As they say...

A co-worker and I were exchanging goofy renditions of the "give a man a fish" quote, and he called me a "veritable cornucopia of pithy proverbs."

he he he I'm still giggling. Well you know, time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

UPDATE: I am now officially, "Her Royal Highness, Princess of Pithy Proverbs, Calianna Elizabeth Stanlicus VIII." Sweet.

No more dust

Today I did a deep clean of the bedroom. Packed out three tall-kitchen sized bags of clothes, one of shoes, and another two-ish of garbage. (Gross huh) I can't believe I found six empty shoe-boxes just sitting around in my closet, taking up space. I used to think I should keep them because I might use them for storage someday... also threw away two purses with broken handles... am I really that much of pack-rat? It was so nice - I even threw away stuff that I'd never used but had been keeping just because "it cost money". Then I vacuumed against the edges of all the walls and stuff so... ah I can't wait to go to bed tonight.

Also just got back from yoga with friend Ray. She invited me to go last week and it felt really good, it doesn't feel like exercize but it sure makes you sore.

Geoff and I went to see Hancock today at the matinee. It was horrible; don't pay money. Like someone wrote the first half and then someone else wrote the second half and totally changed the tone, plot, and purpose of the whole script. I sure love my husband though. That was the first movie we've been to in a long time.

It is so LATE! Goodnight!

Farewell day

It was my little sister's farewell talk today in church. There was a lot of family and friends there, it was really neat to see all of those people, and she did a really good job on her talk. Afterwards everyone came to my parents house for some grub and to visit. Geoff and I stayed until everyone was gone except Al's "boyfriend" (you can probably see how that works right now seeing as she's leaving on a mission) and Erik's girlfriend and the six of us and Danielle played card games in the kitchen for awhile. It was really fun. Then we came home and took a nap and now I'm doing a bunch of homework that I should've done much earlier. Will blog more later.

The stars have aligned

JIM AND PAM ARE ENGAGED!!!

Knowledgeable and happy, it is

Thanks for your comments, Nadell, JohnnyB and Dad. (Geoff told me aside that he'd rather be knowledgeable and miserable so that he'd know whether or not he should kill himself... hmm...) The consensus - two out of three - seems to be to know all truth and be HAPPY, or at least not miserable, even if circumstances are. :) I'm not saying mine are miserable, but it's nice to have a reminder to just be grateful for what you have. (thanks)

The other day was quite the emotional day... I was so tired when I got home that I just laid in bed with a great big body pillow, in the dark, and listened to a new album I bought until I fell asleep. (Mazzy Star - it's not new, but was my first time listening). It was heaven. I am grateful I can take time out like that.


I'm also so incredibly grateful that my husband is one who listens to me and takes my concerns seriously, though they may not be a big deal to him. And that he makes and effort to do something about them because he cares. Wow... I do not know what I did to deserve him but it must've been good. I'm so full of gratitude for him.


He has also officially switched his major to.............. drum roll................ ACCOUNTING! This pretty much flies in the face of all I thought possible. First of all, I'm in accounting. He is one who likes to have his own identity of sorts, and because I'm in it, it has been discarded as a possibility in the past. Also, he has been making fun of male accounting students for the past year. NOW HE IS ONE! ha ha. Actually, and I have to agree with him on it, there are many obnoxious male accounting students at our school - with the whole "better-than-thou", know-it-all kind of attitude. I secretly always thought that, but brushed it off figuring I probably thought that cuz I'm a girl. Then Geoff brought it up. Anyway, he feels much better about doing this major for the employment opportunities - and, he will graduate faster! Anyhoo, he will do well, and I think it's pretty awesome.

Would you rather

Would you rather be:

Delusional and happy?
-or-
Know all truth and be miserable?

I'm undecided myself, though right now leaning toward the delusional happy side. I want your answer! Even if I don't know you!

I walked to school with Geoff today, and my class gets out an hour before his, so I am stuck here waiting for him. I could walk home by myself if I wanted but it's scary crossing all those big intersections!

