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.

Mikado

Yay for fun new restaurants! Last night we went to dinner with our new friends in the ward, James and Sarah, and a couple of their friends who just got engaged on Christmas Eve. They were fun people, and it was a great night.

James and Sarah already had plans to go to the Mikado with their friends but really wanted us to come, so we tagged along. We had never been to the Mikado (Japanese food and sushi), so we were excited to try it. I was actually worried a little bit because of how picky I am with food, and I don't like sushi. But it was a success! I got pork dumplings and what they called Asian fries, which were ginger mashed potatoes wrapped in a thin flour tortilla-like shell. They looked like fried straws. But they were delicious! And they had a spicy sauce to dip. Next time I am getting two orders of these. Nik got a crab, albacore and cream cheese roll that was fried too. I'm not sure if it is still considered sushi if it is fried, but I guess the meat was not cooked, so maybe it does. But anyway, he LOVED his choice too. Sarah got the Edamame (sp?) which I had never had before, and was pretty impressed by. It was fun to eat too.

The friends had to ditch out early so after dinner we went back James and Sarah's place and just talked for a while so Nik could update their computer.

It was a great night and we are so excited to have some new friends! We will have to go back to the Mikado soon. Anyone want to come?

Christmas!!

Merry (late) Christmas to all my friends, family, and blog stalkers! I have not down loaded my camera yet, so you will have to wait for the pictures of me in my glasses with my hair sticking up on one side. Suspense.

We started our morning early(ier than I wanted to) and got our gifts exchanged. Nik gave me 3 CD's (Sarah Berellis, The Killers and Fall Out Boy), The new Viva Pinata: Trouble on Pinata Island (or something like that) and a beautiful black pea coat that I love! It was definitely the hit of the day. I got Nik 2 CD's (Thriving Ivory and Paramour), The Dark Knight, Wall-E, a motorized pumpkin carving device, and tickets to 5 Utah Utes Basketball games (come to find out one of the games was on the 20th of December, so we obviously missed it. I need to see if they will switch it for me). The tickets were the hit for Nik. I am glad he liked it.

After gifts we hurried and dressed so we could get to breakfast at my parents house. Traditional blueberry muffins and hash browns. Mom made eggs for everyone else, but I just ate my weight in muffins. My brother (and me and Nik) got mom a Wii Fit, so Mason and Nik spent the morning making fools of themselves on the balance board. It was great to watch. Nik says he wants one now.

The fam was off to St. George early, so we took off to Jeanne's for Nik's family Christmas. It was a fun gathering, and only marginally chaotic with all the little chillin's. We were not prepared to exchange gifts with the siblings, so sadly we did not have a gift for Lou and Ten. But we made it up to them last night. And I think we were a hit! Anyway, Al gave us all these really cool hand made pottery salt dishes. Very chic. Jeanne gave her kids their childhood stockings filled with goodies, and a little clamp lamp. I was given the 7th season of Gilmore Girls (completed my collection) by Amy, and Nik got the new Die Hard and Young Frankenstein.

We had left over clam chowder and crackers for lunch (don't mock it, it was amazing chowder). Nik and I had to take off shortly after lunch due to a bunch more pieces to solder and needing to pack for our trip to St. George that night (more on that later).

I will admit that by the time we got home it did not feel like Christmas anymore. It was bleak and rainy and I was tired and stressed. We had so much left to do and such a little amount of time in which to do it. When I look back, it was a great day. We saw a ton of family, a few friends, and a lot of each other. I am glad we got to share the holiday with the people we loved.

Merry Christmas!!!

Thank you

To all of you who restrained your texting urge, and called me instead. I was able to make it all the way to the end with out going over. It is a small victory.




You may resume normal messaging.



Thank you.

The Nutcracker Ballet

Last night we all had a great opportunity to see not only the Nutcracker Ballet at Capitol Theater, but to see Kristin dance in it! She played a Blue Soldier during the mice battle. I will admit that because I have horrible eye sight, I did not see which one was her, but all the little blue soldiers did a good job, so I know she did well.

We were lucky because all of the family was able to come to this showing. We sat with Audrey and Kara on one side and Lou and Jeanne on the other. Nik and I both had a couple of "tall" people in front of us, so we got to watch it with our heads together in the middle. It was romantic.

