Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The 25-patty challenge

Hooray for lunch breaks without homework! :)

I found some articles on indoor/outdoor cats. It seems like it is much much better for them to be indoor cats. Maybe we can leash -train him. He would probably hate it at first but at least he'd be able to go outside. I guess we'll see.

So, Geoff wants to enter the EZ Take Out Burger challenge and eat a 25-patty hamburger. 25!!! I think the most any of the contestants had been able to eat was 12. He has purposely planned it for a Friday (July 17th) so he can take a few days to recooperate. And 17 is his old baseball number, for motivation. He's so pumped, he's researching strategies on preparing for eating contests. I guess he did win a steak-eating contest back home in highschool. Still...

I think he's going to be sick as a dog. As a horse who swallowed a dog. I hope he doesn't die. What if we have to have his stomach pumped? The insurance probably won't cover that, will it? He's going to need a stomach pump, a colon cleanse, and an overall major detox. Oh well better than him dying. It's a good thing I'll be there.

There is no class for me at all this week!! Professor cancelled it because he said he heard that students do better when you give them a break. (Uh huh.) But I am not complaining! I still have to study for and take two exams, but no class. Last night after work I came home and made dinner, did a couple loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, went to the gym, and came home and showered, all before I'm normally even home. The awesomeness.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

I think Wally is bored.

We could count on one hand the number of times we've let Wally go outside in the year and a half we've had him. By his reaction the first time we let him out, I don't think he'd ever been allowed to roam outside before. (He was four when we got him.) His favorite thing to do is sit at the sliding glass window and watch the outside.

Tonight we let him out for about five minutes. He stayed close by, but then I got worried about him eating something that his immune system isn't prepared to handle and brought him back in. Oh, he cried and fussed, and kept scratching at the sliding glass door handle. He was obviously frustrated and wanted to go out so bad. He kept letting out the most pitiful-sounding meows; I felt so bad for him.

I've been wondering if a strictly indoor cat who's been declawed could ever be an outdoor/indoor cat? I want to let him out so bad, I just worry that he'll be attacked by a dog (there are a lot of little ones in our neighborhood), and he gets really sick if he eats anything other than his special brand of catfood. Like maybe he'd need shots or something before we could let him do that. I don't know? I just feel bad for him. Jokes aside, he's only got one life too.

On another note - Geoff is wanting to look for an extra, part-time, evening job as something to keep him busy in the evenings, now that he won't ever have night school again. I'm really fine with this - it might even be easier to concentrate on homework if he is busy too - as long as he doesn't have to work on weekends. I don't really want him to work on weekends, cuz that's really the only time we get to do some actual hanging out.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Friday

We are starting a new wellness program at work - this time our CFO wanted to form our own, and offered to fund the prizes. I was asked to be in the little planning committee - don't know why, I guess they needed someone to balance out the ambitions of the crazy exercisers (whom I love... well... except salesmen, I stink we get on each other's nerves). Anywho, I hadn't planned on participating until school is done, but after discussing how we're going to try for 100% participation I sorta feel like I should, ya know? At least until fall semester starts.

After work today Geoff and I both went to the testing center and worked on capstone until seven, when they kicked us out.

Speaking of work, Geoff seems to be enjoying his job. They're going to start doing this "building relationships" thing with investors (involving presentations and I'm not sure what else)- Geoff is nervous about it but is actually really excited to put himself out there, get out of his comfort zone and do a good job at it. Yesterday he volunteered to go clean up the streets of Provo to get ready for the Freedom Festival and got put in the BYU newspaper. I'm really happy for him that his first work experience after school is turning out to be a good one.

Anyway after the test we got dinner and watched Ghost Adventures, which we love! This episode was done on a Louisiana plantation where they had slaves, and now the government owns it. There was a lot of voodoo stuff. The whole thing intrigues me - that part of the south, it's history, the landscape, culture and feel... or rather, the feel as I know it through movies and TV shows. (Like I say, it intrigues me, I have never been there.) And now... bedtime. Got more capstone tomorrow and hopefully that'll be the last day - at least for the simulation.

And I love my cat so much even when he poops and it stinks the whole house up.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Cake on a stick and da kine

Last night I had a dream that mom and dad worked for a gas station chain.

I walked in the front door of their house and into the kitchen, and saw a bunch of cupcakes with pink frosting on the counter. I looked in the fridge (because that's what I do when I go there) and saw a display of jagged sections of cake, on sticks. Cake on a stick. I helped myself to one and looked out the window, and saw a Happy Pappy's delivery truck parked out front. Mom walked into the kitchen.

