Why not jump on that train... woot woot

A couple months ago we got a letter from our HOA letting us know that our fees have been raised by $15/month. The explanation letter was very poorly written, giving reasons like "This other complex had a tree fall on their roof, we have to be prepared in case something like that happens to us." (There are no trees near or tall enough to hurt our buildings). Anyway, Geoff wrote a mock HOA letter, it is high-LARious. Read it here. I suggested we send it to our neighbors because it's funny, but we decided not to.

Finally done!

SPOILER ALERT! Don't continue if you still plan on reading the Twilight Series. (Although I can't imagine many people who actually want to read it have waited longer than I have)

Well, I finally finished the fourth book last night, which means life can return to normal now. Unlike many other Twilight fans, I was not disappointed with the fourth book at all. There were some differences, like Edward went from being a dangerous and smoldering hot forbidden love to a very comfortable companion/fatherly/husbandly type... a family man. And Bella's entire tone was different, which made really the entire book different. (Well, the part that was hers and not Jacob's). It was not in a bad way, just a different, less addicting way. Which is good for me because that means I'm not too disappointed that there's not more to read. I think there was nowhere else for the story to go anyway, without repeating itself or shifting the focus to other characters. But still good. I still have my soundtracks to listen to and they are very good.

Now we get a couple more days of play before going back to the grindstone (a.k.a. school). It's New Year's Eve tonight, just got home from work, and looking forward to nothing more than hanging out at home with Geoff, being comfortable and taking it easy. He's gone right now, getting pizza, I think. We haven't had pizza in almost three weeks! (that's pretty good for us). Plus I think Geoff's cold is about to become my cold, so relaxing feels really nice.

Resolution Schmezolution

Our new year's resolutions according to Geoff: Geoff's BLAHG.

New songs

Just changed up the playlist with some mellow stuff. FINALLY someone linked to my favorite Mraz song so I can put it only list... O. Lover. A dangerously seductive song. (It's at the bottom if you care to have a listen.)

Oh - I just bought Howie Day's Australia (because Stop All the World Now was so awesome how could this one not be?) The song "Ghost" is amazing. It is also at the bottom.

Update: Ang has given me the Twilight soundtrack and all the music that the author listened to while she was writing the novels... how freaking awesome is that??? (How freaking awesome is she??) I'm just starting in on them now, and there's a song on the soundtrack that I have totally fallen in love with - Flightless Bird, Iron & Wine, it is also now in the playlist at the right, at the bottom.

Total ECLIPSE of the heart

I feel somewhat brooding tonight, don't know why. But I tell you my hubby is such a bright spot in my life. Where would I be without his even temperament and upbeat attitude?

I know I am talking about this a lot the past week or so, but it is sort of dominating my world in that short space of time. BUT I just finished book 3 this afternoon, and I LOVE it. After checking out the soundtrack and musical score on itunes, I decided it was time to see the movie. Edward and Bella were exactly as I pictured them even before I saw advertisements, but the acting was horrible. Especially Bella. Charlie was pretty good though, actually. His performace actually stood out even though it's one of the lesser supporting roles. And the girl who played Jessica was actually pretty good at her part, too. Anyway, regardless of all that, I did enjoy it. And I daresay Geoff enjoyed it too. I want to start book 4 but it's just taking up too much of my time and thoughts... might be good to give it a break for a few days. And though I admit it reluctantly, I really do heart Edward. There's a facebook group called "Because I read the Twlight series I have unrealistic expectations in men." Chuckle. That was always Geoff's gripe with chick flicks. I suppose that's true. We "chicks" deal with the same thing though, pretty much anywhere you look. It is what it is though, eh?

Speaking of... Christmas candy at Wal mart is 50% off. I loaded up on cordial cherries, orange-creme mints, and sweet stripes. I've been working really hard this break to watch the food intake, (have actually lost a couple pounds) but blame it on the mood I guess. Hopefully it will just sit around.

About the dog in Murray that walked into a Smith's, went straight to the pet food aisle, selected a raw-hide bone, and walked straight back out the door. Got a pretty good laugh out of that. That is a smart dog. I love pets.