Afterwards we gathered in the lobby for pictures and mingling. We couldn't stay too long cause I had much more soldering stuff to do (I was up till 12:15 doing those stupid pieces). But we stopped for dinner at Village Inn before heading home, and had one of the worst dining out experiences I have ever had. The restaurant smelled like old cigarette smoke and B.O. Then it took them 45 minutes to get us our food, and it was not even cook right. My hash browns were not even close to brown, and my bacon was grossly limp. I sent that back. And I know they just stuck it in the microwave, cause it was all curly on the plate when they took it back, and it was all curly on the plate when they brought it back, it was just more crispy now. Oh well. It tasted alright.

Overall it was a good night. I had never seen the Nutcracker before. I was a little disappointed that Clara does not wake up from her dream. Nik says it is part of the mystery of the show, to not know if it was really a dream, or if the Nutcracker really did come to life. I think, it was a dream and that it is time for her to wake up. I want to know what happens when her parents find her on the couch in front of the tree with a nutcracker doll that is not hers. Oh well, you can't always get what you want.

Weekend

It has been a long time since I have posted a catch-up blog. So here it goes...

Friday: In the midst of a huge storm, Nik and I came right from work to Bonzai for a dinner with Lou and Ten, Ten's brother and sister-in-law, and their financial advisor, who is a really cool guy. After dinner we went to Dairy Queen.

Saturday: We woke up semi-early and made a sad attempt to clean our house. But the house was really bad and even a sad attempt made me feel better. Now it just looks like it needs to be cleaned. After cleaning we went to Lou's and carpooled to Charlie's play, Babes in Toyland. I have never seen this play before, so it was a real treat.

After the play we treated ourselves at a new cupcake/coffee shop called Diva's on 33rd So. BTW: Christi, I have been meaning to ask you if you have ever been here, cause it totally reminds me of a "you" kind of place. It was really tasty. I will not dream about the sticky buns.

We raced off to IKEA to do some last minute Christmas shopping (which was only half productive since Nik was with me and he is my primary worry right now). Later was the Christmas Shindig of the year at Sami's house! It was great to see people I love, and some that I have not seen in a long time. It was a great party Sami!!!

Sunday: Nik had a ton of Scout stuff to get done, so I did not see much of him at church, but I sang in the choir during Sacrament meeting. Which is a big deal for me, I don't sing. It was fun though. I never realized how big our congregation is! We were completely full!

I did some soldering stuff and took a nap, then we headed to my parents for a Surf and Turf dinner. Nik was beside himself with excitement. I'm not a big fan of the 'Surf' part, but the 'Turf' was very good. I did more soldering while the rest of the family watched It's a Wonderful Life. I like that movie, but I had a ton of stuff to do. We left mom's before the movie was over cause we had Jake and Crew coming over for some Rock Band. A good time was had by all. I had to kick everyone out at 11:30 cause I am old and tired. It was passed my bed time.



Well, it was a busy weekend, to be followed by a busy week. I am very much looking forward to our trip to St. George, it promises to be both relaxing and fun-filled.


Ok, I am off work and heading shopping and then to see little Kristin in The Nutcracker Ballet at Capitol Theater!

I love the snow but...

This is ridiculous!

Copy Cat

Hilary posted this on her blog not long ago, and I found it to be so hilarious, I wanted to share it with the rest of you. Personally, I think the Twilight movie would have been better if it had been made this way.

End station, here I come!

I won the transaction contest at my office (over 1600) so I get to pick my next spot! I am so excited to be back at the end of the row. I like being by the loan officers and taking a break to scan receits. It really will be a happy new year.

Its that time of the year again!

SCROOGED!!!

Last night my family got together to watch our holiday classic, Scrooged. This is something we have done for as long as I can remember. The first time Nik watched it with us Dad made bingo cards with quotes from the movie, just to torture Nik I think. Well, this year my cousin Jesse is in SLC for school and joined us, so break out the bingo cards! Mom did it this year and even had prizes for all of us! It was a great time! I got bingo first and my prize bag had a dice game called Swap! It looks pretty cool!

