Live the Life You Love...

This one's for you, Toots

2011-05-29T18:26:00.001-06:00

In honor of Memorial Day, I would like to introduce you to a very special lady.

This is my grandma Nancy, or Toots, as I affectionately called her. She was my real dad's mom. It's difficult to put into words how much my grandma meant to me. She passed away last November after a short battle with liver cancer. It happened so fast that I'm still grappling with the reality that she's gone. I like to pretend that she's still in Boise doing her thing. Taking care of everyone around her, reading books in rapid fire succession, serving on church committees, and watching her soaps.

I spent a lot of time with Toots as a child. We lived in Boise, and she watched me after school and all summer long while my mom was working. I have fond memories of playing beauty parlor with her while watching the Golden Girls. We'd bring her make-up tray into the den and take turns applying garish red lipstick on each other and teasing our hair like Blanche's.

When I visited her last fall, we played beauty parlor again. Except this time I was using dry-shampoo to wash her hair and helping her brush her teeth in bed because she couldn't get up anymore. She used to change my diapers and now I was returning the favor. Even in the midst of very awkward and unchartered territory for all of us, she was making jokes. You couldn't beat her sense of humor and outlook on life. She was once told me that "this too shall pass" after I shared a difficult time I was having. Those wise words still get me through the low points.

Right after high school my aunt Melinda, cousin Alison, grandma, and I went to New York for a week. My grandparents are originally from New York and raised their children there until Auntie M was a senior in high school before relocating the family to Boise, Idaho. We stayed on Staten Island and toured their old haunts. The photo above was taken in front of the home they owned there. We ventured into Manhattan and must have walked 60 blocks that day. Even in her 60s and with multiple knee surgeries, grandma was a trouper. It was a wonderful trip and I'm so grateful that we went.

Grandma was caring and thoughtful but sharp as a tack and didn't mince words. She once told my 20-year old mother that her ass was getting wide as they were making the bed. Another time she sneaked up behind my grandpa as he sat in his chair waiting for dinner to be ready and whacked him in the back of the head with a frying pan. Then she ran like hell and locked herself in their bedroom. Evidently, he wasn't saying very nice things and she got fed up. My family history is full of stories like this and much worse. Auntie M and I have long talked about writing a book and revealing all the craziness.

In the midst of that craziness, I convinced grandma to escape to Warm Lake with my family (step-dad, mom, siblings, and pets) for a week. From the outside it may seem weird that my mother's ex-mother-in-law came on vacation with her "new" husband and their kids, but it was perfectly normal to us. I loved that I was able to give grandma a week away from the stress and hardship of home. We had such a great time reading books in the cabin, reading books by the lake, taking walks, playing poker, and talking talking talking.

Toots taught me to take care of the ones you love, to not let anyone take advantage of you, and to love Frank Sinatra. I learned to Waltz while watching Toots and Pops dance to this song. I remember that even then I recognized how much these two individuals meant to me and how I would cherish the memory of watching them dance in the living room.

Please enjoy this song and then go call your loved ones. You never know which phone call will be the last.

Like Frank says, "Someday when I'm feeling low, when the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you."

Nancy Granquist Scharf

March 30, 1930 - November 22, 2010

Dunzo!

2011-05-15T22:05:00.000-06:00

We accomplished two big things today.

1. We finished our last Financial Peace University class and are official graduates. I can't believe it's been over three months since we began. Time flies when you're saving money and slaying debt!
I wish I could report that we've paid off thousands but truth be told, we haven't. We've paid off the low hanging fruit debt and are charging ahead (sans plastic, that is). According to the debt snowball calculator, at our current pace we will be debt free (except for the house) in 2013! Credit cards, student loans, car loans, everything!

2. The coop is done and in place! It was a long and arduous process made easier by a new friend, Van. He was one of the unlucky lumber guys I requested a coop package price from. He gave me a number but then also offered to help me build it. The best part? He's building a house not far from us and had enough leftover material to build the coop for free! I just had to purchase windows ($2 ea. at the recycling center), tar paper ($5 from Habitat for Humanity), shingles ($22 from HD), and hardware including hinges, latches, hook and eyes (approx $40).

Van even took me under his wing and taught me how to frame, insulate, frame, etc. I see these things laid out in plans at work and watch other people turn them into reality, but I'd never done this stuff myself. We spent about 20 hours over a couple of weeks putting it together. The last step was transporting it and turned out to be the most complicated part of the whole deal. You see, the coop probably weighs close to 500 pounds. No joke. It's made of 2x6 redwood, insulated, finished inside with tongue and groove paneling, has an A-frame roof, shingles, Certainteed shingles, and trim. (The only things it's missing are A/C and indoor plumbing!)

There was no way we could just lift it onto a trailer and bring it home. In fact, it's too big to fit through the opening of our gate so we had to take apart the fence. I'm getting ahead of myself...

Transporting the Coop: A step-by-step breakdown

Problem: Find someone who owns a vehicle with a hitch. Solution: Scotty, our painter friend.

Problem: Find a trailer. Solution 1: Borrow a trailer from a friend-of-a-friend down the street. Arrive to find the trailer has a flat tire and is blocked by a Jeep. Solution 2: Scotty has a friend with a trailer, but it's full of aspen logs. We have to unload the trailer before it can be used. And it was raining.

Problem: Find a Bobcat/skid steer/forklift to hoist the coop off the trailer and into place. Solution: Diamond Rental had a forklift but it was no ordinary forklift. This baby was street legal and could lift 5,000 pounds 16 feet into the air. Lucky for us, Scotty was also a qualified forklift operator.

Problem: Getting the coop into the backyard with such a gargantuan machine. Solution: Very kind (and very strong) neighbors saw our plight and came to our rescue. It took 7 people to carry it 25 feet. With 2 breaks.

Tonight is their first night in the new digs. I'm hoping we built it well and that they'll survive.

In the end, these $3 chicks turned into a bigger fiasco than we could have imagined. I can't tell you whether or not it has been worth it. I'll let you know how I feel when the first egg is laid.

I promise to post photos later. It's been an exhausting weekend and I'm ready to crash!

Chicken Sh*t

2011-04-26T23:36:00.000-06:00

The chicks are about 5 weeks old now and have probably tripled in size since we brought them home. Want to know what else has tripled in size and quantity? The title of this post should be a clue.

I had no idea that two seemingly innocuous chickens could produce so. much. shit! And let me tell you that there is nothing cowardice about chicken shit. I'll spare you the details (consistency, size, shape, color, etc) and you can take my word for it.

The chickies (or chickybooms as I call them) are still living in the bathroom downstairs but it became evident after cleaning up today's fecal production that they are ready to be moved to the great outdoors. At least I assume they're ready because I'm ready. That's all that matters, right? To be fair, their feathers have come in and they seem to enjoy being outside. Lots of worms and grass to feed on.

A couple weekends ago, we removed the pavers from half the existing dog run and let them run (kinda) free when the weather permits. Since the weather can only improve from here (seriously, 12"-18" of snow in late April?), I think it's time to get cracking on building the chicken coop. I found some pretty sweet and super detailed plans for a coop and even have a material list to obtain chicken coop lumber package bids with. The lumber sales guys probably thought I was kidding. But I wasn't. I want a lumber package and it better be well-priced or I might "accidentally" leave them off the bid list for our next multi-million dollar project (I'm kidding. Kind of. Bwahaha)

Next up... sweet talking my dad into spending an entire weekend at my house to build their sweet nest.

Any ideas for coop names? Casa de Pollo? Cluckville? Help a chick out.

Just Hanging

2011-04-17T21:19:00.000-06:00

Just a little project I wanted to share.

I found this little gem at an architectural salvage place. It looked perfect for my office.

But it was a little beat up and needed some TLC.

I started by scraping the goo off.

Then taped off the glass and added a few coats of SW Acanthus.

I added a couple of D-hooks to the back. Reattached the hardware and ... ta da!