Lovin' Christmas

We talked to Alison yesterday morning on the phone. We got up early on Christmas and drove to Spanish Fork to do this. It was worth it though, of course. (Read my mom's account plus letters from Al here.) We stayed to open presents and eat breakfast with the fam. It was fun. Mom & Dad got both Geoff and I brand new winter coats - nice ones that we could wear to church - I love them! And they also gave us a portable DVD player since we keep borrowing theirs all the time. We've got a lot of nice stuff from both sets of parents and siblings (and others!). I was just about to write thanks to people but I thought that's tacky to say thanks on my blog, I'd rather speak to them.

After mom & dad's we came home so geoff could shave cuz he felt hairy, we took a nap and went back to SF to grandma's this time. The extended family was there and we ate lunch and exchanged gifts. Geoff has had a cold the last few days, and he'd taken some cold medicine that made him loopy, so we came home then, and he totally crashed on the couch for at least an hour. I started book 3 while he was asleep, then he woke up and we watched the Dark Knight. Wow, I thought Heath Ledger was amazing! Because he was so creepy, the way he talked and kept licking his lips. He really stole the show. (Yes, I know we're about six months behind the pop culture trend, everyone else has already seen it).

About 11:00 we crashed. I say though, it is so nice, to know that you have all of the next day to do whatever you want! And better, the day after that too! Love it!

Christmas Eve

Today was a half-day at work. It was crazy and hectic, but lots of fun. They gave away all of the festival of trees stuff, and did the final gift thing for the secret sister game. Usually at that time, you have the option of revealing your identity to your giftee. Some do and some don't. I didn't know what to expect, but I hoped that the person who's been gifting me (and they've been steadily giving them all month) would reveal theirself so I could say thank you, but that was not the case. They did give me a Scentsy bar of wax and a wax melter (smells sooooo good). I looked all over the card, the outside, and the underside of the wrapper, and took out the melter and looked for a name or something anywhere but didn't find one. I just hope the person knows I've been touched by their kindness. I'm quite certain I'm undeserving of it. Maybe next year I will pick someone and do it to them, to pass it on. Actually, I should pass it on all the time. :)

Tonight we'll go to Grandma Bingham's with the fam, but right now I'm off to the gym. I'm staving off the third Twilight book until the day after Christmas so's I don't end up neglecting Geoff and my family (cuz it will trap me for hours). We rented some Christmas movies anyway and that sounds kind of fun. (Elf, which is Geoff's recent Christmas favorite, Muppet Christmas Carol, and the Santa Clause.)

Life is wonderful. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

I love it more than a fat kid loves cake

Okay, I'm officially addicted. I LOVE THE TWILIGHT SERIES! I am finishing the second book on my lunch break today.

PS- I love cake, in case any are inclined to take offense.

Lunchtime thoughts

IT. WON'T. STOP. SNOWING. View from window.

I leave my car in the parking lot for a couple of hours and it goes and collects four inches. (Or something like that, I didn't actually measure it). I didn't bring any food to work today, thinking I'd just go home, but driving home in this weather would probably be an act of suicide. I hope it lets up enough for the snow people to plow it. And I hope they plow it. So instead I ran to the Wendy's across the street and got a chicken salad and now I'm sitting at my desk eating it, blogging. (On my lunch break... and the salad's not that great). Can I add that I nearly died just running across the street.

We've got couriers running all over Utah & Salt Lake counties, and Heber, whatever county that belongs to. I hope they make it back okay.

I wish I'd brought Twilight book 2 to read. Guess what I'll be doing tonight... if I make it back okay...

Did I mention that my work has a Twilight Christmas Tree? They bought it from the Festival of Trees, as an afterthought, to tease my boss. Do you think it would be allowed to post pictures of it? (I don't want to get in trouble)

Oh yeah, and this morning when I got in, someone had left some of those miniature cream pies with fruit on top from Kneaders on a cute little Christmas plate. Those pies are my favorite. Someone has obviously paid attention. I wish I knew who it was, I can't believe they'd be so kind to think of me.

Twilight

I did it. Read the first book. Angie was right, I was both totally into it and rolling my eyes. It was pretty good, pretty good, then got kind of boring about three-fourths of the way through, then got REALLY intense. Now after reading the first one I do think it's a little... mmm... shall we say different that my 37-year old male boss loves the books... but I'm going to read the next one anyway. As soon as I get it from my mom's house.