I am a little bummed about not understanding the material in my costing class. It's like I think I'm following it, then we try a homework problem and I'm like, "whaaaaaaaaa?" Anyway, since I'm waiting I'll go try to figure it out.

Black socks never get dirty

Yesterday Geoff and I were the speakers in sacrament meeting. It was so scary! And there were two baby blessings too so there were a lot of people! Actually, both baby blessings were for the same family, but still it was a big family. This couple in our ward, Geoff and I refer to them as the "perfect couple" because they are both incredibly gorgeous and they are so incredibly nice and outgoing to everyone. They're the kind of people you want to hate because they're so perfect, but you can't help but like them because they're so nice. Well they had one little boy (cute as anything) and then they decided that the pregnancy was too hard on them and that they would adopt their next baby. So they adopted a little girl, and a month after adopting her, they found out they were pregnant. So, they just waited to have both baby blessings at the same time. I bet their lives are crazy right now, three little babies at home. I can't imagine.

Anyway, I spoke first (about family) and it went well, then Geoff spoke. He joked that I'm his "fashionista" (which embarrassed me a little because I'm soooooo not), but then he said, "This morning, Cali looked at me and said, 'Geoff, you're speaking in sacrament today, you should probably wear some socks.'" And went on to say that he tried picking out some ankle socks, and then I told him he had to wear long socks, and then no, he had to wear long black socks, anyway it just went on and on, people were laughing so hard. That is one talent he has is making people feel at ease by getting them to laugh. Anyway.

Then last night we watched the rest of The Office season four, and I can't wait for the new season to start. And now that we have DVR I can actually record and watch it from week to week instead of waiting for the DVD to come out!

Apparently we're in deep crap

This article scares the crap out of me

Radical bailout plan has a jaw-dropping effect

Yes, I know it's been bad, but I hadn't yet been scared for my own personal welfare. That is pretty creepy... can we really be that close to the edge?

Dad's classically cheesy hip hop

So Geoff has hardly been able to sleep at all for the last week (well, he never has, but this week was bad). So here we are a 9:00 on Friday night and he is conked out sleeping like a baby, poor guy. He's so cute. When I got home from work today he had made crock-pot taco soup (my fav) and corn bread, and peanut butter brownies for dessert, and it was yummmmy. Then he cleaned everything up. He is the best.

Well, I have finished the hip-hop mix for my dad. It's a careful blend of songs I know he likes and melodies he'll recognize from the good old days, with a daring splash of new stuff... some of it corny. This has taken much time and careful consideration. But, dad, you don't have to like it; no pressure or anything. And because I have nothing else to write about, I present the lineup:

Let's Go - Trick Daddy - Crazy Train, Ozzy Osbourne
Cupid's Chokehold, Gym Class Heroes - Breakfast in America, Supertramp
Pump It, Black Eyed Peas
My Humps, Black Eyed Peas
Let Me Talk To You/My Love, Justin Timberlake
Riders On the Storm, Snoop Dog - The Doors
Stronger, Kanye West
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem), Jay-Z - Annie soundtrack
Gold Digger, Kanye West/Jaime Foxx
Changes, 2pac - That's just the Way it Is, Bruce Hornsby
Picture Me Rollin', 2pac
All Summer Long, Kid Rock - Sweet Home Alabama/Werewolves in London
Dangerous, Kardinal Offishall
The Guitar Man, Cake - Bread

Yay. Work was good today, love Fridays. I just learned I'll be getting one of the new offices upstairs when they are finished building it, and they even told me to pick out the desk and the colors and stuff. Kind of cool although I'm not too huge on the whole picking-out of aesthetically-pleasing stuff, if you can't tell from the pictures of our condo. Even my wedding, I really wasn't picky about much, if anything. I picked the color scheme and the wedding dress, and the rest just was... in fact I left most of it to my mom & dad and mother in law and sister and grandma to do (which maybe I should've helped out more than I did). Which they did an awesome job of planning my wedding and pulling it all together, I must say. I got to just enjoy being engaged. I heard someone say, and I don't remember who, that the temple ceremony is the thing that matters most, and the rest is all accessories. (luncheons, receptions, etc). I guess I felt he was right, even if the "accessories" are the expensive part, ha ha.