She's done! And she's purdy.

Just what the doctor ordered.

A couple things I learned:

1. I should have put a layer of tape around the edge of the mirror then taped the paper down to that.

2. The paint job would have looked better if I'd sanded first.

What have you been up to lately?

Clueless

2011-04-04T22:45:00.001-06:00

You know the TV show Dawson's Creek?
Jason just asked me if Creek was Dawson's last name.

Never a dull moment with this guy.

Ee I Ee I Oh!

2011-04-03T17:44:00.001-06:00

And on this farm we have some chickens. Ee I Ee I Oh!

I've been thinking about getting chickens for a while now. As in at least a year. Our living situation didn't allow for it until we bought this house. It helps that we live in a pretty rural place and livestock are everywhere. Take this sight, for example. We took advantage of a freak warm front by taking the pups on a stroll. This is Inga telling a few horses and a bull what's what.

She's so tough behind a barbed wire fence and thirty feet away.

There's even a man who drives by our house every morning hauling hay in a flat bed truck. He's accompanied by a big black dog who warns everyone they're coming - in case the diesel engine wasn't warning enough.

Yesterday, there was a man operating a petting zoo outside the local grocery store. The only animals in his zoo were baby goats (Does that still qualify as a zoo? Or does the term zoo imply multiple animals? I don't know.) Farmer Joe quelled Jason's fear that we'd be going home with a gallon of milk and a pigmy by informing us that you can't own a goat within city limits. They're considered livestock. But chickens aren't...

On our way home we passed the local hardware store. Many of you might be picturing a big box store like Home Depot or Lowes. Not here. You couldn't fit Home Depot's employee break room inside this place. But it gets the job done.

There was a placard outside that read "Get your chicks here!" The bar across the street could make use of that sign, too.

A few bats of my eyelashes and assurance that we'd "just look" and we were pulling into the parking lot.

Fifteen minutes later (and armed with some guidance from the ever-helpful staff) we walked out with these sweet chicks. They are two-week old Rhode Island Reds. I named one Ginger and Jason named the other Reznor (As in Trent Reznor, the lead singer of Nine Inch Nails. I'm sure he'd be flattered).

In about six months they will begin laying big brown eggs - about one a day each. I will finally be at peace about the eggs we eat because I know that they're coming from some well fed and well loved chickens.

Ginger (left) and Reznor (right)

The pups have been super curious about them. But so far the chicks haven't been mistaken for squeek toys. Here's hoping we arrive at some cross-species harmony.

They are currently residing in a box in my office. We will eventually build them a coop when the weather improves and they outgrow their box.

Love at first chirp

Stay tuned for our next farming adventure - starting an organic garden!

Show me the green...

2011-03-20T15:14:00.000-06:00

... and I'm not referring to money, although, if you're offering, then I'll take that too. For the first couple months we lived here something about our upstairs just bugged me. I couldn't put my finger on it until -aha!- I realized that everything was some variation of brown. Hardwood floors, knotty alder cabinets, tan walls, darker tan accent walls. Boring.

(These were taken at night so take that into account when judging the photo quality. You can still get a sense for the monochromatic blah that's going on.)

I started thinking about what color would liven this space up in a soothing, natural, contemporary kind of way. I also had to take into account that whatever color chosen would extend throughout the entire first floor of our house because there are no natural breaks in the wall anywhere.

Let the inner dialogue/argument commence.

Purple?
Ick. Why would you even consider that?
Blue?
No, our bedroom is blue and that would just be too much.
Red?
No. I want cool colors to let the floors feel warm.
Orange?
Did you not hear me about the red?
White?
Ok, that's it. You're fired.
Aha! Green?
Hmmm.... yes, I think green could work. But not yellow-green. More like a grey-green with a cool tone. And something subtle that will provide a good backdrop to whatever else is going on in the room. Good work, self!

Out came the Sherwin-Williams color deck. And the Benjamin Moore color deck. And the blog stalking. And the google surfing with search words like "green living rooms"

I settled on 7 possibilities and collected samples. Here's what I came up with:
From left to right: SW Acanthus, SW Recycled Glass, SW Bonsai Tint, BM Tea Light, BM Nob Hill Sage, BM Prescot Green and BM Kittery Point Green.

(Can you detect the awful underlying pink hue in this wall color?)

We mutually agreed that rather than painting the whole upstairs, we're just going to paint the "accent" walls because they bother me the most. My top picks are the Acanthus (far left) and the Kittery Point (far right). Jason only likes the Tea Light (fourth from the left). Here are some close-ups.

(These look blue-er in this photo than they are in real life)

What do you think?

Once I choose a color, I can stop wasting money on paint samples ($6 bucks a pop starts to add up) and start saving that money for a new fixture to hang above the dining table...

Tiella Bronze courtesy of Lowes

5 light antique bronze - Overstock.com

Serena Drum Chandelier by Oly Studio.

I'm leaning toward the Serena by Oly Studio or the Tiella Bronze from Lowes. But we'll have to see how things shake out. You never know what Google will turn up when searching "moderately sized drum chandelier that looks natural yet sophisticated in oil rubbed bronze that I can install myself"

Weekend Wrap Up

2011-01-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

Last week was b-a-n-a-n-a-s and this week will prove to be the same. I made use of the two days furloughed from work by reuniting with my good friend Dallas (and our mutual friend Jack Daniels... more on that later), snagging my mom's sewing machine, and doing some old fashioned chores.

Dallas and I worked together on the ASUU Sustainability Board at school. In addition to enacting some serious change at school, we were best buds. (We make a good team) My favorite memories from senior year often involve getting a mid-day Friday buzz with Dallas at Green Street and then going home to take a nap. Ahhh those were the days.

Since then we've both taken the marriage plunge and purchased houses. He managed to one-up me though because he and Liz are expecting a baby this summer. I'm in no hurry to catch up to him.

Anyway, we don't get to have very much one-on-one friend time anymore and were both really excited to hang out on Friday night. Dinner at Bajio was followed by bar hopping in Sugarhouse (enter Mr. Jack Daniels) and ended with hip hop dancing at the latino nightclub Karamba. Holly hell. I haven't danced that hard, laughed that much, or stayed up that late in a long time!

In keeping with the evolution process of our house, I decided to snag my mom's sewing machine and figure out how to sew new chair pad covers for our dining room. I'm not one for following a pattern or really thinking things through, but I somehow managed to make four awesome chair pad covers. Truth be told, I still need to finish attaching the velcro closures on three of them. Nevertheless, it was a success! Thanks to Laura for her much needed words of encouragement and advice throughout the ordeal.

Today was spent cleaning, sewing, doing laundry, and putting together our first real budget. Dun-dun-dun!

It was scary (the budget, not the cleaning) but we managed to do it the Dave Ramsey way. This time next month we will begin the snow ball debt destroying process! We're also attending Financial Peace University on Sundays beginning this month and I am super excited about it.

But I have to make a confession, too. I promised Jason that I was finished spending unnecessary money on house-related expenses. But then I spent $60 at the fabric store. I felt guilty about it the moment the total flashed on the register. But like I told Jason, this will have to be a gradual change for me and I am still making progress. There. I feel better... and my butt feels good on these new cushions.

Thanks for reading this super long rambling post about my weekend. You're a real friend.

I've been converted

2011-01-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

For our anniversary, Jason gave me a Kindle. I l-o-v-e my Kindle. The instantaneous books and portability won me over in less than 10 minutes of use. But this post is not about my conversion from a hardcopy book lover to a Kindle believer. Stay with me here...

My best friend Kirstin gave me an Amazon gift card for my birthday. Knowing that I was a Kindle addict (and being one herself) this was a wonderful gift. The first book I purchased was called Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. (It was great, and I highly recommend it.) But it was my 2nd digital purchase that may have changed my life forever.

I purchased Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. I'm 51% of the way through it (I know this because my handy Kindle told me so) and already applying the principles to our life (Jason is roped in even though he hasn't read it...yet!)

