Random Fridays

1.  Does anybody else think that Kevin Costner is good looking? 

I never hear his named mentioned anymore.  The last good movie he was in was The Guardian...that was Rob and my first movie where we held hands during the whole movie.  Lots of interdigitation, people.  It was awesome.  One of my favorite movies he was in is Message In A Bottle.  Yep, that and The Guardian. 

2.  Rob and I are cursed.  We truly are cursed in the fact that we can't make friends in our ward without them moving soon after.  We miss you Jason & Merideth!!  This has happened on 5 occasions now.  It's tragic and I'm afraid to make friends in our ward again.  Especially, since I'm not the most social person in the world.  We will, though...we will.

3.  Girl's camp is approaching and, unfortunately, I can't be there except for the night the Bishop and his wife are driving up.  I get to be the 3rd wheel in their tiny, cute Yaris for a 2.5 hour drive.  Yay!  I don't have to drive up by myself :)  Anyway, I told my Mia Maids that they are in charge of pranking the other girls.  I learned an awesome prank when I was a Laurel.  I'm sending them up with a big bag of Tootsie Rolls and it's their job to unwrap and mold the Tootsie Rolls into pooh-log shapes.  Then, they are to place said pooh-logs in tents, on clothing, etc. to freaking scare/gross out the other girls.  Ah, the fun times of the Tootsie Roll prank!

4. My Mom will be moving in with us within a month or so.  I'm excited to hang with her more and hopefully be able to finish a bunch of project on our house that we started!

5.  I want to see Hunger Games again.  I have only seen it once....and that isn't enough for me.  I'm just waiting for it to go to the dollar theaters.

6.  After work today, I'm going home and sleeping.  I am so tired and haven't been sleeping very well lately because of another cold/sinus infection.  

7.  After said nap this evening, I plan on kissing my husband.  I've been refraining lately because of not wanting to get him sick and because it's pretty gross to kiss someone who face is leaking.  But, my face isn't leaking anymore and hopefully I'm not contagious anymore.  I just can't stand it!  Can I get an Amen.


It's funny to look back on this blog and see how I digressed sooo badly.  Sorry - it's a random Friday - and I don't do well on Sinus meds.

It's Up to the Lifting.

Sources say when John Steinbeck was in college, a professor of his told him he would become a writer when pigs fly.  I mean, this was John Steinbeck.  The man who went on to write beautiful literature like The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.  On the back of all of his books, he has a small image of a pigasus (pig with wings) with the latin phrase, "Ad Astra Per Alia Porci" which translates into "To the stars on the wings of a pig."  Steinbeck described himself as "earthbound but aspiring...A lumbering soul but trying to fly...(with)...not enough wingspread, but plenty of intention."

This life is full of gravity.  Forces and people trying to keep us down and unable to move upward, unable to grow to our full potential.  Let us not lose track or forget what could be; because with the help of God, Allah, Buddah, Mother Earth, The Universe, or whatever higher power you put your faith and trust in, you can get anywhere you choose.  It's up to you how far off the ground you will lift.  Maybe you won't get as high as you would like, that's ok.  Maybe you won't be off the ground for more than a second, that's ok, too.  Life is all about the trying.  Doing our best to at least reach with all of our might upwards, even if we don't make it an inch off the ground.  At least your posture will be better. :) 

One of my favorite movie quotes is "If you haven't tried, you haven't lived."

Sorry about the metephorical upheaval today; I felt inspired after helping in group last night.  To end, here are some inspiring quotes and photographs that get my wings-a-flappin' ~

"Listen to your heartbeat and dance..." ~ Cathi Turner

(My 48-year-old nextdoor neighbor who passed away after a bike accident last Saturday)



"Take pride in how far you have come and have faith in how far you can go."

Kindle Glitters

I have been reading through my last few blog posts and noticed that they are all centered around sad, depressing-ish things.  Sorry.  In reality, it's been really theraputic for me, but probably not all that great to read.  So, I'll try not to be selfish in this post and think about my reader(s)...I love that I am hopeful that someday 50 people might read my blog :) LOL. 

I am thinking of getting a Kindle Touch.  Yes, a few years ago, I told myself I would never get such an aborration to the written word.  But, now - I think they are a pretty cool idea.  Plus, the idea that you can borrow books from the library on them...wow.  I could have all the classic books I wanted on there for not too expensive.  Plus, my favorite romance novelist (don't judge) has a few on amazon e-reads as well.  Hmmm.  Sounds good.