Take a look at my girlfriend, she's the only one i got, baba-da-ba.

There's a new song that goes "bum bum be dum bum bum be dum bum". That is catchy. As my friend Kenna says, *POOF*! ...added to playlist. I'm going to rock out to some stuff now.

Goodnight.

Conehead Jones

It's been a little too crazy-busy for blogging this week. At Geoff's suggestion, I'm trying to spread my homework out throughout the week, instead of cramming it all in on Monday afternoon like usual, to see if keeping the 4-10's is worth it to me. So far so good, I think. However, tonight I'm taking a little break.


My little sis was going through some pictures the other night and found this little gem: The imagination and handi-work of my mother. Yes, yes we must give her full credit for this.

That's me, Alison, Alison's baby doll, Erik, and Danielle. I love how Erik's looks like it's either going to drag him down to the ground or blast off and knock me and Al over like bowling pins. And Danielle's is too small for her head. She is super cute. My mom chuckles, "it was funny watching you all walk down the street...."

...

This year, I pick out my own costume.

Teeth falling out

Last night I had a dream that I was at my grandma's house when my teeth started falling out. I thought, "oh no, I need to get to the dentist fast" and I grabbed a baggie for my fallen teeth and started to walk down spanish fork mainstreet toward the dentists office. (My dentist is in Provo). All this time, more teeth are falling out. Everyone once in awhile I have to spit another couple of teeth into my baggie and I could feel the empty spot where the teeth once were. As I'm walking down SF main (whch is as busy with walkers at new york city), I pass a car rental place, and decide a rental car would get me to my dentist much faster than walking. I wait in line, and the girl behind the counter asks, "Is this for one or two people?" I reply it's just one, and she points behind her at a glass wall, behind which is a tiny car. She says "someone just rented that one, we'll give you one like it." So I walk behind the glass wall to pick up my rental car. I sit on a seat and suddenly the car is build around me, first the wheels roll up under me, then the steering wheel appears, then the straps go over my head, then the top of the car. Except there is something wrong with my car; it has no roof. There are only bars like the kind you see on dune buggies, and my head pokes through the top of them. "Oh well," I decide, "I really need to get to the dentist." By now my baggie was almost all the way full and I was losing mouthfulls of teeth every few minutes. I didn't even know a person had that many teeth to lose! So I pull out onto mainstreet and realize that my car is powered by my pedaling, and the brakes are the lever in the center that you step on that is completely inadequate. I thought to myself that this wasn't safe, that I would probably be killed if I drove this on the freeway, so I took it back, despite the fact that I was losing my teeth by the minute and was afraid I'd never get them back. So I took it back and asked for another car, and that's all I remember.

Curious, I looked up the meanings when I got up this morning. Grandma's house represents love, security, wisdom, and protection. "Teeth falling out" is supposedly very common, and represents insecurity, often at a time of transition from one phase of life to another, or may mean that you are insecure about your looks or are afraid of making a fool of yourself. The car represents your ambition, drive and ability to navigate from one phase of life to another, and is an indication of your dependence and degree of control you have over your life.

If these things have any bearing at all, I'm in trouble, ha ha. It means I had such a secure life, then all of a sudden something bad happens (I'm thinking it will be losing my job or something), then I'll try to make my way in the world and be, or feel, completely inadequate and out of control. I don't give too much weight to dream meanings, though. Except there was that time that I dreamed about having five babies all at once and then my life changed for the better a week later (with the new job). You never know.

Eh hem

I lack the ability to reach out and let others know I care without being freakishly awkward. It sucks.

I was such an obnoxious, precocious little kid. At what point did I pick up the shyness and insecurities? I think I'll probably be struggling with it my whole life. It sucks.