I think the best part was knowing a quote was coming up and anticipating its delivery. Here are some of my favorites:

"I never liked a girl enough to give her 12 sharp knives"

"The bitch hit me with a toaster" (sorry if that offended anyone)

"All day long I listen to people give me excuses why they can't work. My legs hurt. My back aches. I'm only four."

Frank Cross: Grace, what in the hell is this?

Grace: Oh, it's a painting, one of my kids did. See, there's Santa Claus and there's Mrs. Claus. Frank Cross: Honey, how many fingers does Mrs. Santa Claus have here?

Grace: Eleven.

Frank Cross: Eleven. Right. [rips it down]

Frank Cross: It's crap. Lose it. I don't want it on the wall.

"I don't mind you shooting at me, Frank, but take it easy on the Bacardi "

"Now I have to kill.....all of you!"

That is just a small sampling of the awesome quotes this movie has to offer! I hope you take the opportunity to see this Christmas Classic!

If you really love me

You will stop texting me till the end of the month. Thanks.

The results are in.....

And it scares me.

Last Friday I had some tests done at the IMC.  An ultrasound of my abdomen (gallbladder, spleen, liver, etc.) and a HIDA scan.  For those of you who don't know what a HIDA scan is, they inject you with a radioactive fluid and track its progress through your system until it reaches your gallbladder.  Then they inject a small amount of a hormone that your body produces when you eat a fatty meal.  This is what helps them determine if your gallbladder is functioning properly.  The whole process takes about an hour and a half.  And you can't move.  You have to lay on  your back, perfectly still, for an hour and a half.  Fun.  They take minute long pictures of that radioactive stuff, so if you move, it blurs the picture.  I tried to sleep, it didn't work.  Even better, after an hour, they tell me that the camera they were using is not working properly, so I have to walk across the hospital (not a small feat, if you have seen the hospital) to the cardiology room so we can use their camera.  At least it got me off my back (no comments from Kersten).

The last half hour was better cause they let Mom come in with me.  This last part was when there was a possibility of pain, so I was nervous.  They said it could rival what I normally suffer, and that is pretty bad.  But luckily I was virtually pain free.  

Long explanation, but I got my results today.  Turns out my gallbladder is not functioning properly, and the solutions is to have it removed.  Yep, I get to have the same surgery my Mom had not two months ago.  

Truthfully, I am scared.  I have never had to do anything this serious before.  I have never had any surgeries, I have never had stitches, no broken bones, not even a serious illness.  I feel very lucky to have gone 24 years with out any major problems.  But it still scares the, well, the you-know-what out of me.  Everyone told Mom it was going to be an easy surgery, something she would be back from in a matter of days, if not less.  She didn't even have to stay in the hospital over night.  But we all know how that turned out.

So now what?

Ghost Town, A Review

Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.

Ricky Gervais is a freaking genious. And Greg Kenear is no shmuck either. It was a great mix of laugh-out-loud comedy, and subtle heart warming-ness.

Here is the story: Ricky Gervais plays a self-centered jerk that comes back from his colonoscopy able to see dead people. Not the disfigured kind like in The Sixth Sense, they are all normal looking. Greg Kinear is one of the ghosts that is trying to get him to do some unfinished business he has with his wife. I can't say much more with out ruining the funny parts, but just know that we laughed out loud through most of the movie, but were not disapointed in the ending.

You should see it.

A Genealogy Poem.

"I saw a duck the other day,

It had the feet of my Aunt Faye.

Then it walked, was heading south.

It waddled like my Uncle Ralph.

And when it turned I must propose,

It's bill was found like Aunt Jane's nose.

I thought, "Oh, No!" It's just my luck.

Someday I'll look just like a duck!"

I sobbed to Mom about my fears,

And she said,"Honey, dry your tears.

You look like me, so walk with pride.

Those folks are all from Daddy's side."

Overseas Christmas

Talina sent me this in an email the other day and I thought it was such a good idea that I decided to pass it along via my blog. Xerox is printing and sending Christmas cards to our troops over seas. All you have to do is go on the site, pick a pre-designed card (all designed by children) and pick a message to send. And voila! Off goes the card. Its a good thing.

http://www.letssaythanks.com/

Its a Christmas Miracle!