We are ready. We are going to navigate our debt with gazelle intensity. I've started evaluating how much I could get for everything in my house that's not nailed down... including the wondrous blue curio cabinet from a few posts down (any offers?). Just keep your hands off my Kindle. I need that for the Baby Steps.

You may be wondering, how much debt could they possibly have? Well, we don't have as much as the "average American" but we have enough that I feel held back. I'm tired of giving my paycheck to other people.

My biggest financial downfall is something that I confessed to being obsessed with in my last post. My purchases tend to be small, like less than $20 at a time, but I make many of them. They add up fast and before I know it, I've spent $300 and have a bunch of small "things" to show for it. Well not anymore!

If I start pulling out seemingly weird phrases like, "I can't get coffee with you because I want to live like no one else," you'll know where it's coming from. This process is not going to be easy or anywhere near it. But it will be worth it. Your support and encouragement will go a long way.

So you see, Kirstin didn't just give me a gift card, she has single handedly impacted our future. Thanks, K.

Weekend Acquisitions

2011-01-16T21:19:00.001-07:00

Want to know why I look forward to weekends? No, it's not because I get to sleep in (although that is a bonus). It's not because emails can go unanswered or phone calls silenced (also a perk).

I love weekends because I finally have time to comb thrift stores for treasures. The hunt is my favorite part. You never know what cool stuff is waiting for you.

Just check out what I found this weekend!

Perfect new (to me) desk chair: $10

Pair of beautiful patina lamps: $16

(I know I've found something cool when everyone in the store stops me to remark/lust after them. Hands off... they're mine!)

Old books in just the right colors with hidden history: $9

Pottery Barn paisley table runner: $10

Bringing the entry table together: Priceless

(The lamp on the right needs a little repair. I'm going to become well-versed in lamp mechanics soon)

And if I ever need a reminder why I love living here, this will do the trick.

Curio

2011-01-10T20:26:00.001-07:00

As previously blogged, I have become consumed with house related projects. Now that I own 2,700 square feet I have been concentrating on finding furniture so that it's not so sparse. Considering we moved from a space half the size, I have a lot of room to work with. Enter KSL and Craigslist. I am borderline obsessed with these sites. I check them numerous times each day (or hour depending on what else is going on) and even look in neighboring cities. I'm lucky enough to sit between two cities with their own Craigslist pages, and I've learned that the goods in Provo are just as good but cheaper than those in Salt Lake.

This weekend I coerced my dearest hubby into venturing to dreaded Utah County to look at a curio cabinet I found on CL. I think he was equal parts concerned that I'd be abducted into a cult if I went alone and tempted by my offer of Bajio after checking out the goods.

The goods were better than good and a deal was struck. We loaded the cabinet into J's car and squeeeeezed into the front seats. I delivered on my promise of Bajio and then we made the trek home.

When we arrived I threw my index fingers at the sky like a wide receiver and our garage was the end zone. I am so grateful we made it home safe because any other outcome would have been disastrous for us... and the cabinet.

Behold!

(It was worth the risk and $75)

The question remains, do I leave it in its current state (read: wonderfully distressed) Or do I paint it and what color?

Next project... finishing our bedroom. Mr. J doesn't see the harm in leaving the mattresses on the floor, but I do! We need a bed frame. That reminds me, I haven't checked CL in like 2 hours... wish me luck!

New House Woes

2011-01-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

Since purchasing our home a few months ago, all I've managed to do is paint our bedroom and begin choosing paint colors for other rooms. Building other people's homes took precedence over personalizing my new house. I'm also in the middle of refinishing a desk for my office. The thing that I don't want to be bothered with but have no choice right now is our plumbing. This weekend the temperature in Hickville (a.k.a. Heber) fell to -14 overnight. You read that right. -14! A few of our lines froze as a result and we've been trying to unthaw them ever since. So far Jason's shower and the washer are better, but the potty in my bathroom still doesn't work. Even worse than the frozen pipes is the clog in our main line. I'll save you the details, but there is a lot of junk pouring UP through the drain in our utility room. A drain is supposed to suck down, not push shit up. We rented a snake and went to town, but it's not budging. The professionals will be here in the morning. I'm hoping that by the end of tomorrow I can 1. Use my toilet and 2. Go back to dreaming about paint colors rather than sewer lines.

Pictures to follow! (Don't worry. I won't post pictures of the junk - just the beautiful color of our room!)

Our "Almost" House

2010-10-02T19:41:00.000-06:00

Jason and I have decided to make a bold, grown up move... literally. We decided to buy a house rather than continue renting. It was a pretty easy decision: we're both settled in good jobs and sick of paying so much money toward someone else's mortgage.

Since our lease ended on September 30th, Jason and I accepted my grandpa's generous offer to live with him (rent free!) until we could find and close on a house. The downside was that our beloved pups have to live with my parents until we can move into a new place. But we're lucky that my parents are willing to take care of them during this transition. So we packed all the belongings we don't require on a daily or weekly basis into a POD and moved in with my grandpa. I've traded the luxury of walking to/from work for the luxury of sharing coffee and the newspaper with my grandpa over breakfast. He's quite a guy.

Finding a home that was affordable, in decent condition, and well-located was not so easy. We've been looking for a solid 3 months and after four (yes, four!) rejected or outbid offers, we finally found and secured the perfect home for us. We call it our almost house, because it's almost ours. If all goes well, we'll close on the 26th. Here's a teaser picture...

Great curb appeal? Check!

Two-car garage? Check!

Fully fenced yard? Check!

And that's just the outside.

I began daydreaming and making plans for the interior before the ink was dry on our accepted counteroffer. Today, I found this bowl and plate at Anthropologie (love the store. just can't bring myself to shell out that much money for anything in it) and am using it as inspiration for my "reading room." Yes, this house is large enough for Jason and I to each get rooms of our own to do whatever we like with.

I'm thinking high gloss black walls above the existing white beadboard and bright floral print art on the walls. Love it!

Tomorrow I'm dragging Jason to Home Depot to think through paint colors for our bedroom. I have waited 4 long years to paint walls and change door hardware.

Send us happy thoughts and good energy that all goes well and we close on our "almost" home!

Pupper Tuck

2010-08-12T19:55:00.000-06:00

Tucker
1995-2010

Today, we said goodbye to our four-legged family member, the patriarch of the furry brood. We rescued Tucker from some bully dogs at a kennel when he was just a puppy. I remember looking out the window as my mom opened the car door and this little black and brown bundle of energy flopped out. I thought, "Oh god, what has that woman done now?" But of course I was excited to have a puppy. He was the best puppy. The best dog. My best friend. Tucker always listened. He never passed judgment. I could always count on him.

My siblings never knew a life without Tucker and my heart breaks for them as they endure this hard life lesson.

Tucker was my mom's shadow. He never left her side. And in the end, she was by his as he took his last breath and left us for the first and only time.

Goodbye, Pupper Tuck. I will miss you forever and love you always.

It's Getting Wild

2010-06-06T11:54:00.007-06:00

The list of things I'm getting used to since moving to Park City has just been expanded to include the abundance and proximity of wildlife to where we live.

"Bigoo"

I have the good fortune of living walking distance (I'm talking a 1 1/2 minute walk) from where I work. I also have the good fortune of bringing Bigoo (Big+Goo= Bigoo, a.k.a. Lucy) to work with me.

On our way to work Friday, we came out onto the sidewalk to find a 2.5 foot long snake just chillin'. It was just laying there minding its own business.

I made a quick assessment:

No rattle. Check!

Not a black mamba. Check!

Round pupils. Check!

(Tangent: Round pupils indicate that a snake is not venomous. Whereas, elliptical pupils indicate that they are. Good information, but let's hope you never get close enough to a snake for this information to be useful.)

