I found this link to a great creativity quiz on How About Orange, a craft blog I follow. They said that they would not put too much stock in the results, but I found them to be spot on. That is exactly how I am creative. Please take a minute and let me know how what it said for you!

ps- I am not Eyes Wide open, I am Hands On, I took the picture from HAO cause I could not get one of my own.

I can no longer avoid the knife.

It's true. I have scheduled my surgery. Wednesday February 4th, at o'dark-thirty. (That just means I will have to be there really early in the morning.) At Alta-View Hospital on 9400 S and 1300 E. The doctor I was referred to only operates on Mondays and Wednesdays, so my choices were limited. But he was a great guy at the consultation. He told me everything that was going to happen, and all the medication he would give me, and all the possible side effects. He even drew me pictures. Which Nik refuses to look at. I would say that I am a lot more at ease now that I know what is going to happen.

Thanks to everyone who has offered their well-wishes and prayers. I will continue to take them.

Flash back to 100

Recently Vivian posted about how she was at her 100th post, and she had nothing exciting to do for it. That got me thinking about my 100th post. Shortly after, I realized I had no idea when my 100th post was! So I did some digging and some math, and I found that it was on February 28th of last year. Almost a year ago! I missed it by almost a year. Well, if you feel so inclined, check out my 100th post, about 150 posts too late.

http://lenaenglish.blogspot.com/2008/02/random-things-you-didnt-know-you-wanted.html



**edited to add: By the way, my 200th post was Nik's birthday last year.

Help a Friend

Please, PLEASE! go to seriouslysoblessed.com and vote for Rachel. She is a friend of a friend and really needs this makeover. You can read the full nomination on Hilary's blog then go to Seriously! and vote. Rachel is extremely deserving and I know that she would be so humbled to win. As far as I know, she is not aware of the contest. Thanks guys!

Tobo!

Family bonding time courtesy of IKEA.

I am not in any of the construction photos, but I promise I helped. I helped more than Nik probably would have liked. It was a fun night and we are very happy with the result. Tobo!

Late again....

Once again, I have missed the actual occasion, and am left playing catch up.

Monday was Talina's birthday and even though I missed her party on Friday, she permitted me to hang out with her on her actual birthday, along with our friend Vivian. I was really glad to see them both outside of church. Last year on her birthday Sami and I had to travel to Provo to see her. This time was a lot less miles.

Talina is an amazing woman. And it is weird to think of her as such, because I keep thinking about when she used to wear cut off shorts and lacey leggings when we would hang out....wait, that may have been last week.....

I am so glad that I am friends with Talina and I know that we will be friends for a long time to come. I can already tell that she will be a great mother someday, cause she is already a great example to me.

Happy Birthday Talina!

ps-sorry for the picture....turns out I don't have very many of you...

Happy Birthday!

A late birthday wish to my good friend Annie! I don't have any pictures of her cause I am at work, but I want her to know that I am still thinking about her. Welcome to 24!




Also, a happy birthday to my cousin Lisa! (this picture is obviously from the summer, and I took it without her permission! Haha!) Her family recently moved and is having some hard times, so I hope that this birthday brings her some good times and warmer weather. And I hope Benji is back soon! I won't tell anyone how old you are though Lisa. But that is mainly cause I don't know! Happy Birthday!

Photo Catch-up (in reverse)

I should probably explain...

I have mentioned "soldering" a couple times in my posts lately and I think that only a handful of you know what I am talking about.

About 3 months ago I put an ad on KSL.com to advertise my stained glass abilities hoping to get someone who needed help in a shop or something. After a few days I forgot about it, but one Saturday I got an email from a gentleman asking if I could solder. He sent me a picture of what his wife was making and I felt pretty confident that I could do this, so he came to my work so we could talk. He brought everything I could need to start right away and we scheduled to meet the next day to see what I had done. I will admit, I was not good at first. I tried for hours and only made small amounts of progress. When we met Sunday he was only able to take about half of what I did back to his wife for use. I took the rest back to try again.

After a couple of weeks of trial and error (and meeting almost everyday) I found my groove and have been cranking out the pieces ever since. And I know you are all wondering, yes, I get paid. Per piece. And it was enough before Christmas that I did not have to use any of my Granite pay checks to pay for the gifts. I think it will slow down a little, but I still have stuff to do every day.