"Mom, why's there a Happy Pappy's truck out front?" I asked.

"Well," began Mom, "Vern's opened a new gas station right next to ours in Millville, where all the motocross races are."

"Oh no," I said, "Is it hurting business?"

Mom nodded slowly, "It's tricky, it's tricky."

Mom went on to explain that the gas station chain they worked for started a new division of business, called Happy Pappy's, which offered low-price, lower-end, non-formal event photography, and included cake on a stick and popcorn. Mom had been pulled from her post at the gas station and been given a new job as a Happy Pappy's photographer.

They are trying to stay ahead of the competition by coming up with new stuff before Vern's does, I thought. Expanding through unrelated diversification. I wonder if they'll be able to fall back on Happy's if the competition gets too rough.

I pondered these things quietly as I picked at my cake on a stick and watched mom lay some photos on the counter.

Then I thought I felt mom playing with my hair... then I woke up. Nope, it was Geoff. (Awwwww cute). I probably wouldn't have remembered the dream if I hadn't woken up at that moment, and it gave me something to blog about, so thanks hon.

Anyway - The Diagnosis:

Dreaming about cake: GOOD
Dreaming about unrelated diversification: NOT SO GOOD. And WHAT THE HECK.

I guess three hours of business class shortly before bed could do that you. But why didn't I dream about Dog the Bounty Hunter? Hmmm, maybe next time, braddah.

PS- who's to say cake-on-a-stick wouldn't be a good business venture?

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The 5-Star wonder

So I might've had a little too much caffeine in an effort to stay awake through studying tonight, but hey the homework is done and now I can blog! Because today was such an interesting day (not), I will instead promote one of the greatest products ever made. Drum roll....


The 5-Star Flex All-in-One Notebinder!!



I've normally always bought the 5-Star 3-Subject notebooks with college-ruled paper and pockets. And one day a couple months ago, I was thinking on how inconvenient notebooks are, because you always either run out of paper before the semester is over and you have to mix papers from different classes in the same sections and notes get lost, or you end up with a ton of unused paper that usually goes to waste because by then the notebook is trashed and you're ready to buy a new one. 3-ring binders can solve this problem with the ability you have to add and remove paper from their appropriate sections, but the problem with 3-ring binders is they take up so much space and are cumbersome. With notebooks you can flip it all the way around so it only takes up the eight and a half by eleven inch area needed to take a page of notes. (Or whatever the dimensions are.)
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With this dilemma in mind, I stopped by the office supplies section at Wal-mart hoping to find some kind of answer but not really expecting anything, and THERE. Was the ANSWER to my prayers. (Okay, my wishes. Can't say I actually prayed for it.)
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A 3-ring binder with soft binding, enabling you to flip it around like a regular notebook, pockets included. I don't know how long this product has been out, but I wished I'd found it sooner. It combines all of the great features of both, and when the semester's over, you can remove everything and use it over and over again... which, might not be the best thing for 5-star actually, cuz it might cannibalize their other products, and I guess they'd eventually reach market saturation and no one would ever need to buy another one. (Like the Stride gum commercials, "Spit it out already!") Anyway, can you tell it's late and I'm hopped up on caffeine. (And sick to death of business management textbooks - had one final today, yay!!) Anyway, I should write to the makers of 5-Star and tell them how pleased I am. When I'm done with school I will use it at work.
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PS - Cutting the summer semester in half and offering 7-week classes is one thing that UVU does right. 7-week classes are the best! It's like ripping a bandaid off: painful but quick. They should do it that way all year round.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Bring on the drugs

Went to the dentist today, they numbed both sides of my face. For some reason, it takes an unusually large amount of anesthetics to numb me - after three shots in each side I finally went numb. Then of course you feel like your face is about ten times its normal size, but hey, no pain!

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Sunday, June 21, 2009

I'm a corrupted file

I seriously have nothing interesting to say. Tonight looks like a good night for a bike ride. If we just had bikes... good ones, I mean. Maybe a walk.

Over the weekend I was informed by a concerned family member that I shouldn't count on getting done with school as the solution to all of life's problems. Because I will be dissappointed and there are other ways to deal with things than just "getting through it."