The only thing that would ruin this book for me is that they were so in LOVE, so unconditionally and lifetimely committed after a few short days. Doesn't happen. Puh-lease. I didn't like his temper either.

But who doesn't fantasize about being adored by an out-of-this-world-good-looking vampire who takes exceptional care of you and is extremely dangerous for you? Especially one that no one else could get? I sure do, I tell you what!

Uh... I can stand upright

Props to Geoff for coming to a yoga class with me tonight. He said afterwards that it felt like he got beat up by six bullies. Ha ha he is such a cute boy. And we discovered that he is not only stronger but also more flexible than me! He was totally able to do the birds of paradise pose:
I could reach behind and touch my hands together but there's no way I could do that and balance on one foot at the same time. Yeah, the man is full of surprises.

Recently updated

I just re-did my blogroll so it's supposed to show the most recently updated first and so on... it doesn't appear to be working yet, but it probably will as time goes. So no offense, all you "bloggers" who haven't blogged since July, you are going to the bottom of my list and there you shall apparently stay! HAR har har

Wally is a weirdy

Snow. Sucks.

Geoff started a new blog. Yes, this is his third blog, but he says he's finally found his calling in life and that's to keep the new blog. SO CLICK HERE for some Jack Bauer-esque enjoyment. I heart Geoff.

Gives literal meaning to letting the cat out of the bag.

So true

more animals

How did she know I'm an airhead

This was left on my desk yesterday by "Ang," one of my awesome coworkers and friends. She is also the one who decorated my office on my birthday. I just love her cute personality, and it's so thoughtful and out of her way to think of me, I just love her. :)

Yesterday for our human performance meeting we did something a little different. A guy came and spoke to us about values in business and how they spill over into our personal lives. I really liked it. It was kind of like the business lecture series I took at school last year, except shorter!

Finals are done! For the next three weeks, I look forward to getting Christmas shopping done, going to the gym (which hasn't seen me since October), and spending time with family and friends! Oh yeah and let's not forget read the Twilight series... really, let's not forget.

Al should be in Chile by now, getting used to her surroundings, hopefully.

Hey, my cat vibrates too

Okay, so I can be somewhat of a blogstalker. (Blogstalking: linking from blog to blog to blog... ). In my defense, I do, or, shall we say did know most of the people whose blogs I hit on... it is fun to see what people are up to. ANYWAY, I saw this one and had to laugh because that is Wally to a T... right down to the shoes and plastic bags. Must be a cat thing.

Sisters and Christmas parties

Today I was sitting at my desk working when a call came on my cellphone. I don't typically answer the cellphone when I'm working or if I don't recognze the number, and this was both, so I let it ring through to voicemail. When I listened to the message, I wanted to kick myself! It was Alison! She was calling from the airport while waiting to board her flight to Chile. (Well, Georgia then Chile). Luckily, she knew, and called right back a few seconds later and I got to talk to her for about 10 minutes or so. It was cool to hear and talk to my little sis! It was weird it still almost seemed like she was calling to see if I wanted to go to the mall or something. (For LDS missions, phone calls are a rare privilege). Except she bore her testimony in spanish so I could hear what she's learned so far. She talked in spanish for probably a full two minutes straight, it was neat to hear her rattle off a bunch of stuff. I couldn't decipher it at all. The next time she calls will be Christmas Day, so only ten more days. So she's officially been in the air for about two hours now. She said she's traveling with about 17 other missionaries who have the same flight plans, (which made me feel better that she's not alone), and she'll be in Chile by about 10 a.m. our time tomorrow. Crazy! She seemed pretty nervous and excited, she mentioned - in so many words - that she sometimes wondered if she knew what she'd got herself into. But it will be a good experience for her, and it's only 18 months. Actually, only 16 months now. She'll be just fine and I know she won't regret her experience.

This was from our work Christmas party last Friday night. It was at the Grand America again. We were both laughing because Geoff (or was it me?) dropped the Christmas present right as Joe snapped the picture and were trying to hold our pose. Anyway, it was fun. We just ate a nice dinner and did a white elephant gift exchange. I gave a couple of cute cocoa mugs with candy in them and we ended up getting a Clapper. (Clap on, clap off). We actually installed it on the bedroom lamp and have been goofing around with it ever since. My work gave us a one-night stay at the Zamott Resort in Midway (which is supposed to be super nice) along with $50 spending money while there. It was so nice of them.