Now I'm not afraid of snakes, or many reptile species for that matter, but I was afraid of the possible altercation between my hyper-curious labrador and this wild creature. But this was not the snake's first rodeo. It didn't move an inch and Bigoo stepped right over it (literally) without a hint of interest or recognition that it was even there. I, on the other hand, respected its "personal space bubble" and walked 3-feet around it.

Great, now I have snake encounters on my way to work. But that doesn't compare to the phone call I got from Jason a couple hours later.

Our condo backs up to a wooded hill-y area that is undeveloped for many many acres. Every now and then, people take their own noise makers for walks around the back of our house so it's not uncommon for our puppers to go ape shit at the back door. Our other little noise maker, Inga, was doing just that at the screen door.

Ferocious guard dog

As Jason attempted to quiet our 20lb guard dog, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see a full-grown giant MOOSE (antlers and all) standing 30-feet outside our back door. Talk about an adrenaline rush.

He managed to snap off a photo before it meandered away. The photo mildly resembles those taken of Big Foot, but I swear that if you look close enough, you can see the outline of the moose in the background.

Forget the snake. I can handle a little garter snake. But a possible moose encounter is another story.

I'm not your sweetheart

2010-05-01T10:01:00.003-06:00

I want to be taken seriously at work. Who doesn't? And when you're a woman working in a male-dominated industry, it's even more important to be respected.

Most of the women that work in construction are in support positions. They enter and pay bills, schedule employees for jobs, file, open the mail, etc. Many of them are also married to the owner of the company.

Now since I work for a pretty small outfit, I do complete all of these tasks (although I'm clearly not married to the owner of the company) but I do so much more than this. My title is operations manager (or COO, depending on the day) and my responsibilities extend beyond menial office tasks.

Which is why I was so insulted yesterday when a potential client called me a "sweetheart" after I was able to get something he needed. As in, "Thank you. You're such a sweetheart." Sweetheart? Sweetheart? If I were a man, would he have called me sweetheart? No. He would have said, "Thanks, man, you're awesome." Or "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it." It was a subconscious (I hope) way of him putting me in my place and it felt really demeaning. He may as well have just called me a little lady.

Did I say anything? No, of course not. For one, it happened so fast and then we hung up so I didn't really have a chance. And for two, I don't want to make a big deal out of something that he probably meant harmlessly. But maybe I'm just conditioned to resist causing contention and sticking up for myself. Maybe that's the "little lady" in me.

Has anyone ever said something demeaning to you at work? How did you respond/handle it?

Check, check, and check!

2010-04-11T23:10:00.003-06:00

I just love productive Sundays. Don't you? Let's recap this wonderful day. (I know most of you are sensing a hint of sarcasm, but I'm being sincere. No, seriously.)

1. Slept in till 10:00 am.

2. Ate an incredible breakfast prepared by my incredible husband

3. Went skiing for several hours.

4. Took a 30 minute power nap while Jason caught up on the Masters. I am convinced that a golf tournament on in the background is the fastest way to fall asleep and provides the most sound slumber. Must be the inside voices used by the commentators.

5. Did our taxes. Pretty stoked about this. Thank you, Turbo Tax!

6. Made a tasty (technically vegan) dinner

7. Cleaned the house- including both bathrooms and some dusting action

8. Met some friends visiting from out-of-town for dessert

It has been a great day. Let's hope this week follows suit.

Mama needs a new bag of... cereal?

2010-04-05T20:04:00.004-06:00

One of my favorite foodie/fitness/healthy lifestyle bloggers, Teri, is having a giveaway that I really want to win. So I am shamelessly using this post to earn two more entries into the contest. The prize you ask worthy of such valuable space? Why, Bob's Red Mill cereal products, of course!

I care about this product giveaway for a number of reasons. Let me list them (in no particular order):

1. I bake with Bob's Red Mill Flaxseed (my whole wheat flaxseed baked bread is the stuff of dreams)

2. They make wholesome, (moderately priced) natural food

3. I like to win stuff

You should enter, too. I'm not easily intimidated so bring on the competition!

25% of my life with 100% Devotion

2010-02-15T18:43:00.006-07:00

Today marks mine and Jason's six year anniversary. Let's do the math: I am 24 years old. I have been with Jason for 6 years. Therefore, I have spent 25% of my life being Jason's significant other (girlfriend, fiance, wife). I find it to be pretty remarkable that two people who met at such a young age have been able to weather the storms that come with becoming an adult and growing together rather than growing apart.

I love you, Jason. Thank you for loving and accepting me despite all my quirks, flaws, and craziness. It's been one hell of a ride thus far and I am excited to see what our future holds.

xoxo,

Jessica

Sundance Fundance?

2010-01-31T12:51:00.005-07:00

Living in a resort town comes with an expected flow of foreigners (i.e, anyone not from Utah) but the barrage was heightened ten fold in the last two weeks with the Sundance Film Festival. I had participated in this wondrous event when I lived in the Salt Lake valley. I saw Smart People with Dennis Quaid and SJP before it came out in mainstream theaters. I saw a documentary about the making of an opera about the making of the A-bomb and Oppenheimer's life (surprisingly interesting). I attended free concerts on Main street and reveled in seeing Adrian Grenier from Entourage walking down the street. I instantly became star struck and only stopped shrieking long enough to babble incoherently to my friend who had not noticed him walk by. Honestly, how can you not notice someone who looks like this, famous or not?

Anyway, since moving to Park City my Sundance experience drastically changed. I expected it to be two weeks of nonstop fun and excitement cruising Main street in hopes of spotting someone famous; seeing movies that may one day hit mainstream theaters or just make me feel more cultured; finding our way into industry-only parties. Boy was I mistaken!

My daily ritual mail run became nearly impossible because of the insane amount of traffic and overpriced parking spots that were few and far between. They were seriously charging $20 to park in a city owned lot that I had parked free in the day before the festival started. Unbelievable.

Getting anywhere or doing anything was both outrageously expensive and time consuming. We did go out a few nights to Cisero's on Main street because a friend is staying with us while bartending there. We were able to participate in Sundance without having to shell out too much for it. Thank you, Steve!

And instead of seeing three or four movies over the course of 10 days like the years before, I only saw one and it's because a friend had an extra ticket. I just couldn't justify the time, money and effort it would take to get to the theater and deal with the crowds. (I really hate crowds)

I did see some recognizable people, however. I won't call them famous because two are reality TV stars and one is someone you would know but not likely be able to name. I saw Gretchen and Slade from the Real Housewives of Orange County at Smiths last week. It was really bizarre. I had just watched the most recent episode of RHOC the night before and then there they were walking down the aisle toward the deli. (She looks better on TV and he is really tall)

The other guy I saw is named Danny Trejo and usually looks like this in movies:

He looked a little nicer in person, but not much. There were no smiles for those he granted photo ops.

I also heard that Chace Crawford from Gossip Girl had been at a party we stumbled upon around 2am earlier that night. Of all the movies at Sundance, his was the one I wanted to see the most. But I didn't think my better half would enjoy 90 minutes of me drooling at the screen. Hey, I may be married but I'm not blind.

But now that Sundance is winding down, we locals can return to our normal routines. I can get the mail in under an hour for free and with less road rage. We can get into bars where they conveniently remember our names now that they can't charge a $25 cover. And I can start planning my vacation to a warmer climate in time for next year's film festival.

PH 3

2010-01-28T17:53:00.002-07:00

I am grasping at straws for something to do today for Project Happiness. Isn't it sad that we have to seriously contemplate ways to bring us good feelings? I'm going to the gym again but I don't want to count that two days in a row. Hmmm... Maybe I'll give myself that long overdue pedicure while watching Bill & Giuliana (love that show!) or go to bed early for once. By the way, I am open to ideas. Also, I'm curious what you think of the new look and domain name. Better, right?

PH 2

2010-01-27T17:54:00.003-07:00

If you read my previous post, you know that I am participating in Project Happiness which is simply a conscious effort to bring more happiness into your life- even in small ways.