Well, its more like a cooking miracle. Anyone who knows me, knows I am not a cook. I can make spaghetti, french toast, and pancakes. Not a lot of options. I am also afraid of meat. I am always afraid I have not cooked it properly, and that I will make everyone sick. So Nik cooks the meat. So....we don't often have meat. We survive mainly on cold cereal (me) and frozen dinners (Nik) and eating out.

Well, a couple days ago I was blog surfing and found this easy recipe for Cheesy Potato Soup. Now, I LOVE cheesy potato soup. And so does Nik. So I knew it was just a matter of time before I tried it. Since I was off early yesterday, I figured it was the perfect time to try my hand at soup making. The only things we were missing were the potatoes (important) and the onion.

From start to finish, it only took half and hour. And it was delicious! Best soup I have had in a long time. Very thick and creamy. Nik ate all the left overs before the night was through.

This is where I found the recipe. A big thanks to Little Birdie Secrets for sharing their ideas with us. Please give it a try and let me know if you make any cool changes to it!

(oh, that is not my picture of the soup, but that is basically what it looked like)

So you think you know everything?

"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.

Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.

The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).

There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill
A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.

A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

A snail can sleep for three years.

Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.

On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.

Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself.



Now you know (almost) everything!

Worthless Christmas Trivia

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I really like wrapping gifts, but I am usually running late, and turn to gift bags.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I would love to have a real tree every year.

3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as there is room.

4. When do you take the tree down? When we need the space again.

5. Do you like eggnog? Blech.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Barbies and My Little Ponies

7. Hardest person to buy for? Dad. And Nik this year, I have exhausted all my resources.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Mom.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I now have two. A Willow Tree from Kayleen and one from Chile from Jeanne.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I don't really do either. But I love to receive cards in the mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I got a bunch of ugly clothes from mom one year, but they were just to hide the Mall gift certificates she had really gotten me. And that was pretty cool....

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Muppet Christmas Carol! oh, and Scrooged.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I see something I need to get.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don't remember.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies and fudge and blueberry muffins.

16. Lights on the tree? Of course.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Hark the Herald Angles Sing.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I like to be at home, but if my family is abroad, then I want to be with them.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Of course! Can you?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Wrestling mask.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? the one from grandma and grandpa M* on Christmas eve. The rest in the morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Working with the public.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? eclectic.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? not dinner, breakfast. Blueberry muffins and Canadian bacon. Or regular bacon.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Jewelry. Or my second bedroom cleaned out.

It happened just like in a Donald Duck cartoon

Today, Thanksgiving, I thought I would be a good wife and daughter and make some mint chocolate cookies to take to dinner today.  I started first thing in the morning.  

Found the cookie book

Pre-Heat oven

Gathered the ingredients

Started combining.

So, I am measuring the flour to be sifted with the cocoa and, first of all, my baking powder is from like the turn of the century, so  I doubt it will work properly.  Next I take grab the cocoa powder that is brand new from the store just last week.  I remove the lid, carefully start peeling back the foil seal....and POOF! Face full of cocoa powder.  No kidding.  It was all in my hair, covering my glasses, my shirt, the counter, the floor, the cook book.  Everything!  And my reaction was just like the cartoon.  Stunned silence, followed by a small cough, and surveying the damage, then wiping one finger across my glasses and coughing again.  I moved to the sink and brushed off as much as I could, then took the book to the garbage and brushed off the book.  

I have made a bigger mess of my kitchen in the last 45 minutes, than I ever have in my entire life. I kept knocking things on the floor, and into the sink.  Not to mention the general mess I made while adding the dry to the wet.  Oh well.  

Anyone have a mop I can borrow?

And now, the moment you have been waiting for....

Nik's Birthday!!!

This picture is cool cause even though I missed the impact, you can stil see the broken tee spinning off to the right. Cool!!
This is the first time I have been golfing since my Dad took me and Mason when I was like 12. I am still at the same skill level. But I had a good time!

I just liked this picture of Nik's hand.

I am really not that bored. I was just taking a break. Plus, I have cut my hair, now, so you will all have a reference when I finally post a picture with the new cut.

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A couple weeks ago Nik and I baby sat for the F* family and Sofia helped me practice my photography skills. It was a really short shoot, but here are a couple of my favorites.

Ok, so far I have survived. Please keep praying for me that I will not suddenly get sick over Thanksgiving.





Oh, and Nik is getting better too.

