I love it. I don't care for music videos because most of the time they never relate to the lyrics and therefore have no meaning to the song. But these new takes are fantastic. I cry each time I watch them.

Total Eclipse is probably my favorite. I had never seen the video before this though and had I, I probably wouldn't like the song so much. Seriously?!! I realize 80's music is "out there" but this was what? I try to relate back to the original lyrics but it still doesn't make much sense.

I love this song. Again I had never seen the video until now. I so wish I had the creativity and stamina to do something like this. I wish I could create videos on a computer. If I could I may never leave my computer. I'd have to get a job making videos.

I LOVE, LURVE, LUV, HEART Twilight as much as the next young women but I also have a sense of humor. I hilariously laugh at every Twilight related video that EvilIguanaProduction puts out. I also immensely enjoy The Allen & Craig Show. Check them out once, twice or even a few hundred times.

Now let's see if Blogger will post this post. It may be too big.(That's what she said.)

Talk Like A Pirate Day

2009-10-01T21:32:00.000-06:00

If you've never heard of this fantastic holiday called National Talk Like A Pirate Day, consider yourself informed. Why we need this day is beyond me, but it was fun all the same.

We had heard on the radio about this new restaurant called Pirate Island Pizza, so I called and got some information about it. We were going to do a private room but decided it was too expensive. Pirate Island Pizza is themed and has a boat, a canon firing, a waterfall, etc. It's like a cross between Dave&Busters and The Mayan.

I would suggest going there if you've got the time and gumption. The food wasn't that bad. My chicken, bacon and ranch pizza was delicious. It had a pirate name but it's been to long and I can't recall what it was.

Trying to talk like a pirate was pretty hilarious too. And the band. Oh the band. Words cannot express my feelings toward the band. They even sell a CD.

Ahoy mateys!
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A long while and a little hurt

2009-09-05T21:14:00.000-06:00

Its been a while since I posted. I've been busy. And as Oct. 30th bears down on me I fear I'll just become busier. Not much to discuss, all I do is work.

But I did get to ride and drive a new truck of my dads. And when I was in it I injured the outer part of my right thigh. I'm going to bruise. It hurts to move it certain ways and is tender to the touch. No visual black and blue yet, but its been just a few hours.

Our Labor Day Triathlon has been the culprit of eating up my time. In preparation for the event I chose(to not lose so much time) to be the one who marked the course. I realized a little later that the choice would "color me" forever.

Now the green shoes and finger should fade over time since it's just chalk-but it may take a while. Ignore the warts on my finger. Please.

For all my hard work and determination though-my boss pays me back by parking so close to me as to not allow me access! Unbelievable!

And as a side note of interest ya'll should check into The Pioneer Woman's cookbook, due Oct. 27th and/or MUSE's new album due Sept. 15th. Both will be "most ardently loved" by myself.

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A few hours in Park City

2009-08-22T14:12:00.000-06:00

I love going and cheering on marathoners. I shouldn't like it though because it makes me sad that I didn't prepare enough that I could run, so when I see a similar runner to my skills I start to tear up.

Until the first year I participated in Wasatch Back I really honestly thought that Park City was the outlet malls, ski slopes and the few houses around I-80. I didn't realize that you need to travel several more miles south before you actually hit Historic Park City.

The thing about the Historic part is the streets are tiny, there is no parking and the street layout is severely out of whack. It didn't help that I read the address wrong, completely wrong, and that there was some other bike race going on. So each time I saw people wearing their staff t-shirts I keep thinking I was on the right course.

Wrong! Needless to say I didn't make it to the marathon. But I got some really good hill training in and a mile and a half walk in. And I discovered a great trail where they have a skate park! And people say skate parks attracts hooligans. I say if it's good enough for Park City then its good enough for me. This skate park was packed!!!!

Overall my plans for the day got shot but I still had fun and perhaps I'll purchase a map of Park City so in the future I don't get so lost. The picture is of 9th and Main and I thought I needed 14th and Main, but Main just ends at 9th.

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Aren't yard sales fun?

2009-08-15T20:52:00.000-06:00

So I went yard/garage saling earlier today. It's been awhile since I've gone and I recall that you usually never find what it is you're after. That was not my case today.

I have been looking on Ebay for some vintage pyrex mixing bowls. After looking at several patterns I decided that I really prefer a set called crazy daises. They are green and have cute little flowers everywhere.

I found several sets for sell on Ebay but since I'm saving all the money I can I didn't want to pay $40 on them. Plus some of them had chips or scratches from metal utensils. Boy am I glad I didn't!

I found a perfect set at a yard sale! $4 for the entire set! I was so ecstatic. I feel bad because I guess her mother had passed away and she had these bowls in storage but she can rest assured that someone who will love them just as dearly has them now.

I want to go yard saling every week but I know I'd never be as lucky anymore.

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Crystal will love me after this...

2009-08-12T10:56:00.001-06:00

...if it works anyways

I think these guys are so hilarious and I love everything they've done, so far. The twilight spoof is a good one. That is what led me to them. Enjoy!