I know this is true, however, I can't help but feel it will bring incredible relief to be done. To not have something constantly hanging over my head, to be able to focus on things I enjoy and have a little more balance, a clearer mind. To do things that need to be done - such as keeping a clean house - and I am so ready to seriously work on my bod. I foresee a time when going to the gym each evening (or at least 5 days a week) will be possible, as well as planning, grocery shopping for, and cooking decent meals. I have tried to maintain a good schedule a few times in the last couple of years and I'm just no good at it when there's classes to go to and homework to be done and groups to meet with and I'm so tired and bla bla bla.

Well anyway, only a couple more weeks and then I'll only have one class, one night a week. So for about two months I should be able to do a good schedule, and then the last semester of school starts. The last semester!!! Woo hoo!!

I feel like a broken record. (Or is it a scratched CD these days? Or a corrupted mp3? I'm sure there's a newer technology that I have no awareness of.) That walk sounds nice.

Friday, June 19, 2009

The Good Wife's Guide (to self-demise)


This email forward was one of the funniest things I've read in awhile. One wonders if it was written by a rather chauvinistic male, but I am happy to report that I don't know of any men with these views today, ha ha.




The Good Wife's Guide, Housekeeping Monthly, 13 May 1955


  • Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

  • Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

  • Be a little gay and a litte more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

  • Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

  • Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc and then run a dishcloth over the tables.

  • Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

  • Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash their hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

  • Be happy to see him.

  • Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

  • Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first- remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

  • Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

  • Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

  • Don't greet him with complaints or problems.

  • Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

  • Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

  • Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

  • Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always excercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

  • A good wife always knows her place.

Of course, I will say that if/when I am a stay at home mom, I am going to try and make our home a happy and comfortable place to be and will take care of my family, just not to this extreme! :)

Here's someone else's take on the article. (Found it by googling.)

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Jr Miss

Tonight was the Jr. Miss Pageant that Danielle has worked so hard on for the last few months.

I. Was. Amazed.

She was amazing. Her talent was amazing. (A piano piece by Johannes Brahms). It looked sooo hard, and sounded flawless. And her interview answer was by far one of the best, and of course she looked absolutely stunning every bit of the way. I can't believe how she's grown up. Not a little girl any more!! :) I was so proud! Wish I coulda got more pictures - might get some from dad and post them later.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Actual post

I don't even know what I want to say in this post so - it's going to be a bunch of rambling. I just know I haven't posted a real post in what feels like forever. (By real I mean journal-ish, which is the purpose of this here blog).

I was just thinking the other day how lucky we were to get Geoff's internship. Not only is it an actual accounting internship, but it's close to home and it actually pays something. We thought he was gonna have to leave the state or something and then work for free. So.

We watched Benjamin Button last night. I wasn't expecting too much based on some reviews I read, but I actually liked it. At any rate, it stuck with me. Maybe I get way too emotionally involved in movies - and I did get attached to the characters - but at the very least it helped me appreciate a little more the chance I have to live life and grow old with the person I love. The school, the careers, the kids, the moves, the struggles, the joys, all of it - unless something tragic happens - will be spent with my sweetheart, and for that I'm so grateful.

It was another weekend of lallygaggin'. So, because of that, this week is packed. About halfway through next week is when the 1st block ends and so does one of my classes. And the week after that another class ends. And the third one goes through the end of July. So. For a week and a half we'll be super busy, and then it'll calm down a little bit.

I have old friends who are out in the world living their dreams and accomplishing great things - things that will make a difference in the world. (Specifics will not be displayed here.) I know I probably sound like such a whiner sometimes, but I wonder when/if I would be able to do such things. We all know I can't get through a day without complaining about school, ha ha. Maybe my "great things" will be centered in my own home and family, as opposed to solving world-poverty. But I would like to help the poverty-stricken countries/people too, somehow, in some way. The question is how to quit talking about it and do it.

I read Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by the Arbinger Institute. Another recommendation from someone. And a very good one I say. It was made to be applicable to business settings, but I think is useful at home too. Again, talking and practicing are two different things, but it is fun to be aware of it at the very least.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Get your question blessed.

This is a hilarious website: Brittany's Blessing. By the author of Mostly Probably.

Pillow stealing

I woke up in the middle of the night and noticed my head was without pillow, looked over and saw it under Geoff's head. I could see by the pillowcase design that it was mine. So I grabbed it out from under him and felt around in the dark for his. It was at the foot of the bed. I grabbed it and stuffed it back under his head and we went back to sleep, on our own pillows. This morning when I brought it up he thought I had taken his pillow away from him, but no, I said, you somehow managed to toss your pillow to the foot of the bed and steal mine in our sleep. We laughed. He is so silly.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

The return of taco friday

Yesterday Geoff and I met for lunch. I don't know why it should've been such a big deal but it made my whole day, I loved it! Then we got to spend last night making tacos (for the return of Taco Friday) and watching movies on the air mattress. It felt like a real date. :) It was fun.