So for my second day I decided that the best way to bring myself happiness was by doing something for someone else. My friend and co-worker had knee surgery yesterday after a skiing accident and will be laid up for the next week or so. I knew that her family would be scrambling to care for her and take care of themselves, so I tried my hand at a lasagna recipe I found online and brought them dinner. It made me feel good to do something nice for someone who always takes the time to listen and help me no matter what.

Tonight my bit of happiness will be found at the gym. Bring on the endorphin induced euphoria! I especially enjoy going to the gym with my better half. He promised to wear this t-shirt if I buy it for him:

Pretty sweet, right!? He'll look this good wearing it, too.

Have you joined Project Happiness yet?

Project Happiness

2010-01-25T20:26:00.002-07:00

I was recently blog surfing and stumbled upon this wonderful thing started by Tamara. It's called Project Happiness. Go here to read more about what she and others are doing to bring more happiness into their lives.

Since everyone could use a little more cheer, myself included, I have decided to join in. This evening I am going to take a candlelit bubble bath, read a book, and drink a cold one.

What will you do to bring some happiness into your day?

Hungry

2010-01-17T22:38:00.003-07:00

Every once in a while my biological clock rings prematurely and I get baby hungry. It starts beeping when I see girls I went to school with having babies and I start to wonder if this is what I'm supposed to be doing right now, too. But then I push snooze and remember that they have always been light years ahead of me in checking off big life landmarks (i.e. getting married, buying a house, having a baby, etc.).

Sometimes I wish I could fast forward to the point in our lives when we're ready to make the decision to have a baby. It seems so far away. But if I were able to do that, then I'd miss all the great things we get to do in the mean time. Jason will finish school, I will earn a masters, we will have a house and have traveled and experienced life as a duo rather than a trio.

The other day I told Jason I couldn't wait to meet Caleb. Just saying it out loud made me tear up because it's true. I'm really excited to meet him, but in due time.

This is our nephew, Brayden. I fully expect my future child/children to look a lot like this- blonde hair, blue eyes and super adorable.

And P.S., Caleb is the name of our future son and I have officially put dibs on that name since many of my cousins have started reproducing already. (I may be the oldest cousin on both sides, but there are a lot of girls in my family that have reached the age when you can get married and knock out some kids)

I'm Committed

2010-01-07T22:38:00.003-07:00

As many of you know, I fell in love with rock climbing this summer and spent a good chunk of time at the crag or the bouldering gym. Since moving to Park City I haven't been to The Front and it breaks my heart. I decided that the $70 monthly membership wasn't worth it considering all of my climbing was purely imaginative. So I cancelled it. Gasp!

However, we joined the local rec center today and it felt really good to log some time on the treadmill and pump some iron. I even engaged our roommate in a pull-up contest. (He beat me but only by a few)

I am now resolved to get into amazing shape for climbing so that I am ready to hit the rock running when the weather allows. Here's how I plan to do it:

1. Find and follow a work out plan geared for climbers' needs

2. Recruit a workout buddy to keep me focused (my roommate is a gym rat, which may prove helpful)

3. Frequent trips to Momentum will keep my eyes on the prize

4. A late spring climbing trip somewhere warm (and dry) will be my reward for sticking it out

5. Sending a 5.10d (the hardest I've climbed is a 5.10c) or higher will be my ultimate test and provide the greatest reward for my hard work.

If anyone has a handle on a good climbers workout, please send it my way. I've looked online but I need a step-by-step guide, preferably with pictures and a schedule.

Perspective

2009-12-16T14:47:00.003-07:00

There was a point this summer when I felt like I was being left behind by my friends who were graduating college and going onto bigger and better things. Whether they were moving for graduate school, a job, or just because they could, I was envious. After all, what did I have to look forward to once school was over? Getting a job, hopefully one I liked, and then what?

Recently one of those friends confided that it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be and they long for the comforts of home and familiarity. Turns out most of the people I previously wished I could trade shoes with are just as eager to trade with me.

In a small way I think I have a sense for what they must feel being so far away. I may have only moved to Park City, but I'm still not very familiar with where places are and how things work here. I am frequently asking Jason where this restaurant or that store is. And I've had to rely on the GPS in my phone more times than I care to admit.

Several people have made the trek up Parley's to visit but not as often as I'd like. Parley's is such a deterrent, especially in the winter, from going or coming. Damn you canyon.

I know that this is just an adjustment period and that things will get better- I just need to improve my coping skills.

So while the grass may appear greener on the other side (of the canyon, country, etc.), it's really probably just a different type of grass. We/I need to learn to be content with the local flora and fauna.

(Two posts in one week. Go me!)

Blogger Fail

2009-12-13T22:12:00.002-07:00

I have always admired bloggers who publish at least one post a week. Obviously, I am not like those bloggers. It's not that I don't have subject matter to discuss. More like I have the attention span of a gnat and as soon as the idea for a post comes it's going out the way it came. So here's a lickity-split update while I remember:

1. We moved to a condo in Park City! I am walking distance from work and have loved sleeping in, coming home at lunch, and the overall proximity to the other place where I spend a large majority of time.

2. I love my job. I especially love that I get to bring Lucy to work with me. She keeps the other office dog, Milo, company. Milo is her boyfriend. She loves him so much. She shows this by seductively positioning herself over his face. I have to remind her constantly to stop being such a hussy.

3. This week my hair went from being 4 1/2 fist lengths long (stacking one fist on top of the other from the base of my neck to the end. Very scientific measuring method.) to being about one fist long. I'd like to pretend that this was a conscious decision I had debated and finally settled on but it was more like a necessity after I received a botched haircut that left me with two layers: long underneath and one shorter, really thick layer about halfway down. It was bad. So now it's short. I'd be lying if I said that I have embraced this change with open arms, but it's actually been a really challenging adjustment to make. I loved my long hair. Really loved it. So now I'm starting over.

4. It snowed like 3 feet in Park City last night. Holy bajeezus. It may be time for an all wheel/four wheel drive vehicle (what's the difference, anyway?) Does anyone have a suggestion?

Alright, that's all I've got for now. See you in a few months when I feel guilty again.

xoxox

Over due Update

2009-09-30T21:08:00.003-06:00

Key developments:

1. I (finally) got a job! Not just any job, but a "grown-up" job with health benefits, paid vacations, and a salary. I am back to working in

the construction industry and super excited about it. Yay!

2. We adopted a new dog a couple of weeks ago! Lucy is a super adorable 1 1/2 year old black lab. She is a tail-wagging, dog-loving, people-loving, ball of energy and we couldn't be happier. Inga, on the other hand, is not so happy. She's slowly transitioning from a very spoiled only dog to sharing attention.

Blog world, meet Lucy. (She's charmed, I'm sure.)

3. Since Jason and I now work in Park City we are looking to move up there. My goal was to be there before the first snow fell but I had no idea that would be so soon! Seriously, snow in September is ridiculous.

4. I am going to visit Jon and Madison in New York in November! Super cheap plane tickets + free place to stay + 2 great friends = epic fun for 8 days!

That was the news in 60 seconds.

I'm off to bed. I have to get up early for my grown-up job.

Good night.

9/9/09

2009-09-09T18:14:00.002-06:00

Numerically, today is a very special day. There won't be another day like this until the next millennium!

Taking some inspiration from another blogger, TeriLyn, I am listing nine things that bring me happiness (in no particular order):

1. Waking up every morning contorted around our dog, Lilly.

2. Waking up every morning next to Jason.

3. Finishing a good book.

4. Sending a new problem at the climbing gym or route outdoors.

5. Fresh flowers on the kitchen table.

6. Being surrounded by dogs.

7. Spending time with good friends.

8. Exploring new places, restaurants, etc.

9. Watching Animal Planet.

What nine things bring you happiness?