That's all I have for now.

Serious

Last night, Geoff and I went to Subway to grab some dinner. While in line, a lady came in behind us with a sandwhich she'd bought earlier in the day. She put the sandwhich on the counter and unwrapped it, exposing a bread knife, which had supposedly been wrapped into the sandwhich. She was pretty irate, calling them incompetent and whatever else, and practically jumped over the counter to point out that the knife in the sandwhich matched another knife which was currently being used by someone else. "See? See? They have the same handle, that's your knife right there!" All the poor kid who happened to be at that end of the counter could say was, "would you like another sandwhich?" She said no, she did not want another sandwhich, and would they please put the knife back in her sandwhich so she could bring it in the next day and tell the manager. After she left, the people behind the counter were all saying, "it wasn't me!" and the guys behind us in line were all ordering the $5 combo and could they please get a knife with that? Ha ha. I said to Geoff, how do we know she didn't just find a similar-looking knife, or maybe knows someone who works at a different Subway and asked for a knife, just so she could do this, maybe throw a law suit around? It's bizarre, but weirder things have happened. (Remember the lady who "found" a finger in her Wendi's chili? Did they ever find out where that finger actually came from?)



Anyway, last night was a little emotional for me. First of all, we watched some 911 stuff that Geoff had recorded. Everytime I see that footage it gives me chills. The images that strike me the most are the ones of all the people standing in the streets of New York, just standing around and staring. Imagine something that could STOP people, everyone, in their tracks for miles. One guy with a camera got a bunch of people on film, their reactions to what was happening. (This was after the towers had been hit and before they fell). It was the intense indignation that they clearly felt, and most of them angrily shouted that we needed to run over and bomb the terrorists right now, kill 'em dead, "those people shouldn't even be allowed to live on this earth." I'm sure everyone felt the same thing to a degree, across the country. I know I did. Now as an honest, sincere question: since then, what have we done? Did we accomplish what we meant to do in the beginning? You know I don't write about or follow politics very much, and I haven't made a pro- or anti- war statement. It's a sincere inquiry, I'd like to know what you think.



We also watched "Happy Valley", the movie about the drug problem in Utah County and Utah in general. This one also made me cry, because drugs are a real problem and it's very tragic. I was afraid the people in the movie would try to blame their drug problems on the church or the "culture." Some of them did, but one of the main guys (an addict) actually defended the church and basically told them what a stupid question that was. He knew he was responsible for his own actions, and actually checked himself into rehab. Anyway, kind of a powerful movie about the incredible power of drugs (even "just pills") to ruin and ultimately end people's lives. There was one young girl, only 18 years old, whose actions resulted in her best friend's death. She is now in prison, her mom an addict herself, she couldn't get a hold of her dad, who had seemed to disown her, said she thinks about and misses her friend every day, and was the object of hatred by the people she had hurt. As she broke down and started to cry, I kind of did too. I know the Lord feels compassion towards her and loves her wants her to be loved and happy. I imagine he does for everyone who struggles with addiction and the terrible pain that comes with it. It's such an unfortunate human condition, to get caught up in these things in this life. I know that is why he has given us guidelines, it is to protect us from avoidable misery, because he wants us to be happy, not sad. I hope that girl is able to make a good life when she gets out.



Anyway, this was a really long post. I applaud you if you made it all the way through. Good job!

Poetry and Prose

Who can know the intelligence of today's generations? The space cowboy or the pompatous of love? Perhaps; I know not. But behold the profundity of one ubiquitous "youth", when he so eloquently said:

"Oh squiggly line in my eye fluid.

I see you lurking there on the periphery of my vision.

But when I try to look at you, you scurry away.

Are you shy, squiggly line?

Why only when I ignore you, do you return to the center of my eye?

Oh, squiggly line,it's alright, you are forgiven."

-Stewie Griffin-

.

.

.

And I cannot sleep tonight. Coulda shoulda gone to that concert.