My first step

2009-08-11T20:00:00.000-06:00

As many of you know I would love love love to be able to open up either a bakery or restaurant. Or maybe even a bed and breakfast. Just something to do with food. I planned my wisdom tooth extraction around Thanksgiving because I didn't want to miss eating.

So my first step to maybe possibly doing so is to hone my skills. I really never work with fondant on the account that it tastes like paste. So wrong to put something like that into your mouth. So when will I get some practice then? CONTESTS!

It has been a while since I've even worked with fondant but I don't think I did too bad. It is a combo of ideas from many different cakes and I never could come up with a name. I'll let you know if I win the contest.

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My day at taste of the town

2009-08-05T19:03:00.001-06:00

So my sister asks if I want to go to an event called taste of the town. Its where local restaurants make little samplings of some of their menu and you can purchase them quite cheaply. So it involves food so of course I am totally in.

I finish my samplings and offer to take some trash to the can. Its more than I can really carry but I make do. I get my first set thrown into the can and when I throw the plates away I decided to push the trash down some.

You know how events like this don't plan and give the least amount of garbage cans? Well if I pushed it down we could get more into the can.

Wrong decision! When I pushed the trash down I leaned against the can and got who-knows-what all over my shirt!! G-ross.

Oh well. Guess that is why shout and washers were invented.
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Testing 1 2 3. Testing.

2009-08-04T17:47:00.000-06:00

Lots has happened. Most importantly-or most coolly, I switched cell companies and purchased a new phone. I finally chose the blackberry curve. I am still unsure if I am going to lurve it completely but this test could be its final test. Should this blog post go through I will profess my newly founded love of the blackberry. I really want to be able to mobile blog post. It will be awesome. Like a possum. My blackberry even has a spell checker-even on my texts!!

The more I see it, the more I love it.
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Iggy and me times

2009-07-08T23:13:00.003-06:00

Ya know I don't really feel I have a plethora of pictures to choose from when it comes to my newest nephew. They have been living not but a mile away from me for over a month now. Why don't I have more options? I think I see my "devil" nephews more than I see them. Yes, Norah I added that crack/jab just for you.

This is my most recent picture. Betchya can't tell what restaurant that is?!

This next photo comes from me trying to get our picture together. I think he secretly never wants to be photographed with me. I can't seem to get one. But it won't stop me from trying.

I don't recall where I got this photo but I love and adore the expression. It's like "yo dog, leave me be in my car seat that is facing the wrong way. I'm a rule breaker." Doesn't the seat seem to be facing the wrong way? Where in the world did I get this picture?! Maybe it isn't even a car seat.

Last but not least is my sister egging him on in Battle: Scream. You decide who the loudest is.

Wasatch Back 2009

2009-06-27T17:43:00.004-06:00

Oh my, another year. That makes it 3 years now. I thought this year would be my best "in-shape" for running year but sadly it was not. That title is still held by the first year. If you haven't ever heard of Wasatch Back check it out here. If you ask me to tell you about it I may rope you into it and then you'd resent me, Andrea. Although she has said she'll do my 2010 team.

That was the Van 2 Crew. Left to Right:Jules, Kathy, Liz, ME!!!, Aubri, Tay and Random Guy. Yes, that is right Random Guy. I went to a message board and I picked up a random guy to join our team. If you read my sister's blog then you already know he was a great fit with all of our personalities and didn't mind in the slightest with being with 6 women, even with one who was nursing at the time.

That was Rockport Reservior on saturday morning around 7am, just after my second run. Which is probably why I found it so pretty. After running for 2 hours, 4:30am-6:30am, I wanted to seriously dive into that water. Or maybe I just wanted to drink it. My 2nd run felt the best out of all of them.

This gorgeous barn was also after my 2nd run. It was actually the location of an exchange, so I have to give kudos to the owner for allowing us to use his land. I picked up all the trash I could see that others carelessly threw down. Some people just don't have respect. There are times I wish I was a farmer. I just don't think I'd like the fact it would be hard to take 2 days off to participate in Wasatch Back. Farming is a 24/7 job.

Of course I didn't earn those postcard views doing absolutely nothing. After my 3rd and final run, because I don't consider my finish line stupor anything but a stupor, I had to show how estatic I was to be finished. For 2009.

To read about Van 1 check out this post.

Day for Memories

2009-05-25T20:15:00.004-06:00

The day was Memorial Day. I got to make a crack about expensive car seats. We played bad minton(pretty sure that is not how it's spelled), volleyball and blanket burrito roll. A lot of food was made. A good portion of food was eaten. One of my favorite moments was Zachary eating a blackberry.

He ate the whole blackberry, making this face the entire time. When he was finished he proudly told his mom, "Mom! I ate the blackberry." But he didn't eat another one.