Busy being unemployed

2009-09-02T16:41:00.002-06:00

I have been officially unemployed (I hate that term) since May when my term was up in student government. But over the summer I took a few classes, looked for jobs, and had some fun. I fully expected to find a job once I was an official graduate but it's been over a month since I walked out of my last class and after dozens of applications I am still jobless. Hearing that others are struggling with the same problem isn't all that reassuring because it just drives home the point that I have lots of competition for the few attractive jobs that come open. I have had a constant job since I was 15 and am not taking well to the sedentary lifestyle.

However, in light of having so much free time, I am without a doubt in the best shape of my life! It's only Wednesday and this week I've already bouldered for 3 hours, played tennis, and will be doing a yoga class this evening. I can't tell you the last time I was this active and it feels great!

But it's all just a distraction from the fact that I feel utterly unproductive. I long for the days when I had back-to-back meetings, competing priorities, and deadlines to meet. It was only after a long day filled with tasks and stress that I would feel a sense of accomplishment. Lately I've derived that sense from perfecting my chili recipe and keeping my dirty laundry baskets empty. I never thought I'd see the day and I hate to admit it out loud for all of cyberspace but I. am. a. housewife. Ugh! Not that there's anything wrong with this "profession" because it does fulfill some very fundamental needs and some people (yes, men and women) yearn to stay home and take care of the house but I am not one of them.

Rather than sit around on my couch with Inga all day wallowing and waiting for an interview, I am going to be proactive about the situation and start volunteering with organizations whose mission I believe in. I'll start with the U's Office of Sustainability. I love them and know that they could always use more people. And you never know, I could meet my next employer at an Office function. Now wouldn't that be nice?

Bummer

2009-07-21T20:53:00.005-06:00

I just completed a weekend-long rock climbing class where I learned how to lead climb, set anchors, and clean routes. It was very physically demanding but worth every minute of exertion, even in 98 degrees. Check out this sick move at Dogwood in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

So I can't/couldn't wait to apply my new skill set when I was asked to play in a pick-up softball game on Sunday night. I was exhausted but went anyway. Mistake #1. It was a lot of fun and I got back in the swing of things (pun intended) but I

was looking forward to the game ending. It was the bottom of the last inning, we had two outs, and I was playing 2nd base. Mistake #2. This large man

stepped up to the plate and hit a grounder that bounced off the pitcher's mound and came in my direction. At first I was excited because this was my chance to end the game. As I bent to scoop it up it hit a divot and struck me on the left side of my right ankle. I stood there for about two seconds before dropping to the ground. It didn't hurt at first, but I knew I was in store for pain. After being carried from the field, some angel produced a cold pack and wrapped my ankle. I drove home and watched as my ankle grew from it's normal size to looking like I had a coke can laying beneath my skin. Jason took me to the ER and the good news is that it's not broken, just severely contused. The very bad news is that I can't climb for a good while nor can I run the 10k on Friday that I just signed up for. Ugh. I find it amusing that I can climb, a rather risky sport, and run without sustaining any major injuries, but can't play a harmless game of softball without being struck down. Check it out:

To add insult to injury, I have a cold now too. Something great better be around the corner because I'm getting really tired of the way things are going right now.

Boobs for Biceps

2009-07-16T16:09:00.006-06:00

(On the left, that is me in probably my junior year of high school. Below is SJP's bicep- mine is looking more and more like that everyday)

In high school I was described as the skinny girl with big boobs. As in, "Is it the Jessica with blonde hair, big boobs, a flat butt and really skinny?" Yep, that was me. I was scrawny, bony, and leggy. Any taller and I might have been described as gangly. My senior year of high school I wore a size 0 in jeans and sported a 32D bra. No joke.

To a degree, not much has changed. I can still fit into most of my high school jeans, although most of them are faded and out-dated by current fashion standards. Only now I have traded my prized bosom for some defined biceps and deltoids. Traded makes it sound like this was an agreed upon transaction. But really it's the result of a few intersecting factors: I switched to a vegetarian lifestyle nearly two years ago and became leaner (as if I really had much weight to lose); my appetite was replaced by the stress of school, working, wedding planning, etc.; and the final piece was my new climbing addiction. Put all this together and it looks like a pretty simple math equation. Big boobs divided by excess veggies + stress +physical activity= Biceps

Now I'm not saying that I would exchange my hard earned six pack for a bigger rack, but what am I going to do with the hundreds of dollars worth of bras laying dormant in my dresser drawer?

I am filled with nostalgia when I look at old pictures of me and "the girls"- they're just not the same. Adjusting has been rough. At first I was reluctant to purchase a smaller bra because I figured it would be a waste of money. After all, they are coming back, right? Right!? But I finally gave in a few months into my depleted cup size and purchased your run of the mill V.S. Pink bra- the line reserved for tweens with dreams of womanhood. I have now expanded my collection of baby bras but still sigh sentimentally when I see the pile of neglected brassieres gathering dust.

Boys just don't seem to understand either. At least until you put it to them this way: pretend you were naturally well-endowed and then for reasons beyond your control, three inches just vanished and you couldn't get them back, how would you feel? My hubby understood after looking at it that way. I go back and forth between wanting a boob job and trying to cope. Most of all, I just want my girls back.

It may seem trivial to devote an entire post to my anatomical switcheroo but it's something that has plagued me for a while now. Has anyone else experienced something like this?

Runner Up

2009-06-27T14:40:00.002-06:00

Today I accomplished something I never really aspired to but am glad I did it anyway. I ran in my first 5k race, the 2009 Herriman Step Rock Run 5k, to be exact. My bubbly friend Madison somehow talked me into running 2.5 miles with her on Thursday morning at the ungodly hour of 7:15 and then pushed me further by challenging me to run 4.5 miles with her yesterday morning at that same ungodly hour. She's training for to compete with her mom in a 10k on the 24th of July and they signed up for today's 5k to practice. I was coerced into registering and am so glad that I did because I took 2nd place in my division and 27th overall in my very first 5k! Madison took 3rd place. We are now the proud owners of a silver and bronze generic "Running" medal. I can't wait for the next one.

Having spent the last three days pushing my body harder than I can ever remember, I am hobbling around like an old man. My shins hurt (shin splints!?), my hip-flexors scream at me, and my thighs burn whenever I force them to move from a standing to a sitting position and vice versa. I'm looking forward to getting back out there in a couple of days when I've recovered.

Wimbledon Redeemed

2009-06-24T10:12:00.002-06:00

Novak Djokovic

I just saw this tennis hottie on Sports Center and have a newfound interest in Wimbledon. He kind of looks like Justin Bartha, that blue-eyed sweetie from National Treasure and The Hangover, but with a hot Eastern European accent.

He's just been added to my "list"- you know, the list of people, usually famous, that you are allowed to hook up with given the opportunity and not face consequences from your significant other. I wonder how he'd feel about an early 20s married girl from Utah.

Who's on your list?

Believing

2009-06-14T13:55:00.002-06:00

Everyday I open a little card that contains a quote about believing and spend the day internalizing what it says. I would like to share them with you because I believe they have the ability to transform our thought patterns from destructive and debilitating to uplifting and productive.

These will come in handy when I interview in Chicago two weeks from now for a position with the Green Corps!

"There is more inside you than you dare think." - David Brower

"The difference between what we do, and what we are capable of doing, would solve most of the world's problems." - Mahatma Gandhi

"Expectation is everything. Every day can be your day, if you can expect it to be." - Bob Moawad

"No one really knows enough to be a pessimist." - Norman Cousins

"We do not believe if we do not live and work according to our belief." - Heidi Wills

"Believe it! High expectations are the key to everything." - Sam Walton

"Faith is building on what you know is here so you can reach what you know is there." - Cullen Hightower

"Look at things not just as they are, but as they can be." - David Schwartz

"There is always one unexpected little moment in life when a door opens to let the future in." - Graham Greene (I carry this in my wallet)

Pick a couple and chew on them for a while. The last two are my favorite.

WTF!? Someone hacked my blogger account!