Another list

I know. I am sooooo lacking creativity these days, but oh well.

20 years ago
1) I sported a girl-mullet (thanks, dad)
2) I rode around happily on my GI Joe tricycle (Am I a girl?)
3) Patty Betts was my preschool teacher and I loved her


10 years ago
1) Had my first official, four-day romance until it got too weird
2) Hated curfew (I still think that was retarded)
3) I rode around happily on my bike

5 years ago
1) I had a blast living in Provo
2) I was the secretary at an airport
3) Met Geoff

3 years ago
1) Survived marriage year #1
2) I went back to school
3) I fell in love with The Office

1 year ago
1) I watched all three seasons of LOST in three weeks
2) I started to get my friends back after the initial marriage-period
3) I was skinny

This year
1) I got the job I'd been wanting
2) Still plugging along at school
3) I got fat

Yesterday
1) I sat on my butt for 13 hours straight (work&school) then a couple more hours at home
2) I ate Wingers for lunch, courtesy of work
3) I played with the cat

Today
1) I am listening to the Nutcracker song against my will, again
2) I might go shopping after class
3) I made a reservation at a dumpy hotel because it was the only one not booked

Tomorrow
1) I'll probably watch Ellen's wedding episode that's been sitting there
2) I'll go to work
3) I'll go to school

In the next year
1) We will both graduate! (If the school doesn't decide to do something dumb like change schedules around)
2) I will still be living here, still be working, and still be going to school. I know, exciting.
3) I will hopefully be able to lose a few lbs.

What butts are for...

(Sittin' and sh*ttin') I just thought it would be fun to have two titles in a row that were about butts. Yes, I'm weird.

So since we did 4-8's last week, today was the first day to actually combine a 10-hour workday plus 3 hours of school. I never knew my butt could hurt so bad from doing nothing! (And now here what am I doing...) It is fun though, I am actually enjoying classes this time around. Yesterday was nice because it was sleep-in, then meeting w/counselor, then was able to get tons of homework done. I think I will try to keep up on the 4-8's, just for that extra day. It's a nice way to start the week off. Well Geoff is off at dodgeball and I've got to get started on homework. Oh Geoff just got home from dodgeball, apparently nobody was there. Okay, homework it is.

Who last grabbed YOUR bum?

Since I have Mondays off now, I went to the school to do some homework. I had forgotten how crowded it is there during the day on weekdays during the actual school year. I actually had to drive around and around until a parking spot opened up. I've always grouched about how the school doesn't consider working students' schedules with respect to class availability, testing center, library, lab and bookstore hours, etc. (They still don't). But I'm sure it's just a business decision they've made since apparently the very large majority of students do not attend at night or through the summer. Seriously, I was amazed. People everywhere.

Anyway, I just did some looking around on IMA's website for a homework assignment and got to reading about salaries. Apparently the salary gap between men and women has increased in the last year, and also the Mountain region (us) is the only part of the United States that has not had a salary increase. I am in the wrong gender and the wrong part of the country, or so it appears.

Anyway, enough being negative, how about something for fun? Got a few hours until class. I copied this from Brittany's. Questions you're not supposed to ask people.