My brother found a ginormous stick on the top of the bowery we were at a few minutes before we left. Apparently Noah and Zach have an obsession with sticks. It was like they were in heaven when they finally saw it. Noah exclaimed, "It's like a dinosaur bone!" Well as we were gathering the stuff to leave, Zach asks if they can take the stick. I don't think there was a person there who wasn't like, um no because it's huge and many other reasons that we don't explain to a 4 year old.

Well after everything was loaded and our bowery empty Zachary starts making his way back. I heard Don ask him where he was going, I just didn't hear Zach's response. So I yell to Zach, "Where are you going?" To which he replies, "To get the big stick."

I seriously almost peed me pants. He was very determined to take the thing home. I love that their father made the two carry it. It was like, if you want the stupid thing then you carry the stupid thing. They were super proud that they got to take the stick home. I was laughing the entire time.

Feet

2009-05-22T20:57:00.004-06:00

Well since my sister moved back to Utah and all, she has needed a little help watching Iggy, somehow(and naturally) I have to oblige. Well, to transport these little critters around you have to have a car seat. And Norah happened to be "done" with her car seats, seeing how they've moved on to booster seats, with some good timing. By the way who knew you shouldn't resell car seats? Apparently it's a safety issue but I see it as a way to get cheap used car seats.

To go into the pain that was the installation of the car seat into my car would take me on a diatribe that I am sure NOBODY wants to hear. Suffice it to say, reason number 4,106 that I'll never have kids.

One thing about the installing of it though, it injured me. Not itself directly but had I never installed it, I wouldn't have gotten the scrape. Now some may say it was where I parked, my inability to watch where I step or some other excuse is what caused the scrape, I choose to blame the blasted car seat. Enough car seat talk before I get into even more trouble concerning it.

A girl who works for me got married just last night. I hate going to receptions. They rank near the top of my list of least favorite things to spend my time on. I would much rather attend a dinner with said married person, perhaps the other married half could attend if I knew them and perhaps a few other peeps that we both know, and wish them congrats and best wishes at the dinner. I loathe the room full of people and the chance you could see someone you haven't seen for a while. It is not my scene. And generally you need to look nice for these events.

And my requisite sneakers just won't cut it. I believe a year ago from Old Navy I purchased 2 pairs of shoes that I thought were cute. Got them home and there they sat, getting dusty. Well I pulled a pair out for her reception. And back they go to get dusty. THEY WERE THE WORST PAIR OF SHOES! Absolutely no support whatsoever. How do people wear these things?! No wonder people complain about being on their feet for 4 hours, I was complaining after(NO LIE) 1 minute. I almost threw them off and said "forget that, I will wear my sneakers." But I forged ahead and wore them. Don't get me wrong they are super cute! Super duper cute! But I have to draw the line somewhere and comfortness vs cuteness is where I draw it from now on.

Hmmm, they were cute though. Maybe once a year I'll make an exception....

Dual moves

2009-05-17T20:45:00.003-06:00

My sister finally made her way back to Utah. I was lucky enough to be the first to see both her and Iggy, which I "graciously" rubbed in Crystals face. It is going to be so strange, just as it was strange when she moved away, to have her back so close. Plus I really have no good reason for going to Vegas anymore. I am totally going to be stuck here!

I was not going to miss cheering on the Ogden marathoners, since I missed the Salt Lake peeps, but I still wanted to get my exercise in as well. Two birds, meet one stone. I participated in the 5k! And I didn't really like the idea of going by myself so I roped/guilted/bribed Crystal to do it with me. She is such a super sport. She did awesome and now she knows without a doubt that she can complete one in under an hour. After we did the 5k we cheered on both half and full marathoners.

I absolutely adore the Ogden marathon. It is by far the most scenic in my opinion. Of course you have to look past the porta-johns they provide, which come in handy.

If I had to choose only one marathon to ever compete in it would be Ogden. I am going to see if I can talk 4 of my family members into participating in the relay next year. Everyone knows they would have so much fun!

In all you really only run about 1 mile through city, and even then the picture above shows it still not bad. Which helps makes it a very serene run. I loved loved loved running next to the river coming down through Ogden Canyon. And since it is spring you get to hear it rush and gush. Melting snow and all. 2010 is totally in my sights.

A birthday to remember

2009-05-08T21:17:00.006-06:00

For the 2nd year in a row, by 2 completely different sets of people, I received birthday cookies. I enjoyed them both. This year I got candles, only 28 of them though. Which makes me happier than anyone will ever know. And I did get them all blown out in one breath. Running is working for me.

I worked half a day today. All week the early morning workers have been taunting me about my birthday. I knew I needed to expect something to be done. And lo and behold here was my office when I walked in today.

I could try and tell you everything they did but I just don't think I could do it justice. Even though I was embarrassed by it, I enjoyed the thought immensely. I also loved that if anybody wanted to enter my office they had to "part" the crepe paper. Hee! I am easily amused.