On Monday, Sam and I went for a play date at Emily's house.  She is the wife of someone that Rob works for and she is super sweet for having us over.  She has an adorable 9 month old who is so funny!  Sam didn't know what to do.  It is my goal to have at least one play date a week with other kids...plus nursery on Sunday of course.  But, Sam.  Oh, it's fun to watch.  The little baby came crawling up to him and started hanging on to him to try to stand.  Sam looked at me like, "Why the crap is he touching me?" and then, I think got (accidentally) pinched by those tiny cute hands.  Well, that was the end.  Melt down for a few minutes and then back to just observing the baby from "safe distance."  After that, whenever the baby came over to Sam, he would freeze like he didn't know what to do.  He gets that from me.  Fight or Flight?  Nope, freeze please.  Can't help it.  No crying though.  I was proud we didn't have another melt down. 

Later that night we had left-over pork roast and potatoes and then headed to The District which is literally 3 minutes from our house.  We went to Marble Slab Creamery (we had a coupon) and, of course, I had to get the coffee flavor.  It's my weakness when it comes to ice cream.  Coffee flavor with nuts and chocolate is my favorite kind of ice cream.  With our bellies and mouths delighted, we headed over to Hobby Lobby for some glitter.  I've been wanting to try doing DIY Glitter Toes...and it was a success.  My feet look like fire crackers!  So awesomely cute!!!  And soooo cheap and easy...just like I like my man! :)  Love ya babe. 

Tomorrow, we are going on our 3rd AWESOME walk with a gal in my neighborhood.  Dorothy, I know you probably won't read this, but you are a riot!  I love going on walks with you!  After Sammy's nap, it's off to Gammy's house, then Rob will pick him up and I'll head off to LifeSTAR in Bountiful.  Good day :) 

Ciao!

Twilight - The Non-Vampiric Kind

Tuesday was one of those days.  Yep.  Drab, melancholy, bitterly depressing, cup-half-empty, plain ol' sucky - take your pick of dramatically descriptive words.  I'm not even entirely sure why it was such a crappy day.  It was business at usual at our house: early rise, breakfast, a bit of Elmo, morning walk, shower, nap, a little Grey's Anatomy for me, lunch, Costco trip (splurged on cheese and caramel popcorn!  Sound horribly gross, but is divine), spaghetti leftovers for dinner, etc.  I guess it's not what happened that day, but what went on in my head.  Sometimes, my brain, I swear is a Kamikaze bomber...no disrespect to Japanese people anywhere.  My brain sets me up for anxiety "episodes" ("they aren't attacks, they're episodes" - name that movie!!!) and dreary melancholy at nights.  I really wish I was a man sometimes.  Besides the obvious I-wanna-be-able-to-pee-standing-up rant, I wish I could compartmentalize my thoughts sometimes.  Instead, my womanly-wired brain constantly thinks of stressful things that flares up my anxiety all day...no matter what I'm doing.  Unless I'm watching a movie or reading an addictive book.  That's the only way to have a break from my thoughts. 

So, by the end of the day Tuesday, I was spent.  Shot.  Kaput.  I had a huge headache that probably had something to do with the rocks that my neck and shoulder muscles had turned into.  That's where all the stress goes, folks.  I skipped going to Young Womens that night (shhhh) and went straight to my bathtub.  I had 1/2 a bathbomb from LUSH leftover called Twilight.  It's a great one.  This one is really relaxing and soothing.  It's made with Lavender, Chamomile and other essential oils that make your skin awesomely soft.  Also, it has glitter in it.  Yep, glitter.  So when you get out of the tub, you shimmer.  It's pretty fun.    Plus, it makes your bathwater a dusk color (orange, pink, purple-ish, blue). 

It was heavenly.  Just soaking in the tub listening to great music from the soundtracks of Tuck Everlasting, Cinderella Man, The Village (beautiful violin solos), and Sense & Sensibility really helped me relax.

***

This weekend, my mom and I are going to see The Hunger Games (I'm way excited to see it again and to see her reaction), we are doing some cleaning and hopefully some painting, and mowing the lawn as well.  So, here's to splatterings, mulch, and Peeta.

Imagery

Not many words are coming to me this morning (afternoon), so I am just going to post a bunch of pictures that describe me today...so, here's to the imagery. 

19-Year-Old Rants

I just came across this little gem looking through the different files on my laptop.  I remember when I wrote this and can still remember how I hated guys at this point.  It was at this time (or shortly after) that I put all of my focus and energy on school and church instead of the fact that I had never been in a "relationship."  And, just in case - Chris, Matt and Preston (Michelle)...sorry guys...this was a ranting session of a 19-year-old.  But, I completely doubt that any of you read this, so here we go!  