The picture above is of my sister-in-law Audrey wearing an example of my work.

I really like doing this, and I hope that the business takes off. They are already in a couple of boutiques here in the Valley and a couple more down in St. George. And they are talking to JMR and Lolla Bella tomorrow, so hopefully that goes well.

Now you know!

Do you ever get a little over enthusiastic when it comes to helping someone? You know that you have a great solution to their problem and that it will work out great if you can just get through your idea. You work for a significant amount of time trying to help, only find out at the end that what you thought you were fixing was not really broken? And now you have done all this work for nothing? And you look a little stupid?


Thats where I am.


Oh well.

Good luck to Nik on the first day at his new job! I want him to know that I love him and support him in this change, and I look forward to what this opportunity will give him.

Love

Lena

Nik's new phone was sent to Texas. Can I please have it back?

I got this from Lou, and I am bored. Gorge yourselves on my randomness!

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Frisked at concerts, but not 'searched'

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters? I don't ride roller coasters, so I don't know

3. When’s the last time you’ve been sledding? Several years ago

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? Probably by myself. I like to cuddle before I fall asleep, but once I am asleep I want to be left alone.

5. Do you believe in ghosts? sure

6. Do you consider yourself creative? heck yes!

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife? Yes

8. Team Aniston or Team Jolie? Aniston, Jolie scares me

9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics? sure, just don't ask me any questions.

10. Do you know how to play poker? Yes, but not well.

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? nope

12. What’s your favorite commercial? The one where the two guys are playing video games and one throws his controller through the plasma screen. I laugh every time.

13. Who was your first love? Nik

14. If you’re driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light? I think about it, but I don't think I would actually do it.

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? Yeah, but its probably not any big deal thing.

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?Boo Yankees. Yeah Red Sox (Amen Lou!)

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating? I love ice skating! Nik! We need to go ice skating!

18. How often do you remember your dreams? once or twice a week.

19. What’s the one thing on your mind? Well, now it is sex cause of Lou, but before that it was that my eyes are starting to hurt because I have had my glasses on all day.

20. Do you always wear your seat belt? YES! And unlike Lou, I feel very exposed if I don't have my seat belt on. I can't be in a car with out it.

21. What talent do you wish you had? Cleaning. I have not talent for cleaning.

22. Do you like Sushi? No

23. What do you wear to bed? Nothing!!!! Hahahaha!

24. Do you truly hate anyone? I don't think so

25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be? Sleep with, I don't think I would. But I would stand real close to and admire James McAvoy as often as I could.

26. Do you know anyone in jail? Not at the moment.

27. What food do you find disgusting? fish, curry, most Mexican food.

28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back? Not really make fun of, but I do tease them and laugh at funny things they did.

29. Have you ever been punched in the face? No. Why? Did you hear something?

30. Do you believe in angels and demon? don't you?

Congratulations!!

To my cousin Chelsea who gave had her first baby this morning at 7:32 am in St. George. A little girl that is 5 lb. 3 oz and 18 3/4 inches. I really wish I could be there to see them both! The bad/scary news is that the baby (named Brynlee Markelle) came 4 weeks early and is in the NICU for the time being. They say she is healthy though, so our hopes are high.

Chelsea was admitted Wednesday with Toxemia and was finally rewarded after 37 hours of labor! She was able to hold Brynlee for just a few minutes before respiratory problems forced her to be taken to the NICU. Chelsea is still on meds for the high blood pressure caused by the toxemia and they are making her weak and sick to her stomach.

Cool part of the story: Brynlee was born on Mason's (Chelsea's fiance) brother Mark's birthday. Mason and Mark were very close, and Mark was killed in a car accident 2 years ago. In honor of him, they have given her the middle name Markelle.

I love you Chelsea! I hope you both get better soon.

My Mom is an Episode of House

Not to freak anyone out, but Mom is in the emergency room again.

They took her the first time early New Year's day and some tests showed she might have a blocked bile duct. (All this two months after her gallbladder surgery was supposed to fix everything). She had been having extreme pain about every other day, with only minimum relief. With the news of another possible solution, Mom scheduled a second surgery Tuesday morning. I picked her up afterwards, and she was still in immense pain. And sick to her stomach. She spent two days sick, in pain and trying to get a hold of her doctor.