Nik is sick, and I am off today.  Pray for me.

Happy Birthday Lou!

Happy birthday to my favorite Laurie! I am a little late, her birthday was actually Friday! Oh well, I think I make up for it with this picture. This picture exemplifies every thing I feel about Lou. She is beautiful, kind, loving, an understanding mother, a fun friend, and a welcoming sister-in-law. I am so glad to be in her family now. I am sad I could not go the the movie she was so excited about, but it looks like they had fun without me! I hope you had a good day Lou, and that you know everyone was thinking about you on your day!

Oh, and Nik might be mad at me for doing Lou's birthday before his....

Midlife Crisis

Married 25 years, I took a look at my wife one day and said, "Honey, 25 years ago, We had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10 inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a hot 25 year old blond.


Now, we have a nice house, nice car, big bed and plasma screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 50 year old woman. It seems to me that you are not holding up your side of things."


My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find a hot 25 year old blond, and she would make sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car and sleeping on a sofa bed....

Some Mormon Jokes

Two Mormon missionaries in dark suits on bikes recently were left motionless and speechless when two scantily clad female joggers passed them at Sego Lilly Lane and 1300 East in Sandy. In fact, they didn't notice a Sandy City police car behind them, until the officer advised over his loudspeaker, "Think of a hymn, elders."

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A young Mormon was on his mission, carrying the Book of Mormon in his coat pocket when he was shot by an armed robber. Fortunately, the bullet lodged in the book and saved him. "See," the missionary said to his companion, "that bullet couldn't get through Second Nephi either.

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A Sunday school teacher asked the children just before she dismissed them to go to church, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" Little Annie replied, "Because people are sleeping."

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A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor thy father and thy mother," she asked "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

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A man: God, how much is a million dollars to you?
God: It is but a penny.
A man: God, how long is a million years to you?
God: It is but a second.
A man: God, could you please give me a penny?
God: Sure, just a second.

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One Sunday evening my four year old daughter, Ginger, was explaining the contents of each of a series of pictures she had received in her primary class that day. She came to a picture of Jesus surrounded by little children. One of the children sat on Jesus' knee. In a solemn and reverent tone, my daughter told us that this was a picture of Jesus asking the little children what they wanted for Christmas.

For Sale

Mason is selling his car! If you want it, let me know.

Smartness

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?


Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?


Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?


Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?


Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?


Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?


Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?


Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?


Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?


If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?


Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?


Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?


Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?


Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?


Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?


How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?


When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right?" Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That hurt, you stupid idiot?"


Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?


In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?


How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?






And my FAVORITE...... The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Do I have something in my teeth?

Would you want some one to tell you if you had something that didn't belong on your face? In your teeth? In your hair? I think I would. It might be a little embarrassing right at first, but then at least you know you aren't walking around all day looking stupid.

But what if you stink? Would you want someone to tell you that? And how do you tell someone that? Obviously it has to be something other than "Hey buddy, you smell." Especially if it is a friend or family member.

At my work I come across more smelly people in a day, than most people do in a month. Lucky me. Now, the problem I am having is, is it OK for me to tell them that their breath smells so bad it is making me gag? That their clothes smell so much like old cigarette smoke, the smell will linger long after they are gone? That showering once a week should be common practice for those over 10? Something tells me no. If I said, "excuse me, but can I have you not breathe in my face, your breath smells like something died last week has yet to be found." I would be reported to my manager for bad customer service. She would probably be on my side, but that would not matter in the long run.

Is there anything I can do to stop the stench?

Stupid English

Can you read these correctly ... the first time?


1) The bandage was wound around the wound.


2) The farm was used to produce produce.


3) The landfill was so full, they had to refuse more refuse.


4) Please polish the Polish furniture.


5) He could be in the lead if he would get the lead out.


6) The soldier chose to desert his dessert in the desert.


7) Since there is no time like the present, it is time to present the present.


8) A bass was paint ed on the head of the bass drum.


9) When shot , the dove dove into the bushes.


10) I did not object to the object.


11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.


12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.


13) They were too close to the door to close it.


14) The buck does strange antics when does are around.


15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.


16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.


17) The wind was too strong for us to wind the sail.


18) I shed a tear upon seeing the tear in the painting.


19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.