Today was full of errands - oil changes, grocery shopping, house cleaning, etc. I snuck out for a few hours and bought some cute new outfits! It rained a ton today - everyone created giant waves on both sides while driving up Orem Center.

I'm going to go hang out with hubby.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Why're you callin' me darlin'?

I can't get enough of this album:




It's energetic carefree and fun and catchy. I LOVE IT!! I love it more every time I listen.


I had to google "fruit machine". It's a slot machine with pictures of fruits.

Moab pics







Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Weekday repertoire

Work - School - Homework - Sleep. Repeat...

Repeat...

Repeat...

Until we DIE... ha ha

I mean, heaven forbid we should need groceries on a Tuesday...

Okay, so I admit I'm not using the weekends as efficiently as I could. I just can't seem to fight that desire to numb my brain and veg out and play. Sigh.

Someday soon there will be more balance. Only six more months...

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Moab weekend

We went to Moab this past weekend, and stayed in a little campground just north of town. We met mom and dad there and rode four-wheelers! It was the first time being there for both Geoff and me, and we were amazed. It was more beautiful than I thought it would be. I love Zions, and thought nothing could compare to Zions, but Moab was pretty cool. We had a tent site, and Mom and Dad stayed in a cabin right next to our tent.
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The first day we we rode the Gemini Bridges trail. It's one of the easier trails, but the end result didn't disappoint.
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View from the bottom: That's a tree up there, not a person.
View from the top:
This is from the top of the bridges. That guy is much closer to the edge than I dared get. In fact, I tripped over my own foot while up there and decided meeting death was not something I was prepared to do, and stayed far from the edges of the cliffs. You see those tiny people down there on the left? That drop was hundreds of feet. Amazing. Of course Geoff decided he was momentarily not afraid of heights and ventured rather close to the edge. I wanted to kill him for scaring me.
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After Gemini Bridges we went back to camp for lunch and then went on the Poison Spider trail. I think it's supposed to also be one of the easier trails, but I tell you there were parts that made my heart pound, for sure. We encountered a part where three jeeps had to come down a small series of steep hills, and we had to sit at the bottom and wait for them before we could go up. Their brakes squeeled and tires skidded, and I thought they were going to roll. Luckily they didn't! There were a couple of parts we had to get off the four-wheelers and help them up one by one. It was way fun, and I know Geoff enjoyed it too. He really wants to get our own four-wheelers when we have the money and space to keep them.


We were so dirty when we were done that we went back to camp to shower and then went into town and ate dinner at an italian place. After dinner, we drove up to Dead Horse Point just in time to see the sun set. This isn't my picture, but it's part of the view:



Then this morning, we checked out and hiked up to Delicate Arch - (the one on the Utah license plates.) Everything about that excursion was amazing - the drive, the hike, the scenery. My dad took some pictures of that one, I'll post them once I've got copies.

We got home this afternoon, and all we want to do now is shower and rest. Here come a busy few weeks! :)

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Dang, I forgot my pixie stix (okay, not funny...)

They closed down the business building on campus earlier today and evacuated everyone. Geoff's class was cancelled. There were police and firemen there and helicopters flying around. I thought it was a bomb threat or something. Turns out, they found a powdery white substance on a table somewhere, and needed to have it tested. Turns out, it was nothing. Well I mean, it had to be something, though they haven't said what it was, at least it wasn't something dangerous. But while Geoff's 12:00 class was cancelled, someone had enough time to reschedule my 5:00 class to a room across campus. Ha ha. Oh well I am just glad there wasn't a real threat or anyone hurt. You just never know, what with those crazies out there who think it's exciting to target people in schools.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

So Little To Say

Yeah that urge to blog... don't have it anymore. At least not right now. But we had a good time in Vegas with our moms. We saw the Bodies exhibit, the water show, the Lions, the statue-people, the M&M 3D movie, rode the Big Shot, ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, walked all up and down the strip and through several hotels, took our first cab ride (a wild one at that), sat in the jacuzzi, hit up the Old Navy graphic-tees for $3 sale, and stayed up till 3 a.m. gambling. The drive really wasn't that bad, either.
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Saw this on Kylee's blog: rings true, I think.... 'least in my case. ;)