Now to the section where I bore you with everything I received. Just after midnight I got tweeted with birthday wishes. First thing after I get up I receive a wish via text. Next I get online, at Norah's behest, and see that I get a beautiful picture birthday wish. Then at work I received.....A PIG FREAKING MAGNET. I am totally in love.

Which also came with a pig cookie cutter, so expect some pig cookie pictures to pop up shortly. I also attended an annual lunch with people, sometimes random people, that grew to its biggest porportion this year. I thought a few of the people weren't going to make it but I am so glad they did come. It was the highlight of my day! SEFTFE!

And to share a little video from a jumping kangaroo that I received. He will be the way I waste my time for the next week or so. Any suggestion for a name for him?

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR WISHES. 29 IS OFF TO AN AWESOME START.

So much food, work and exertion-Not enough time.

2009-05-03T21:20:00.004-06:00

It has been quite a few days for me. I have utilizied my kitchen quite a bit more than I believe I ever have. I got in 4 good workouts this week. I worked more than the requisite 40 hours and I played all weekend. I definately deserve everything I have taken in.

I finally finished using all my strawberries. In all I made; 2 batches strawberry lemonade, strawberry ice cream, strawberry scones, strawberry freezer jam and an entire weeks worth of breakfast smoothies. I deliciously devoured each item. I gave all but 2 of the jams away.

I prefer my jam to be smooth. I don't like it when it has the chunks of fruit. So I blended mine up before adding the freezer jam pectin that I picked up from Smiths Marketplace. I enjoyed using the strawberries up that I thought I should use the bread, we get it from Crossroads Food Co-Op, that usually ends up going to waste. Its a very dry bread. So I thought CROUTONS!

I actually don't enjoy croutons. They hurt my jaw. But sometimes for flavor I suffer through them. And I had already made a homemade ranch dressing, so why not complete my salads with garlic croutons.

These were actually quite simple and I prefer them to ALL other croutons. I just cubed the bread, tossed them in a ziploc bag with olive oil and seasonings and then meticulously spaced them on a cookie sheet. Baked at 450 degrees, meticulously flipped each one after one side had brown and baked again. Cooled and bagged for future salads.

My kitchen escapades were certainly not done there. I made a delightful banana cake I found from my sisters blog, I had tons of bananas-that to this day I have 2 left to use up. And I got more bananas from the Bountiful Baskets Co-Op. While it was a lengthy process to make, I loved it so much I made it a second time on Sunday. I plan on having it eaten completely by Monday night. I don't think I will be able to give half of it up to you, Crystal. There is no picture because if I am looking at it, I am eating it. No hand available to take a picture.

Sunday I got to go to the park and wear all my nephews out. I got to chase them all around the big toy in the park. We were there for over an hour. I hid once and got two of them to actually chase me for a change. Unfortunately, I didn't save the video Hunter "directed" of me re-enacting the game of tag him and I played. That was really what I going to blog about but I didn't save it. Cut me some slack! *refer to the first paragraph of this post*

Talk about a total crick in the neck!

After having so much fun during the day I still had to think about dinner. I needed some carbs. And lo and behold the Co-op has given me so many red potatoes to use. And I have dill and chives that need to be used before they go bad. But I wanted something different.

I saw a recipe for crash hot potatoes on The Pioneer Woman website. I adapted it to include garlic, dill and chives. Yummy! Next time I need to add more garlic.

Anyhoo, I am sure you guys are tired of hearing me talk about food. Besides, my second delightful banana cake is done and I can't wait to start pigging out. Hmmmmm.........

A quiz you can't fail at

2009-04-27T22:43:00.002-06:00

Haha! I found this little quiz through a friends site and thought I'd share my results. She was a faerie. I so wanted to be a mermaid. Oh well. A dragon is just as cool.

You Scored as Dragon

Dragon: Now talk about a legend. These magnificent creatures are of many species. Some can be as large as the Earth itself, while others are as small as a mouse. One image that comes to everyone's mind is the large, fire breathing Dragons that loathed humans and loved to sleep on massive piles of gold. Not all dragons have a bad reputation. Most dragons are very wise, caring, and protective. It would make a person very lucky indeed to meet a dragon. Especially if they walked away untouched. I admire your wisdom, for you are the Ancient Dragon.

Dragon

75%

Angel

67%

Faerie

67%

Mermaid

42%

WereWolf

25%

Demon

25%

Strawberries!

2009-04-23T22:21:00.010-06:00

It's strawberry season! How do I know this? My latest issue of Rachael Ray told me so, and I googled. Mid-April to late-May. After the lemon, a strawberry is my favorite fruit. I was at Costco and saw the huge 64 oz carton of strawberries, it was too monstrous to pass up. But what to do with all these strawberries?

Cook!

And since my sis has recently undergone a blog make-over, I don't feel comfortable posting my recipes over there, so ya'll will just have to put up with me. She has too many followers now that I feel I'll be deceiving them.

First up: Strawberry Icecream. Recipe from May 2009 Rachael Ray mag, which I am too lazy to go look up a link, but not that lazy I won't type it out for you. I'm backwards, I know.