20) I need to intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, no ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.English muffins were not invented in England nor French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies,while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet,are meat. We take English for granted.But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly,boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.


And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2indices? Is it not crazy that you can make amends, but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?


If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think the first teachers of the language' should have been committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. How is it that people recite a play and play at a recital;ship by truck and send cargo by ship; have noses that run and feet that smell??


How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down; you fill in a form by filling it out and an alarm goes of f by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.This is why...when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.


PS. - Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick"

Help a Baby Out!

Baby Mia has a heart condition and the blogging world is coming together to help. Annie posted about her too, and now it is my turn. Old Red Barn Co. is giving away three quilts in support of Baby Mia, and I am trying to win one. You can enter to win here! Good luck!

You might be a Mormon if...

If all your dishes have your name written on them with masking tape...You might be a Mormon.


If you postdate your checks while shopping on Sunday...You might be a Mormon.


If you believe Heck is the place for people who do not believe in gosh...You might be a Mormon.


If your Mom was pregnant at your sister’s wedding reception...You might be a Mormon.


If you pray that your food might "nourish and strengthen your body" before eating doughnuts...You might be a Mormon


If you think Jell-O is one of the basic food groups...You might be a Mormon


If at least one of your salad bowls is at a neighbor's house...You might be a Mormon.


If you've ever written a "Dear-John" to more than two missionaries on the same day....You might be a Mormon.


If you were frustrated when your son "only" got accepted to Harvard...You might be a Mormon.


If you have one kid in diapers and one on a mission...You might be a Mormon.


If you have never arrived at a meeting on time...You might be a Mormon.


If you have more wheat stored in your basement than most third world countries...You might be a Mormon.


If you've already got your order in for volume 50 of "The Work and The Glory"...You might be a Mormon.


If you think it is all right to watch football on Sundays as long as a direct descendant of Brigham Young is playing...You might be a Mormon.


If you have to guess more than five times the name of the child you're disciplining...You might be Mormon.


If you automatically assume that BYOB means, Bring Your Own Burgers...You might be Mormon.


If you go to a party and someone spikes the punch with Pepsi...You might be a Mormon.


If you arrive to an activity an hour late and are the first person there...You might be a Mormon.

Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the
reception was excellent.

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted.

A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says: "A beer please, and one for the road."

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"

An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.

Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any.

I went to a seafood disco last week ... and pulled a mussel.

What do you call a fish with no eyes? A "fsh."

Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says,"Dam!"

Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why," they asked, as they moved off. "Because", he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."

A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain;they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins, for goodness sake! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little,which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him ......... (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good).....A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

And finally, there was the person who posted twenty different puns to her blog, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make them laugh.However: No pun in ten did.

Party Time!

A big thanks to Jenny and Tyson who had us all over for games and carmel apples last night! They are new in the ward and it was great to get to know them a little more. Even better, new couple Sara and Chad were there as well, so new friends all around! Fun night guys!

Help me decide

I am going to get my hair cut next week and I think I need some help deciding what to do. Please ignore what is actually going on in the pictures, and the color. I am sticking to my original for now. FOR NOW.

Warmth at the end of the tunnel

As we speak my furnace is being replaced. Or at least I hope so. That is what the letter on our door yesterday said. Nine A.M. Well its 9:18 and it had better be underway. Nik graciously volunteered to stay and over see the whole process (plus he wanted a hot shower, cause contrary to what they told us, we do not still have hot water.). I look forward to an update when they are finished.

Last night we were disappointed and frozen to find out that we did not have hot water. But because wifey here was so amazing freezing Nik boiled at least six pots of water so we could take a warm bath. And warm is was. I am usually not a fan of really hot baths, but I think that my body was trying to stock pile the warm for later when it would be gone. After the bath we blasted the heater in the bedroom and cuddled in to watch Chuck.

It was a good night.

Oh, and I never thought I would find myself grateful for the snow, but last night was about 10 degrees colder than the night before, and it is all due to the snow. That layer of clouds kept me from freezing two nights ago. Unlike the clear skys we had last night that resulted in a Popsicle Lena.

March of the Penguins or, "Why the English's Don't Have Heat"

Last night I slept in my warmest pajama pants, one of my dad's old sweat shirts, Nik's socks, under a big quilt with the space heater going. Nik slept in his G's. I guess he is just warmer blooded than me. Lucky.