Saturday night we went to some friends (the vegas friends) and had chocolate fondue and played mad gab and taboo, and watched a movie. It was pretty fun. Now we're just in the middle of finals. I've got one tonight and one tomorrow night and then I'M DONE! Geoff should be done soon too. He's got three down, three to go.

Domestic Savvy, I has it not

Okay, so ironing clothes is about the most frustrating thing in the world, right? Because you get all done, then you look at it and go, "I swear I ironed that!" Then you go over it two or three times until you finally give up and throw it in the dryer, again.

Well, today I finally figured out the key to ironing clothes!

Use starch! It really works!

Mental note- now that I think about it, it seems like I've had this epiphany before... some things just don't stick, I guess...

Pink Chapagne on Ice

I just added the Eagles, Hotel California Live Acoustic version to my playlist over there on the side. I love this song. Geoff can play the beginning guitar part. I just love the spanish-sounding guitar at the beginning (maybe it is spanish guitar? I don't know enough to tell), and when the percussion comes in. I adore it all the way up until the familiar chord progression starts, where it becomes "that song." (It's still good after that but the beginning is more captivating).

Sometimes Geoff will play the guitar part on his guitar, then when it comes time for the percussion I'll hit out the beat with my hands. We're so dorky, but it's fun. Back when I had my piano, we could play Ben Folds Five's Brick together, me on piano and him on guitar. That was so fun, I love doing stuff like that.

A secret

My work does this secret santa thing each year, where you draw names and do something nice for your person once a week... decorate their workspace, give them treats, gifts, etc. And all in secret of course, until Christmas Eve, when we have the chance to reveal our identity if we want. I participated the first year, but last year and this year I've opted out.

However, someone's been giving me gifts. I thought the first one might've been an accident (even though it was so incredibly nice of them to let me keep it anyway) but this week I got another one! And they know I'm not playing. But the one person who I know knows who it is, refuses to tell me. I'd love to thank them properly for the nice gifts but I have no clue who it is. (I think it is a female because men don't buy those kinds of things... that might be kind of weird anyway). Last week they gave me this way cute wooden santa that stands on its own, and this week was a cute wooden sign that says merry christmas on it and they are so cute. I love them, and they are the two sole pieces of decoration in my office right now. So of course I'm very flattered, and it has made me very conscious of the way I'm treating the people around me... which is a good reminder, regardless of why.

My routan babies

Today I went to the women's health care center in A.F. for my yearly checkup. While in the waiting room, I observed a girl come out from the back, grasping her husband's hand in one and what looked like an ultrasound in the other. She was smiling and had an obvious pregnant glow. There was one girl about seven-ish months pregnant who looked like she was on the verge of a mental breakdown, and one that couldn't have been a day over 18. And it's probably likely that there were some there who were trying to conceive and hadn't yet been able to, and probably a few like myself, just there out of routine. Anyway, I thought about what they must all be doing there and realized how amazing and strong women are. They go through so much with the whole child-bearing thing, no matter what phase they may be at, it can take such a toll physically and emotionally. Women are amazing.

Anyway, as for my own experience. I really like my doctor, she's really great. Her name's Ekaete (Ee-ky-tay) and she's so nice. I was expecting a normal checkup though, you know the expected uncomfortable-ness of taking your clothes off and donning hospital-esque clothing, having your insides pinched and poked. Anyway so there I was on my back, lying spread-eagle and anticipating the end, and the door opened. And someone else walked in the room. And stood there while the doctor finished. I wanted to die; I got so nervous and the doctor kept saying "relax, relax" but how in the world was I supposed to do that, tell me. Anyway, it was over before I knew it, but I bet it was almost as horrifying as the time Geoff realized he accidentally drank his auntie's breast milk. Probably almost. I'm glad it's only once a year.

Anyway, all the thinking about babies and stuff, and someone showed me a website where you can upload yours and someone else's photo and see what your babies are going to look like. So, I took these two photos:

And got this baby:

Then I tried it with these two photos to see if it would give me something different:

And got the following babies:

I can't tell if any of them really look like either of us. The module puts markers on your faces and constructs a baby for you based on that. I do think it's interesting that we got almost the exact same baby from two different picture sets though. The person who showed me the website got a baby that just looks exactly like her husband. Anyway, I couldn't get the exact URL but google Routan Baby and you can find it. Kind of funny.