I loved, loved, loved this treat. I didn't even have to double churn it to get to freeze hard like real ice cream! And there is ONLY 4 ingredients!!!!! Simple, quick and delicious to boot.

Strawberry Ice Cream *printable recipe here*
makes 1 quart

2 cups hulled and halved strawberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 pint half-and-half
2 large egg yolks

1. In a medium bowl, combine strawberries and 1/4 cup of sugar; mash with a fork. Put bowl in refrigerator.

2. In a medium saucepan, bring the half-and-half and remaining 1/2 cup sugar to a simmer, stirring occasionlly, over medium heat. In a heatproof bowl, whisk the egg yolks, then gradually whisk in about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture. Pour the mixture into the saucepan and cook, whisking constantly, over medium heat until steaming hot and frothy.

3. Strain the cream mixture into the bowl with the strawberries. Let stand, whisking occasionally(which I never do!) until the mixture is cool. (I put the mixture into the refrigerator until cooled.)

4. Process the cooled mixture in a icecream maker, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze.

I topped my first bowl of it with my sisters wonderfully sweet strawberry syrup. I love strawberries!

And then I made.....

What is that you ask? It's sugared strawberries. A whole bowl full of them! I wanted to get those into my stomach so fast, but I couldn't. Ultimately they were for an actual recipe. I got two of them though. They were covered in a thick layer of sugar that cracks when it hits my tongue. Sugar is a food group in my mind. I needed to juice those puppies for every ounce they were struggling to hold onto. I was making...strawberry lemonade.

According to my nephew, Hunter, I prefer strawberry lemonade to lemonade. Not true. I mostly drink homemade lemonade. Strawberry lemonade(forever more SL, I'm lazy to fully type it out) is reserved for when I go out. I think I have had everyone's SL. Let me tell you who's I like and a few that I drink but they're eh.

Tops-
Iggy's Sports Bar and Grill

New York Cheesecake Factory

Sweet Tomatoes

Eh-

Sizzler

Village Inn

Quizno's(technically it's raspberry)

Firehouse

Chili's Bar and Grill

Please feel free to comment on where your favorite is located and maybe I'll try it out. Since I've had so many SL I thought maybe I should attempt making it. I didn't even google a recipe I just played it by ear. I can't go wrong with strawberries and lemons. I've made lemonade so often that I just make it. I like my stronger and sweeter. So that means lots of sugar and more juice to water ratio.

Strawberry Lemonade(last time it'll ever be written out fully!)

makes 1 gallon, to Mary's tastes

1 1/2 cups halved and hulled strawberries

2 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice(about 10 lemons)

7 cups hot water

1. In a bowl combine strawberries and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Mash with a fork. Set aside for about 10 minutes.

2. In a pitcher, stir the hot water and remaining 2 cups of sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add the fresh squeezed lemon juice, stir well.

3. Add the strawberry mixture, juice and all, to the pitcher and chill.

If you don't like strawberries in your lemonade, just strain the strawberry mixture into the pitcher. So you are just getting the juice. You may need more juice to add the flavor you want. Its a very forgiving recipe and you can easily adapt it to your tastes. I know I do.

One week and three things

2009-04-19T22:03:00.005-06:00

My nephew has been blessed with my awful teeth. The poor thing had to go have probably more surgery on his teeth, in one sitting, than I've ever had to endure. This was him about 1 hour after being released from the hospital. They came to see me at work and I think it was more so I could cut his hospital bracelets off. Those three nephews absolutely hate having things attached to them.

He looked so "eh." about everything. He started perking up a little but not really to where I felt he was truly himself. It reminded me that I loathe surgeries, hospital stays, etc. I think I started to get nauseated just looking at how pale he was and everything that he would've gone through.

My mother made me proud this past weekend when she completed a 2 mile walk. It was supposed to originally be a 5K(3.1 miles) but once she got there and got a look at the route, a decision was made to just do the shorter race. Nonetheless, I am proud! I just wish I could've been there. I also missed a friend, and a boss, run his personal record for a marathon. Which made me just as proud, although i guess it should just be happy, seeing as how he is not related to me. I've just known him so long. 4 hours and 4 minutes! Congrats to both of you, you deserve it!

And mom don't be upset that I posted a picture of you, just revel in your glory. Besides it's a small picture anyways and one from a distance.

And last, but certainly not least, Hunter was made into the happiest little boy when he finally got to drive the motorized shopping cart at Target. I am quite surprised that the Target employees didn't make him stop, they must all be friends with the gramps. Luckily his mother stepped in and commandeered the vehicle and rode with him. I think they both were quite excited about it. I sure hope they didn't cause someone who really needed it to not have one. And I sure hope Hunter doesn't think he gets to use each time he goes to Target.

11-20 of the things I've done in my life

2009-04-15T22:00:00.004-06:00

In an effort to show up my sister, which lets be honest-both our blogs are purely a contest to outpost one another, I have to update tonight because she updated tonight. After this list though you'll be begging for me to not post again. I'm boring!