Today she finally reached someone and they told her to come in. But when she got in they said there was nothing they could do for her at the clinic, so they needed to go to the ER. Which is where they have been since about noon. Last I heard she was on an IV to get hydrated and they were running blood tests.


I feel like some one is going to suggest Lupus soon.


**Edited to add: I just talked to Dad and she is getting ready for a CT scan, but she has to drink a bunch of stuff and is still sick, so it will take a while.


**Edited 1/9 to add: Mom went home around 9 last night with some more pain medication and without any answers.

Free!!

One well-loved but still in good shape mauve banana chair is up for grabs.  Let me know if you want it.

Dang It!

I really should read all my emails before I act.

I recently sent many of you an email regarding cell phone numbers being released to call centers. This is not true. I repeat: THIS IS A HOAX! I am sorry, it came from a reliable source, who quickly recanted her words as well. Sorry again.

A Pox on your New Years Resolutions!

I am taking a note from Mormon Child Bride and doing a list of things I would like to stop doing, instead of "resolutions".

"Why do I not make a list of goals intended to better myself? Because I know myself. I know that if I were to sit down each January and compile a list of things I ought to improve, I would,

1. Get depressed and feel like a failure. Unnecessarily, mind you.
2. Forget about the list the next day.
3. Find the list again later, feel guilty, throw the list away.
4. Never accomplish anything."

So here is my list of "Not Do's" for 2009

1. I will not habitually put papers in a pile on the floor. (I can't say 'I will not make piles' cause I know that is just setting myself up for failure, I have to start small.)

2. I will stop making everything a competition/comparison. I don't need that kind of stress.

3. I will not wait until the dishes start to smell before I do them. This applies to making Nik do them as well.

4. I will stop resorting to cold cereal and eating out when I get home from work. I guess this one could actually say "I will start cooking more", but then it would not fit on my list.

5. I will stop letting my anxiety run my life. I will.


There. It is not a long list, but I think it is a good one. I want to make sure these are reachable goals so I will actually accomplish them. I want to feel like I have made real progress in the coming year.

What will you stop doing this year?

Pick the New Robin

I have recently been told that my blog posts have "sucked" lately, so I am on a mission to change that. 

Last night my family and I got into a semi-heated discussion about the new block buster, The Dark Knight.  It involved speculation/plans for the third movie.  Jeff said that Chris Rock would be the Riddler and Shia LaBeouf as the new Boy Wonder.  We laughed at that till someone said that would be a good idea.  

So here is the question:  Who do you think will be in the new movie?  Which villains will face the Dark Knight?  Which big names will play them?  Will there be another hero?  

What do you think?

On to bigger and better things

No, not me. Nik!

Nik has officially secured a job with Lumenas Animation Studios. He has been working with them through Mac Docs for about 3 years now and has admired their work since day one. For the last few months he has been in limbo trying to find out if they had a place for him. Finally, he got a real meeting, and they asked him to start work on January 12th.

He is very excited and very nervous. Everyone at MacDocs is excited for him as well. Please keep our family in your prayers as we make this transition into the unknown!

I'm thinning my supply

We are trying to pair down some of our stuff and I am stating with my book shelf. Here is a list of the books I am getting rid of, if you are interested in any of them, just let me know and they are yours. Oh, and please don't be offended if you gave me one or two books on the list, it is nothing personal, we just have too much stuff.

Novels/light reading:

High Five - Janet Evanovich

Hard Eight - Janet Evanovich

Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich

The 5 People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom

X-Men: Prisoner X (I don't know the author)

Three Tragedies: Hamlet, King Lear and Macbeth - William Shakespeare

Traveler - Melanie Jackson

On What Grounds - Cleo Coyle

Some Girls Do - Leanne Banks

Fixer Upper - Judith Arnold

The Passionate Witch - Thorne Smith

Dragonsong - Anne McCaffrey

Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller

Children/Teen

Redwall - Brian Jacques

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens - Sean Covey

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Ian Fleming

More Adventures of the Great Brain - John D. Fitzgerald

The Night Before Christmas in Utah - Unknown Author

First Movers (board book) - Unknown Author

Ok, so if no one wants any of these in a week, I am taking them to D.I.