November 29, 2006:    

What happened to the good old fashioned days where boys asked girls out and everyone had a date most weekend nights (except for the people with hygiene problems)?  What happened to chivalry, pure gentlemanly ways?  What happened to good breading?  Opening doors?  Maybe it’s just cause I haven’t been on a date in….well, let’s just say a while.  Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get married.  Then, I know I will because it says so in my patriarchal blessing.  But, what if I’m not living righteous enough?  Or, what if I’ve missed “him” and just haven’t been listening or something.  What if he’s tried, but I’ve been to bull headed or stupid to realize it?  I honestly haven’t found anyone that I’ve been crazy over.  Christopher is, I think, a ‘no’.  And, the only other person I can come close to thinking of is Preston…and I have no desire to go there again.  What do I do?  Do I put myself out there and just wait for someone to take the bait?  Or, do I patiently wait at home for someone to come my way and make the move.  Oh, I hope and pray that the man is the first one to make the move!  I am so sick and tired of the many times I’ve put myself out there and been totally shut down.  I know, I know…I’m only 19, but still I haven’t dated anyone serious at all!  Matt doesn’t count because he was way more into it than I was and I didn’t even let him kiss me!  Yeah, he doesn’t count at all!  I wasn’t really interested in “him”…I was interested in the concept of him.  How pathetic is that?  I was so wanting attention that I took it from him and accepted it, but didn’t necessarily return it.  Why is it that boys only go for the loose, stupid, bubbly girls who are so ridiculous that it makes me want to gag?  Please!  That is so incredibly insane…doesn’t make any sense at all.  Why?  Life doesn’t make sense sometimes.  I know there is nothing wrong with me….I just need to be patient.  And I know because I haven’t dated many guys that it will just be that much sweeter when I do meet someone.  All I ask is that it’s a good someone…he doesn’t need to be the someone…just a little practice.  And, not a Matt kind of practice…that’s cheap practice.  I didn’t even feel at all interested when he tried to kiss me.  I felt revolted!  What is that?  I don’t get it!  Well, all I can say is that it better be dang good because I have been lacking in that department. 

            I’ll bet the reason why is that I’m supposed to get an education…Heavenly Father knows that if I met someone right now and it got to the marriage point…I would go for it…and possibly risk my education.  For some reason that is a big thing that I’m supposed to do.  Oh, well.  Whoever he is, he must be worth waiting for!  HA, he better be!

Yep, folks...I did use the phrase "wait for them to take the bait."  Oh dear.  I am pretty sure this is so disturbingly hysterical and embarrassing.  But, what a gem.

I am so grateful that I met Rob two and half months later...and that he pursued me and fell in love with me (and that I am going for my Master's Degree now).  Even though I had to be the one to make the first move in the "holding hands" department, there was never a time after that when he didn't reach for my hand.  I love you so much, Rob!  You are seriously the cheese to my macaroni and I am so grateful for you and your never ending love and support.  Here's to us, babe!

Almond Nutshells & Again and Again

Here is our past week in a nutshell.  An almond nutshell...they are my favorite.

Memorial weekend tradition of visiting our loved ones' graves

I mowed the lawn, Rob trimmed it and then sprayed for weeds (exciting, I know)

Picnic in the park with Sam...he loved it, but didn't last long

Watched Dinsey/Pixar's Cars for the first time...Sam loved it

Wednesday play-date with Mimi & Poppy...Sam took a 2 hour nap with Poppy

I am crushing on Zac Efron right now.  I don't feel too gross, because we are the same age (and Rob knows)

Because I'm crushing on said Zac Efron, I bought Charlie St. Cloud - awesome movie, made me cry...again

Started writing again (non-fiction this time), hopefully it will turn into a book someday

Started interning, again, at LifeSTAR (Sexual Trauma And Recovery) up in Davis County on Thursday nights.  I missed it so much!

I won an iTunes giftcard at a work party!

Rob had another hard workday yesterday, followed by a hard worknight last night until 3:30 am...poor guy

Songs I've been listening to...again, and again this week.

"Oh, What Songs of The Heart" ~ Rob Gardner

"If You Could Hie to Kolob" ~ BYU Choir

"What Makes You Beautiful" ~ One Direction

"We'll Be a Dream" ~ We The Kings

"Say You Like Me" ~ We The Kings

"Glad You Came" ~ The Wanted

"You Found Me" ~ The Fray

"Cast Away End Credits" ~ Alan Sylvestri, from Cast Away

"Jacob Sees Marlena" ~ James Newton Howard, from Water For Elephants

"So Small" ~ Carrie Underwood

"Come Home" ~ One Republic/Sara Bareilles

"Peponi" ~ The Piano Guys/Alex Boye

"Born This Way" ~ Acustic Cover by Alex G./Tyler Ward

"Hallelujah" ~ Canadian Tenors

"Safe and Sound" ~ Taylor Swift/The Civil Wars

Last, but not least, a picture to end the post.