11. Bungee jumped - Does Lagoon's skycoaster count? I don't think it does, so no. But I have jumped off a childhood home porch with a homemade parachute.

12. Visited Paris - In Las Vegas and it was okay.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea -Not that I recall. But if someone has is it supposed to be beautiful or downright frightening?

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - I believe everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten, so no. Plus classes are so so so informative. I just wish no one would take them but me. I don't like it when others take up precious time by asking, deemed stupid by me, stupid questions.

15. Adopted a child - Wrote a paper about how adopting would relieve the over population of the world.

16. Had food poisoning - I think most people mistake "the 24 hour flu" as food poisoning. I don't think food poisoning actually happens that often.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - I've never even been to New York. The farthest east I've ever been has been Pennsylvania, west Pennsylvania.

18. Grown your own vegetables - No, but I do want to try, and succeed, at some point in my life.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - Somehow, the Mona Lisa wasn't in the Paris I went to.

20. Slept on an overnight train - No, but apparently it might be happening this summer or sometime soon.

I didn't do a single thing on this list!!! I hope I fare better on the next ten.

But I don't want to end on a boring note. Did you know only 9% of the entire worlds population is left-handed? I heard this tidbit of info on NCIS, but I had to know if this is the widely accepted percentage. So I googled. Which of course led me to Wikipedia, one of my favorite sites. I don't know why I just don't start there? And indeed, it corraberates the statement. One of my sisters is left-handed, so-way to represent that 7-10% of the population!

I never realized how I take being right-handed for granted. Knives, computer mouses, guitars, pianos and cameras are all items that are easier used right-handed than left. Of course you can get left-handed versions of most of these, but at a higher cost. Thank goodness I'm right handed.

"I'm curious....what would you do if someone dared you to eat food?"

2009-04-14T23:14:00.003-06:00

"You're always curious."

If anyone is in need of chocolate cream cheese frosting tinted black, I have plenty. I always grossly overestimate the amount of frosting I'll need for a cake and end up with so much I throw it away.

My mom asked me to make, her co-worker and friend, a twilight themed birthday cake. Which I have to do for 3 reasons: This co-worker scored us an advanced screening when the movie first came out. I love the books so I love the thought. And its my mother! Who tells their mother no? Of course, being my mother, she had given me plenty of notice(the end January, for arguements sake) but of course, being myself, I squandered all that notice on nothing. So then two days before the cake is due I am trying to do all this elaborate stuff.

My first plans had me making a meadow on the top of the cake and creating all these gumpaste accents, like Edwards "Be Safe" note and such, to really drive the theme home. Well you can't make, paint and dry all your gumpaste two days before. I so need to stop doing that. If I really want to open a bakery/cake shop, then I need to learn the art of orginization and planning. Colin's, the next cake on my cake calendar(I don't include my own because I don't decorate it), will definately be planned. I'm counting on ya'll to stay on my hind, telling me to keep planning.

Anyhoo, here is the twilight cake. Its red velvet(d'uh!) with chocolate cream cheese frosting and chocolate accents. Its really simple since I had to scrap my elaborate plans. I downloaded the fonts used for Edwards handwriting, which is the Birthday salutation, and the book cover fonts, which is twilight.

April Fools Joke and a Birthday

2009-04-09T22:21:00.006-06:00

I got played, or at least they think, several April Fools day jokes. Personally, other than the tape over the mouse light(oh, and the monitor doctoring, which came only in retailation to my packaging peanut fit) the rest were more just annoyances rather than jokes. Someone tell me how is placing over 30 hockey pucks all over my desk a joke? I rounded them up and if you look closely, the overhead door is slightly ajar from the packaging peanuts they stuffed in there. Luckily, I spotted those before opening the door.

Either way, somehow I love working with my fellow employees. Sometimes I guess I don't show it enough to them but they really do make work day. My sister keeps a text I sent her, saying how much I do love them and when I start to complain about them, she resends it to me.

After all the jokes were played we celebrated my nephew's 8th birthday! He wanted a jazz bear cake. I so desperately wanted to make him a dinosaur cake. I think I'm not giving them the choice anymore, they just have to take what I want to make. Crystal and I spent all day, after the Egg Dive, decorating this jewel. Unfortunately, she didn't bring extra frosting to the park because his jersey cracked and we could've fixed that! She'll claim I'm a perfectionist but as I discovered decorating with her, she is the one obsessed with details.

We spent his birthday at Dinosaur Park in Ogden. I loved running the Ogden Marathon, that I highly suggest that marathon over any other I've done, and they run you right next to this park and I just thought it was one very cool kid joint. I loved walking around and seeing all the dinosaurs. This one is my favorite scariest one. He was massive!!! I can't remember which one he was now. The gap his mouth creates could probably fit an 8 year old.