When is the last time you exercised? On purpose? Last Monday. And it will probably be another week.
What are you dreading right now? Going back to work tomorrow.
Do you get the full 8 hours of sleep a night? Not unless it's a weekend. Then it's like, 12 hours.
If anyone came to your house on your "lazy days" what would you do? Nothing, just sit there and be lazy.
Who last grabbed your bum? Prolly Geoff although I can't remember when specifically.
What organization in high school were you in that is embarrassing to admit? The Polka Club. (Seriously, I only went to one meeting.)
What are your 5 biggest pet peeves? Cocky or condescending people, protected-left wasters, people who chew with their mouths open, getting home from the store and realizing you forgot something you need now, not being able to find a shoe when youre in a hurry.
Who are you mad at right now? No one.
Do you eat raw cookie dough? It's the only way to eat it.
Have you ever shop-lifted? Not on purpose. I once realized I forgot to scan a thing of tic-tacs at the self-checker.
Have you ever kicked a vending machine? Yes
What is something you dislike that would make other people upset? The DMV
Have you ever been cheated on? Not to my knowledge
Have you ever cheated on anyone? Not to my knowledge (kidding!)
What is your worst habit? Procrastinating.
Are you cocky? No, I'm totally shy.
Could you live without a computer? Yes but it would be a whole different existence. I work and play on the computer.
What was the last lie you told? "Oops, I forgot."
Who or what sleeps with you? Geoff
What do you do when you're sad? Eat. Eat some more.
How many times did you cheat on important projects in school? Never.
Have you ever lied to get out of a ticket? No, just acted real cute and innocent. It works about 80% of the time.
What made you want to wear that hair style? I saw a cute picture of another girl's hair. Mine isn't quite the same as hers, but it turned out okay in it's own right.
Is anyone on your bad side now? No
Ever done drugs? Not illegal ones.
What's the first thing you do when you get online? Blogs and facebook.
Have you ever accessed porn? No.
How much money do you make? Enough to scoot by
Have you ever kissed someone of the same sex? No. Maybe like, my little sister's forehead when she was a baby.
Have you ever dressed up as a member of the opposite sex? Yeah. I was a boy townsperson in a play I was in at age 11.
What size clothing do you wear? Medium to XL, depending on where you buy it.
What is the worst thing your parents ever did to you? Nothing.
When was the last time you left your house? This morning to meet w/an advisor.
Have you ever blamed one of your farts on someone else? No. But ask Geoff and he will tell you otherwise.
What is something you lied to your mom about as a teenager? I don't think I did. I was pretty much do whatever mom & dad say, most of the time. Well, we argued about curfew at 14.
Would you survive in prison? No. I would probably just cry all the time and get my butt kicked.
What is your deepest guilty pleasure? Bubble-gum pop
What is your favorite movie that you should not have seen? Little Miss Sunshine.
Do you know anyone with the same name as you? Nope. About three who have the same first name (different spellings), but no one with first and last.
Have you ever lied to your spouse about a purchase you made that you knew they would disapprove of? If you call not saying anything about it a lie, then yes.
How much weight have you lost or gained in the last 2 years? I've probably gained about 20 pounds. So ummm yeah... working on that.
What irritates you most on the internet? When it freezes and you have to restart your entire computer.
Do you watch movies with your parents? Once in a great while.
Have you ever passed off store-bought food for home-made? Yes, in a joking way. (so really, no)
Have you ever plagiarized? I've never been under oath.
What is your ususal reaction when confronted with an ugly baby? I pretend it's cute. That would probably make the parent feel bad. But most babies are cute, so it's not a big worry.

Lillywhite

I just learned about the Lillywhite Sessions, (this is Dave Matthews Band). My dad just gave me the Busted Stuff album, and I've been listening to it, recognizing some of the songs from an album someone else gave me a long time ago. I've been a huge DMB fan since buying Crash at age 12. I was a member of one of those CD clubs, you know where you join and buy like 12 CDs for a buck or something. And if you didn't place an order in a particular month, then they would send you a random CD and automatically charge you for it. Crash was one of those, but I ended up loving it, and started a long-time love affair with DMB.

I remember when the Everyday album came out, I was in high school, and rushed out to buy it. I liked the album, but told myself the band was changing, as bands often do, and that it would probably be the last DMB album I would ever buy, and it was. A few weeks into my Jr year in HS, a friend gave me a copy of the Lillywhite Sessions. I noticed that the music was a little darker than what I was used to coming from them, and the audio quality was horrible, but I loved it. I never knew the story behind it though until today when I looked it up, and it's kind of interesting. Maybe I understand them a little bit better now for their whole, anit-file-sharing stance too. Anyway, that album my friend gave me has a bunch of songs that never made it to the Busted Stuff album, good ones!