2009-05-28T17:41:00.004-06:00

Imagine my appal at discovering that not only was my blogger account hacked into by some psycho looking to capitalize on my obviously successful blog, but that they had replaced all of the content with a "Mega site of Bible studies."

Before I called 911 to report my stolen blogger identity, I checked the URL and discovered that I had transposed two of the letters. Silly me!

For the sake of humor please look at this website and you will get some insight into the minute and a half a I spent staring dumbfoundedly at my screen.

http://www.thedanishdame.blogpsot.com/

If someone were trying to mess with me, changing my content to a Bible studies search engine would be a pretty effective way to go.

Catching Up

2009-05-24T20:50:00.009-06:00

The (pseudo) Graduate!

I honestly never thought I would actually graduate from college. It just seemed so out of reach but, low and behold, I have done it! Kind of. Although I was eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony I have a couple of classes to finish this summer before they'll give me that expensive piece of paper I've been chasing for the last 4 1/2 years. I have two "legit" classes- Intro to News Writing & Mass Communication Law and two fun classes- mountain biking and rock climbing. It shouldn't be too bad of a summer actually. I'm also still unemployed and have been job hunting for a couple of weeks now. There seem to be a plethora of job opportunities out there especially for receptionists and/or administrative assistants, but this isn't the kind of job I'm looking for. I want to find a job that utilizes the education that I've worked so hard for. If you hear of anything, please let me know!

Climbing some crack

Je-Fu Crew

Last week I escaped to Moab, Utah with some (bad ass) friends from school. We spent four days rafting, climbing, and repelling. It was my first experience with outdoor rock climbing and I have fallen in love! I bought gear the within days of coming home and have gone a couple of times since then. It is an amazing sport and all I've thought about since then. I can't wait to get better so I can tackle some 5.11's and 5.12's. Oh, sorry, that's climbing lingo. Anyway, my rock climbing class this summer should be really fun. I'm looking forward to learning some more technical skills. Next up: a climbing membership to The Front!

In two short weeks Jason and I are going to visit Jeff and Laura in Philadelphia! We are so excited to spend a weekend exploring Philly with our best friends. And this time the weather will be better. It was so cold there in January that I thought my bones would never thaw. I can't wait to see my best friends!

Seriously?

2009-03-21T16:05:00.003-06:00

It is spring break. My last spring break of college (at least undergrad) and I am at the library. WTF!? The stick figure above represents how I feel emotionally and in the near future physically. Why couldn't I have finished this paper weeks ago when it was assigned? Why haven't I used the last five days of spring break to hammer it out so that I could enjoy the beautiful weather of this weekend? I don't know. Maybe I'm a masochist. I now have two days to finish this 6 page research paper. At least there's a pretty view from my table by the window.

The One Less Traveled By

2009-03-19T11:25:00.004-06:00

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

I have reached that point in every college student's life where decisions about one's future post-graduation must be made. I discovered, rather haphazardly, that I am on the cusp of graduation and eligible to participate in the commencement ceremonies this May. Here I thought I would be stuck in school for another semester (or two) but, because I had some concurrent enrollment credits to transfer from the community college, I don't have to take as many classes as I originally thought. In fact, if I take 12 credit hours this summer (essentially 3, maybe 4 classes), I will be done. Done. Graduated. A diploma-wielding college graduate. But here's the thing... I have to make some decisions and, unfortunately, I'm not the only person in the captain's chair. I applied for an internship with the Park Silly Sunday Market for the summer. My interview was last month and I'm supposed to find out by the end of March if I got it. Also, I would be able to take my last 3-4 classes while doing the internship. I think that I am qualified for this position and that it could lead to some pretty great things, but we'll have to see if they agree. So there's option #1.

Option #2: I heard about an amazing opportunity to intern at the White House, as in the place where the president lives in Washington D.C., for the summer and I think it would be foolish not to apply, even if I get rejected. How does that saying go? "Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all." Right? Well I feel the same about this internship. If chosen, I would live and intern in D.C. from May through August and then finish those pesky 3 classes in the fall. Since Jason just started his new job and it's so short term, I would be going it alone. Talk about a test of independence. I think I can, I think I can.

Option #3: I applied for a scholarship through the Alumni Association and, if I am chosen as a recipient, it would cover the cost of tuition for a full year. So if I get the scholarship I will prolong my stay at the university another year just to avoid paying for those pesky 3 classes. And this wouldn't be so bad because I could take the classes I'm actually interested in, not just the ones required by my major.

So while I do have many decisions to make in the coming weeks, very few of them will be made by me- more like made for me. I'm rooting for option #2, but would settle for #1 or #3. And if I don't get any of them? I will finish school in the summer and find a job. Someone will want to hire me, right? Right?

What will become of us?

2009-02-16T13:57:00.002-07:00

This year has brought a whirlwind of new experiences, people, adventure, and fun. Being part of student government has without a doubt been the best part of my college experience. I am deeply saddened that it is coming to an end because I feel like I'm just getting the hang of it. Really, I could do bigger and better things, just give me another year to show you what my board is capable of. That isn't to say that we haven't accomplished great things already. Because believe me, we have.

I am so very grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of this organization and gain acceptance into the community of involved students that I would not have met under normal circumstances.

So what will become of us once this is over? Will we still talk? I hope so. Will it be the same? Probably not. I still have another year of school and many of my new friends are graduating and moving on.

Regardless of what the future holds, I will never forget the trials and triumphs of this year. Thank you to all who were part of this and made it possible for me to be involved. This year can't be duplicated.

Viva Mexico!

2009-01-13T20:24:00.004-07:00

(The Classic Tourists)

Jason and I have just returned from our long-awaited honeymoon cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It's amazing to me that I waited months for a week long trip that flew by in the blink of an eye. And although a vast majority of our fellow "cruisers" were over the age of 60, we had a good first cruise experience. We made friends early on with another honeymooning couple and stuck together during our trips ashore and on the ship. Jason and I both fell in love with Puerto Vallarta and have seriously discussed spending an extended period of time there after I graduate. The people were very friendly, its a beautiful place, and I could improve my Spanish speaking abilities. We shall see what happens...

In some ways I actually enjoy the anticipation of vacation more than the vacation itself because I'm aware of the disappointment I'll experience when I come home. However, this time I had something else to look forward to when we came home. No, silly goose, it wasn't starting school the day after we got back, it's my trip to Philly over MLK weekend to visit my best friends Jeff and Laura. I booked my trip to Philly on a whim without even talking to them first because the tickets were so cheap I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Lucky for me Jeff and Laura didn't have any prior plans and were glad I acted so impulsively. It will be my first trek out there and I am so excited! I miss them both like crazy. We have some pretty outrageous expectations about how epic this weekend will be and I only hope I can live up to half of them! Time will tell. Until then....

Things to Celebrate...

2008-11-17T22:41:00.005-07:00

In order to maintain some semblance of sanity, I feel it's important to reflect on the things that make me happy. Here is my list, in no particular order:

Watching Inga sleep; she looks so peaceful and content.
Cuddling with Jason for fifteen minutes every morning before getting up for the day.
Skinny white mocha lattes.
Fall colors and crisp weather.
Sweaters.
Live concerts. Outdoor, indoor, big, small- it doesn't matter, I love them all.
Going out to dinner with good friends.
Rainy days.
Sleeping in.
Discovering good, new music. (Check out my latest obsession, Blue Sky Black Death)
Boating with my family.
Camping.
Laying in the grass on a warm, sunny day.

What makes you happy?

Mr. J and Mrs. J

2008-11-11T20:08:00.003-07:00

It's been made official, legally bound, and witnessed by many. Jason and I are now married! The whole three days leading up to and including our wedding day are a blur. The five-ish hours beginning with the ceremony and leading up to our departure felt like they really only lasted twenty minutes.

I have never had the privilege of having everyone I am close to and love in the same room at the same time. It was so much fun and totally chaotic. I can't wait to get the pictures back... in about 16 weeks, according to my overpriced photographer.