Also at the park is a small museum that has robotic dinosaurs. The younger nephews have been scared of them, but this year we got one in!! He sat with his older brother and older cousin right next to the cage. They all thought it hilarious when I pretended to be shocked by the high voltage fence and wanted to do the same, so they came up closer and we all just stayed sitting there. I am so proud that Zach came all the way up. He kept asking me, "What are they saying now?" each time the dinosaurs roared.

1-10 of the things I've done in my life

2009-03-19T22:24:00.007-06:00

So I was browsing a friends blog, I had lost(I suppose deleted) the email that gave me the addy and it took me months to find it again. I knew it had something to do with The Beatles, and I tried every combination I could think of. It passed my mind once or twice to maybe just ask for it again from her, but I didn't want to admit defeat. Anyhoo, on her blog she has a list of things and then you highlight/bold it when you've done it. Reading hers inspired me to do the same, except hers was a game of tag or something and I'm no good at those so I am just doing it.

And yes, it has nothing to do with pictures, cell phones or anything else this blog is about(or supposed to be about) nonetheless I am blogging it away anyways, except there are 100 of them so I am going to break it up into only 10 per post and I'll post them when I want.

1. Started your own blog - I don't why I ever started. You few who were included in that blog can maybe help me remember. Oh wait, I don't want to! But I do like this blog and all the others since that time.

2. Slept under the stars - Best nights sleep, on a trampoline. I think its easier when you are child because your body is more forgiving. As an adult I wanted to rip the springs from the trampoline so it would fall to the ground and I could sleep without sliding. Even after all that, I can't wait to do it again this summer.

3. Played in a band -I have really have no sense of rythym, beat, etc. that is needed for music, singing, dancing.

4. Visited Hawaii - Its part of a dream vacation that maybe I'll aspire to in serveral years.

5. Watched a meteor shower - on Smallville. Never in real life.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity - I've donated, don't get me wrong, but being raised by my pops has made me super frugal, at times. I splurge on all the wrong things.

7. Been to Disneyland -Apparently my family went once when I was really young, like 18 months. But a friend and her family took me when I was about 14 or 15. I am really bad at remembering my childhood. Ask my sister.

8. Climbed a mountain - Only if hiking counts. I've never scaled a mountain from the bottom to its top on nothing more than my own two feet. I'm sure I've passed over several tops driving cross country. Wait! My Wasatch Back leg in 2008 MUST count as a mountain by my own two feet. That was 7.1 miles, uphill, on a dirt road! .

9. Held a praying mantis - if I have done this I've blocked the memory because thinking about it now makes me ill! Bugs are not to be held, especially in hands. And of all the bugs they choose to put on this, they choose the one that is completely alien.

10. Sang a solo - Does singing at work count? No one ever sings with me at work, and they're never full songs. Just snippets that fit the conversation or situation. I'm counting it!

These little pigs

2009-03-17T22:23:00.003-06:00

For some time now, my favorite animal has been a pig. To be honest I think it came from the fact that most people think of them as dirty, filthy animals. I had to give some love. Over the years I've amounted a mass quantity of pig related chotski's. My most recent acquisition has been a pig key chain, given to me by one of my dearest friends. Even though I guess technically she'd say she's an employee. You press a button on it and it "oinks" and its nostrils light up with blue LED lights. Its awesome.

But about 8 years ago, a gal I knew from a message board, which are basically a thing of the past what with blogging and facebook, mailed me some magnets and figurines. They are gorgeous and this picture is one of the more "funnier" ones. It makes me think of when I tease my nephew relentlessy and he gets in trouble and I'm there, sticking my tongue out at him and hands under my chin.

I am by no means done gathering my massive pig family. I saw a pig flashlight in the April 2009 issue of Rachael Ray that I feel is calling out to me, saying "let me join in the family!" I'm definately thinking about it.

Another awesome function on the cell

2009-02-19T22:56:00.003-07:00

Coloring page! Although not available on my particular phone, this picture was sent to me by my sister. Of course the person closest to you is ME, playing with my phone! My dad is in the background, playing with his phone. Sheesh, we are a family of obsessed phone nuts. My favorite part of this picture is that it got my watch. I am never without my trusty favorite(and only) piece of jewelry, mainly because I loathe telling time from a face clock.

Farewell or Aidos...

2009-02-03T22:07:00.005-07:00

To a kid who worked for me for several years. And no his job wasn't to waste "office" supplies by making them into a superhero helmet/eyeglasses/hat. When he wasn't doing the aforementioned he was a really hard worker, an awesome Wasatch Back runner and an overall great guy. I can't believe I'm not going to be able to see him, in front of my two eyes, for two years. I'm going to be Lost!

All I Wanted For Xmas was disappointment

2009-02-01T19:07:00.003-07:00

I was assigned(or I guess I should say I really took it upon myself)to hand out the gifts this Christmas. I gave all three nephews a gift and they all tear into them at once. Zach and Nathan are fine with theirs and they want to open more. Noah on the other hand gets upset and pulls his upset face, which he crosses his arms fully around his torso and puts a frown on and glares with his eyes. All because his gift was clothes! Which I guess he deems as not a very Christmas-y gift. Clothes are for birthdays, toys are Christmas. So I gave him another present that I knew was clothes so I could video his reaction. He wouldn't even open the box to make sure it wasn't a toy. So now to Noah a Kohl's box is synomous with clothes.