I never thought my dad would be a DMB convert. Then again, I never would've expected him to like Snoop Dogg, either. I made a mix for him a few months ago, of some stuff that I knew was out of his typical genre but thought he might like. Then I threw in Kanye West's Gold digger just for the fun of it. Guess which song he really liked? Yup. So now I'm making him a mix of some hip-hop remakes and stuff he might, again, might, like. Anyway.

Also, I'm getting so excited for Halloween! Or just for fall in general. Halloween is so fun though. Although, in the words of Rory, "Last year's Halloween sucked. In fact the last 5 Halloweens have sucked pretty bad." It just isn't the same as when we were kids. But, maybe decorating and dressing up and hitting up the haunted forests and actually being prepared to pass out candy, unlike last year, will be lots of fun.

Trash-talkin' bitty, that's me! Could this possibly be more awkward?

Today, I was helping a co-worker move her workspace (they are totally re-doing the bldg, tearing down walls and moving departments around) and the boss-men were having a screwdriver-throwing contest just feet away, trying to make the screwdriver stick in the wall. I told my coworker I'm a pretty good knife-thrower and I can kick trash and I bet I'd kick trash at the screwdriver too. She poked her head out from her cubicle and yelled, "hey, cali wants to issue a challenge, she says can kick all your butts at throwing that screwdriver!" It was quiet for about a second then they kind of laughed a little and went on playing. It's probably not a big deal, and I don't think she meant anything bad by doing it, but I was mortified. I think I froze, and refused to come out from behind the cubicle until they all had left. So. I'm on lunch break right now and have to go back in a minute and I just don't even want to go back to work. I know I care too much, but just last night I was telling Geoff that I'm tired of worrying about what my bosses think of me. Anytime they're around I get so nervous and it's very tiring. Anyway, that should help things, no?

So there is hope

Well, I wasn't going to post about this because, well, it's kind of embarrassing. But what a shining example that there are kind people in the world. Last Saturday (my birthday), I hit a parked car. It was just sitting there, minding it's own business, and along comes I. I didn't actually hit it so that it would leave red paint on her car and white paint on mine (no paint exchange), but our side-view mirrors had it out and well, mine won. Took hers clean off; it was dangling by a string. Seeing as I was on my way to the temple, (and that I am an honest person) I left a note under her windshield wipers and waited for the call.

Finally, she called about three days later and left a message. She had been out of town. Then we played phone tag for a couple more days and finally talked to her today. She was soooooo nice. I apologized profusely and she just said she so understands that accidents happen, and she's actually going to make the effort to help us fix it in the least expensive way. But of course I would pay whatever it took to fix it. Anyway, what a nice person. I'm so glad she was nice because if she yelled at me (which she had every right to do) I probably would've just cried. So nice.

Last night I went to dinner at Cafe Rio with Kenna and Kristi. They have talked but never met. I think they have more in common with each other than with me, but it was fun! We totally stayed there for over two hours. Then when I got home Geoff kept saying I smell like Cafe Rio and had to go shower. Anyway, both of the girls are very strong people for going through what they did (and do). I'm just the boring one who complains about school. Anyway, I am just on lunch break so heading back to work!

Anything but glamorous

Tisha tagged me. Here are the rules: you have to take 10 pictures of the following things and you have to do it right away. No straightening, cleaning or wiping your child's nose (I mean it!). Then you tag six others.


1. Kitchen sink: Sorta mostly clean, thanks to Geoff. I've seen it look much worse.

2. What the kids are doing? How about what the cat is doing, since kids aren't to be found.

3. Bathroom: A tornado may as well have been here. Getting ready in the morning is so much WORK.



4. Self-portrait. This is m - I mean, this is what Geoff wishes was me.


5. Fridge. All sorts of school memos and dumb pictures.

6. My closet. What I'm not showing you is the mountain of shoes that is spilling out onto the floor.

7. Laundry room: Not so much a room as a closet. This whole place is like one big closet, no?

8. Favorite room: At least we've made an effort somewhere. It is rather cozy.

9. Favorite shoes. They kill but they're so much fun.

10. Dream vacation spot: The Maldives. When we have 5K to drop in one night, we'll make it here. (that's why it's a DREAM vacation!)