I can't begin to describe how wonderful it feels to be rid of the stress wedding planning brings. And I fully understand why most people go on a honeymoon directly following the wedding. We have to wait a couple of months before departing on our Mexican Riviera cruise. I'm sure we'll be grateful for it all the same. I can't wait to share the sun, sand, and margaritas with my Mr. J.

One week after the "I do's", I was laying on a hospital bed doped up on a "morphine cocktail" to help numb the pain of passing a kidney stone. I have never experienced this horrendous pain before and hope that this is the first and only experience I have to endure. No more soda for this girl! The least glamorous part about a kidney stone ordeal is having to filter your urine in the days following in an attempt to catch the little bugger. Talk about inconvenient! Who wants to carry a funnel shaped object around campus? Better yet, since they can be re-used a few times, where do I put it after said use!? If someone can come up with a reasonable suggestion, I'll consider it.

Well, back to paper writing. I've procrastinated long enough and this thing isn't going to write itself.

xoxox

Distracted student

Mad About MAD MEN!

2008-10-12T22:29:00.004-06:00

I love, love, love Mad Men! If you haven't seen this show, you must check it out. It's the best kept secret of TV.

MM is about the lives of ad execs on Madison Avenue in the early 60s. The sexism, racism, and amazing style fulfills every notion those of us who weren't there to live it have. Not that sexism and racism are to be celebrated, of course. It's just amazing to watch how politically incorrect, by today's standards anyway, they behaved.

The best part about MM is that it doesn't give you all the answers. It implies a lot and leaves you to fill in the details. I imagine everyone who watches this phenomenal show understand it in unique ways.

I highly recommend picking up the first season before jumping into the second. Although, you can kind of pick up anywhere because the story lines don't totally rely on a consecutive order.

Check it out on Sunday nights on AMC and get back to me!!!

Bad Blogger! Bad!

2008-10-08T19:44:00.002-06:00

I feel terrible. I have neglected this blog for far too long. And not for lack of anything to say, mind you, but rather for lack of time or concentration. You know how after not seeing a friend for an extended period of time the mere thought of having to catch them up on all the current events is too daunting so you continue to avoid contact? Well that's how I felt. Rather than simply say, "I'm fine, thanks. How are you?" and leave it at that, I wanted to be able to spend some serious time explicating my life over the last five-ish months.

I don't have that time right now, actually. I am currently in the middle of furiously writing a paper for my gender communication class that is due tomorrow... it wasn't written in my planner, therefore it did not exist in my mind... until the day before it's due. Ugh.

This does provide a pretty accurate picture of my life at this particular junction. I am a student, employee, director, wedding planner, family member, fiance, and friend all at the same time. There is not enough room in ten people's heads, let alone mine by itself, to accommodate all that needs to be processed mentally. However futile, I am trying.

Luckily, I see light at the end of this tunnel.

November 1st: I stop wedding planning and start enjoying my marriage.

December 15th-ish: I am finished being a student, for the time being and can enjoy a few weeks off. This is also the time I will be taking my long awaited honeymoon.

May 5th-ish: My term as Director is done.

I don't know if visualizing deadlines/endpoints/etc. is necessarily an optimistic way to look at things but it certainly helps me get through the day. I also have an incredible support system, when I let them, that is there for me in all of the roles I attempt to fulfill each day.

Back to arguing for the legalization of same-sex marriage. I promise not to let so much time lapse before writing again.

xoxox

Bad Blogger

President Obama

2008-06-03T23:03:00.002-06:00

Although I'm a little skeptical as to the accuracy of the delegate count, I am hopeful that Barack has, in fact, secured the Democratic nomination. Besides, does anyone really think that Hillary is going to let it go that easily? I wouldn't put it past her to hack the computer system to include her name on the ballot. The woman is crazy.

Aside from Barack's policies and intentions, the man had me when he danced with Ellen DeGeneres on her show... twice! The man has moves and everyone knows that the success of a United States president depends soley on his ability to two-step. We will once again rise to the top and regain world dominance because our president can keep rythm.

And while we're on the topic of candidates.... John McCain scares me. I'm sure that after being a POW for some time he developed an uncanny inner strength. However, what's to say that he won't have a flash back to prison camp and attack a busboy with a butter knife at a state dinner? Crazier shit has happened, i.e. electing G.W. .... twice!

Pay it Forward Prize!

2008-06-03T22:56:00.002-06:00

I recently won my blogger and real life friend Alas' Pay it Forward prize (by default because mine was the only real entry) and this is what I found in my mailbox yesterday! I am proud to say that I finally own a piece of Juicy Couture! Now I need suggestions for what to wear them with. I don't want to cover them with socks or pants but that leaves few options. Any ideas? Thanks again, Alas!

I fully intend to Pay it Forward as well. Alas had a Juicy themed contest and in the spirit of my eco passions I will have an Eco Pay it Forward contest! I'll let you know when it begins... I gotta get some readers first!

Premiers, Moving, and Tricycles... oh my!

2008-06-01T21:58:00.007-06:00

Something so very exciting took place this weekend. The Sex and the City movie premiered on Friday!! I have been waiting for this movie ever since the series finale four years ago. Jason and I went to the 10:20 showing, he was 1 of maybe 5 guys in the whole theater! I ran into a couple of old friends from high school and we took this picture:

The movie was great! I wouldn't mind seeing it again.

My roommate Laura moved out this weekend and Jason moved in. There's nothing I hate more than moving, well except for unpacking. You won't believe how much stuff Jason has! These black garbage bags are filled with just his clothes! What man has 20 bags worth of clothes? One that worked for several years at Gap, that's who.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a spin on the tricycle while packing up the car with Jason's stuff. It brought back great memories of tooling around my grandparents' driveway on my very own little red trike!

Wedding Decor

2008-05-28T17:51:00.004-06:00

I found these Pumpkin Spice votive candles this weekend at Michael's so I attempted to recreate something I saw in a bridal magazine. I wrapped a red oak leaf around the votive and secured it in place with twine. I think they turned out pretty good and I can't wait to see them on tables and lining the entrance on November 1st!

First Impressions

2008-05-28T17:39:00.005-06:00

I found this book at my parents' house yesterday. Judging by the title, my first impression of the book was that Todd was going to convince his pinata to sacrifice himself so that Todd could get something inside of the pinata. Turns out this is wrong... it's actually about a baseball glove that Todd works hard for and then gives to a another kid who doesn't have one. It was an ok story, but I would have rather read a book based on my first impression. It's a little Tim Burton-esque.

Waste Not, Want Not

2008-05-27T18:17:00.004-06:00

I saw the most ridiculous thing today while standing in line at Michael's Craft Store. The woman ahead of me purchased an item the size of a package of birthday candles. The clerk asked if she wanted a bag for her item and the woman said yes. For ONE freakin' item no bigger than a sponge! To make it worse, the woman was carrying one of those large purses that when carried on her shoulder actually touched her hip. Ladies, if for no other reason, we carry purses like this to cart items around as we hop along our individal bunny paths.
The kicker was that after the clerk placed her small item and unnecessarily long receipt in this extraneous plastic bag, the woman put the purchase IN her purse! She didn't even carry it out of the store in her hand! Unbelievable. $50 bucks says she threw the bag away when she got home.

First Time for Everything

2008-05-26T00:35:00.000-06:00

I love reading blogs. I especially enjoy finding new, great blogs to read. Although it is rather frustrating trying to find new blogs because blogspot doesn't have a handy browsing tool, unlike a social networking site like Myspace where you can click on one person and continue that trend halfway through cyber space.

Because of this love of reading others' blogs, I decided that I would contribute my own ramblings to the cyber world. For the most part I will probably ramble on about what's going on in my life, which at the moment is a lot. Getting married, being the director for a board at school, obsessing over sustainability and the green movement, and trying to make the best of summer break.

I will try to post some good eco-friendly ideas as often as possible as this is an issue that is near and dear to my heart.

Stay tuned...