Counting blessings

It seems every day I am reminded in some way or another of just how lucky and blessed I am. You know, I've been a little stressed with school and the fact that my brain turned to mush in Vegas and hasn't quite resumed it's normal shape yet, but I have nothing to complain about, for real. With the times being what they are, I am sooooo lucky to have a job that I feel relatively secure in, that I love, and that helps us to be self-sufficient, even though we're both in school and we're supposed to be poor... I don't feel a struggle at all. That is an amazing blessing. And I just realize all the time what a great husband I've got... I just love him so much. I feel so secure with him and I think no matter what happens, that he is the one next to me at night is all I want. Things are good.

Smells Like... popcorn

Geoff and I just watched the 100 greatest songs of the 90's countdown (well okay, numbers 40-1 without commercials thanks to the divver). It was so much fun. I couldn't believe how old some of those people are now. It was only ten years ago they were in their prime, most of them. I was also surprised to know 99% of the songs, and it took me back to the terrible confusing days of Jr. High, with the black baggy pants and teeny tight little shirts, chain-link necklaces and horny boys. That was just when I was starting to emerge from my world of Dad's music (Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, Timothy Schmidt) to genres of my own... grunge and pop... X96.3 was tha bomb before they started playing the crappy pop-punk, which I'm sure will comprise the 100 greatest songs of the 2K's. I love the 90's. (That Smells Like Teen Spirit was first introduced to me by Weird Al Yankovich will remain our little secret, mmmmkay?)

So I was scrolling through the TV guide the other day and lingered over the lineup for Spike TV... which is obviously a man's channel. I was amused at the upcoming shows, which included MANswers: How to bust out of handcuffs, bullets and samurai swords, taking a stripper home, and killing a bear. This was followed by Horsepower IV, Prisoners out of control, and When animals attack. Thinking the busting out of handcuffs thing just might come in useful one day, I clicked on the show where I immediately learned which animal farts the most. (But I forget what it was now, dangit). Men are so funny.

Flip from Spike over to Lifetime, where we have Flirting with Forty, Will & Grace, and If You Believe, which promises the story of "a highly stressed book editor who nears a breakdown, her inner child appears in order to help her find the joys of life."

Sometimes I wonder which of these encompasses me more. I hope to find out when I read the Twilight series, at which I expect to either melt with excited giddyness or roll my eyes and go "C'mooonnnnnn for real?" We will see.

Geoff just made popcorn and it is calling out to me...

World keeps turning

It is so busy this week! And probably for the next week or two! Finals and stuff coming down, so it's taking up pretty much all time, I'm pretty much too tired to do anything else, including blog. (gasp!)

Three of our employees got laid off today, including one who I considered my friend from the time I started working there. She was one of the few who really took me under her wing and just made me feel so at home. I wanted to cry. I will miss her.

Earth to Cali?

Talk about coming back after a holiday.

The first thing I did when I got to work this morning was respond to an eight-month-old email from a co-worker, and copied three other people on it. This was followed by a round of "I'm sorry, please disregard" emails.

The auditors came back to our CPA saying they never got the 2nd qtr. reports from me. "Yes they did!" I exclaimed, pulling up the email with the 2nd qtr. attachments. I pointed to the dates, 7-1 thru 9-30, "See, second quarter!" (yeah, I felt like an idiot)

Back when I went on 4-10's, Tiffany took over doing Monday's banking, and when I went back to 5-8's, management said they wanted her to keep doing it on Mondays so she would stay fresh. Well, about an hour late, I went to pick up the stack of invoices, wondered why there weren't any to pick up, then did a walk-through payroll and called for banking. Tiffany had already done it an hour earlier. (She laughed pretty hard at me when I told her)

On lunch break, I went to mom's office to pick up my earrings, which I'd left at her house, then went to the bank to cancel my debit card, which I'd lost.

To my boss's question, "What'd you do now?" I respond, "Well, you just never know..." The rest of the afternoon went okay until I got to class and realized I brought the wrong textbook.

Oy vey. Now the day is almost over, thankfully. Just grocery shopping and homework. ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS LEFT OF DANG-BLASTED SEMESTER LEFT!! Yippee.