But don't feel too bad for him, he got plenty of toys later.

My Blue Hands

2008-09-11T23:58:00.002-06:00

At the time when I took this photo, it was indeed for a funny purpose and I know I sent it out to people, but I don't recall the exact story. I thought I could reinvigorate it as "my hands are so blue because I have been without the blogging life for months and months!" photo. Welcome back everyone.

I finally made bread!

2008-05-10T16:52:00.004-06:00

My sister, Norah, has a food blog and I tried a recipe for french bread rolls that she got from http://www.kitchencafe.blogspot.com/ . I really liked the rolls she made, mine on the other hand turned out a little to hard. Hers were softer and more french bready. But seeing as how I am proud that I made some form of bread that is not banana, I thought I'd share.

Bowling Party

2008-05-10T16:44:00.002-06:00

We went bowling for Hunter's 7th birthday family party. I got a shot of mostly everybody there but a few. Out of all of those, I like this one the best. The younger nephews bowled hilariously. Hunter is a really good bowler for being 7.

Patent pending...

2008-04-17T23:28:00.002-06:00

That's me, acting like a goof one day. I got my sister to snap the pic on my cell so I could send it to my friends. Isn't it a brilliant idea?! One of my pet peeves is the way people wear their hats off to the side. It just doesn't look right. Front and back are the only acceptable ways, to me. Otherwise it serves no function. This new product I am developing would solve that problem. You'd still get the "hip" hat turned to its side but still get the benefit of it actually blocking the sun from your eyes. Who's with me on this one? Anyone? It sure is awfully quiet....

Hoppy Easter!

2008-04-17T23:20:00.003-06:00

And here I thought everyone would laugh at me for even buying bunny ears! Instead they kept stealing them. These are some more of my nephews, Noah is on the left and Nathan is on the right. I put on an egg hunt at their house. The previous year I took vegetables and wrapped them in saran wrap, then inserted those into the eggs for a healty easter. This year it was pure, unadulterated candy.

Turtle Pen

2008-04-17T23:11:00.002-06:00

This is a wood pen that has been carved into a shape of a turtle. I purchased this pen at Rainforest Cafe in Las Vegas. But it was purchased in May of 2007 as a gift to a friend who loves turtles. And it was given to her only about a week ago. Needless to say that is how much our house needed a good thorough clean sweep. I couldn't find it for my life! Unfortunately I made the mistake of telling her about it, which just amped her anticipation to finally receive it. It became the butt of jokes about how I promise her a turtle pen but she'd never receive it. Words cannot describe the feeling I felt when I finally located it. I took a picture and sent it to some of our other friends. Of course along with it I found the bald eagle pen I bought for myself. Yay!

I'll have to settle for second best

2008-04-10T23:51:00.003-06:00

My sister, Crystal, and I went to Bountiful Summerfest. Its a gathering of cultures, outside our own, and they bring vendors of all sorts and dancers to perform. We were walking around the shops and we found a photography booth. I spied a picture of a beach sunset, and it was cheap(at an event like this, usually the prices are marked up) but I didn't have cash. I figured, I'll head over to my work(its right next door) and have them ring my credit card through in exchange for cash. But then Crystal spots it and bargains the guy down on the picture and I believe two frames. It hangs in her bathroom with all its gloriuosness. I think next time I am left to watch her child while she is livin it up in D.C., I will steal it. Or I'll settle for this picture that I took after the aforementioned story. Its no beach sunset but it reminds me of home.

Dr. Purple anyone?

2008-04-10T23:24:00.002-06:00

Here is a more recent shot that I took. I was also playing around with the different settings and functions my more newer space age type phone has.

Snowman

2008-04-10T23:14:00.004-06:00

Well this picture again includes my nephew, Hunter. It was sent to me via cell from his mother. He loves to have his picture taken, but more importantly looking at his pictures that were just taken. His mother had to get him his own digital camera so he could view his pictures. Of course with him being only 6(at the time, although I would've stated it as 7) she had to get the kid resistant Fisher Price camera. He loves it but really wanted a camera like his mother. Hunter has expensive tastes.

I'll blow and I'll blow until I blow my bubble out.

2008-04-10T22:55:00.003-06:00

This picture was taken way back in December of 2007. We went to the Festival of Trees here in Utah and they had a wonderful kids playground area. This was one of the activities. You basically stand on a stool in a pool full of bubble concoction. They lift a hula-hoop(that has been covered in a terry cloth towel and thoroughly soaked in said concoction) up over your head. You then proceed to blow the biggest bubble you can. Then it bursts and you get the sticky bubble concoction all over you and the family you love so much, you're willing to get them sticky.