Well, my house is a mess. In fact, I feel kind of crummy after surveying it like that. I want to move. I like our place. It would be fun to move though.

I'm not tagging anyone cuz seriously I don't even know if six people even read! If you want to do it, then go ahead.

24 Dinosaur

This last Saturday another anniversary of the day of my birth passed. I am now "24 Dinosaur" as my co-worker put it. (She is 33). A number of exciting things happened, in random-order as follows:

• My little brother stopped by the house with his girl-friend (she stayed in the car cuz she was on the phone. I still have not met her). He gave me a box of twinkies and a purple Hannah Montana t-shirt. I was so thrilled that he came by, he is so cute. I can't believe how grown-up he is, and taller than me! (He's 17, HS senior). I have never expressed interest in Hannah Montana and was a little surprised so I asked "Hannah Montana?" And he said, "Hu-yeah," as if, "duh she's the greatest ever!" It was so cute.
• Mom & Dad gave me a one-hour massage at the Utah College and a $50 gift certificate to the mall (my favorites, both!) and chocolate. And flowers. They know me way too well. :)
• In the morning, Alison and I went down to Manti and met her friend and friend's hubby and did a session at the Manti temple. We talked about boys and the color-code all the way down and back up. It was way fun and I will miss those times when she is gone.
• Geoff bought me the movie My Girl 2 (because I love the first one), and more candy than I could ever hope to eat in a lifetime. Seriously, I think he spent like 50 bucks on boxes of chocolate, m&m's, skittles, licorice, and anything else you can think of. We made ourselves sick on it last night, it was so much fun. And we ordered pizza and stayed in and watched movies. My husband is such a stud. Seriously, he's like the most handsome man I've ever met, and a sweetheart too. And he makes me laugh all the time.
• A co-worker surprise-decorated my office with balloons, streamers, banners, confetti, you name it. It was so nice of her, and unexpected so I was totally surprised. And my work gave me a big bag of candy and popcorn.
• Geoff's mom called to say happy birthday and sent me a singing card and some gift-certificates, and his dear grandma, who is such a sweetheart. She has just been diagnosed with cancer and is having surgery on Thursday. She is in such good spirits (or sounded that way) despite everything, and was so sweet to call me when she is the one who should be recieving phone calls. Geoff's dad also gave me a gift certificate as an early birthday present when he was down visiting a couple weeks ago. I am so lucky to have such awesome in-laws.
• My grandma also called to say happy birthday and get my address to send a card. She said she would've called earlier but she's been busy planning a class reunion and she has a houseguest, so she's very busy. She's so cute. I'm glad she's able to be busy and be happy having a nice social life. I should go down to visit soon.
• An old co-worker from a past job called, as he does every year. He tells me about his family and says to let him know when we're down so we can come visit him and his wife, and even offers to let us stay at their house! He really scared me though, because when I saw the caller ID I thought it was one of our clients, and then when I picked up, he said, "This is the IRS, and I think you're cheating." If I hadn't just sent a letter to the IRS asking them to call me, I wouldn't have been so scared. And we're not cheating, but it is scary to hear that nonetheless. Ha ha.

It was such a great birthday, and I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people. I really think that is what makes life so good. :)

A few other thoughts:

This morning upon waking, a saw dark-gray clouds nestled low against the mountains and thought, "No! It looks like fall is here already!" Then when I walked outside, it still smelled happily like wet summer grass and not cold smoky fog, the tell-tale sign of pending winter. So we still have some time left. I love the fall. Really the only thing there is not to like is that it's followed by winter.

I love this new David Archuletta song. It's catchy. And it's funny the way he pronounces truth as "tuh-rooth."

A twinkie makes a great breakfast just before you head off to the gym.