Turns out our furnace has cracks in it. Cracks that leak gas into our apartment. And probably have been for over a year. Yay. (and yes, we have a carbon monoxide detector, and no, it was not plugged in.) So it was a long cold night with our gas shut off. And who knows when it will be back on. That responsibility falls with the management of Spring Hollow Apartments. So we may have heat by April.

Any one have some hand warmers?

Daniel Craig is Hot

As many of you know the new Bond movie, Quantum of Solace comes out on November 14th. As you may also know, my husband is obsessed with Bond. And I obviously think he is pretty good looking, so it works out well.

To the point. Nik and his work are going to see the movie Friday night (the 14th) and we had been planning on seeing it for Nik's birthday (the 17th, for those who want to get him presents) so this is perfect. We would also like to extend an open invitation to all who want to go with us to the movie. Please either comment on the post, call me, text me, or Nik to let us know and we will keep you informed. We do not know the theater or time yet, but it will be in the evening.

Thanks for playing!

Rosie the Riveter, or "My Life With Curly Hair"

I miss it. I really do.



For those of you who may be questioning this, I do NOT have curly hair. At all. And my hair does not normally hold curl well.



So, Thursday night Amy came over to put spongy rollers in my hair, it took about an hour and a half from start to finish. The result the next morning was something resembling Little Orphan Annie. Not bad, but not what I wanted. So I spent the morning finger combing my hair to see if it would loosen up a little. The result is the picture from the previous post. That lasted most of the day. I did have to do some touch ups before my party that night. Oh, and it turns out I DO own a curling iron, but it is a 1/4" one. So it makes very little curls. I was also reminded of why I do not curl my hair by myself. CURLING IRONS ARE USELESS!! They look good at the beginning, and then, nothing. Oh well. I kept the curl til Sunday after dinner. And I was sad to see it go.



When I woke up this morning and saw my flat, straight hair. It made me sad inside. And it made me want to cut and/or dye my hair soon. Maybe a perm. Maybe not.













My hair is boring.

Halloween!!!!

I'm sorry I didn't have a Halloween post, but I am posting about Halloween now, so that will have to do. Here are some pictures of the day.

Me at work. I was Rosie the Riveter (don't I look hard-core!). Thanks to Amy who made my hair uber-curly, something I am not used to and got lots of compliments on. I am wearing it curly today too, but I don't think it will make it to tomorrow. But I may have to invest in some spongy curlers.


From left to right: Talina (Scientist, for Halloween and in real life), Annie (gypsy, and the party was at her house), Sami Jo (Witch, for Halloween and not in real life), David (Cowboy, for Halloween and possibly in real life), and Christi sitting on the couch (she was an 80's Diva, or bridesmaid. The jury is still out on that one. Oh, that she is definitely NOT that in real life. Very stylish).

From left to right: Steve (Annie's husband, Nik's man-crush and a Mullet Biker, or something like that. Awesome hair though. Oh, and I'm not sure if he is that in real life...Annie?), David, Christi and Talina. By the way, Christi rocked hard on the drums. I have never seen anyone take to the percussion like she did. She should find a way to get paid to do that.

From left to right: Nik (sailor, we looked pretty hot together if you ask me, but he just looks like Gene Kelley right there. Which is still good. And he looks like that in real life a lot too.), Sami, Christi, Talina, Steve, David.

I caught a picture of Christi taking a picture of herself, Michelle's friend (I'm sorry, I don't remember her name, but she kicked our butts at Boxers or Briefs, and she didn't even know any of us!) and Michelle. Michelle is a lady Pirate, and a pretty sexy one at that.

Ok, so that was the party at Annie and Steve's. I think a good time was had by all. Thanks for throwing such a kickin' party!

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Last weekend Nik and I went up the canyon so I could look and the leaves. It is my favorite part of the season, (especially since I know what is to come in the months ahead). And as Dooce said, it has lasted longer this year than I can remember it lasting in a very long time. I took the opportunity to take some photos and practice my depth of field. I think it is cheating to have the digital screen show me if I am on the right setting or not before I take the picture, but hey, I have a hard time remembering otherwise. Here are some pictures of that day.

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And last but not least, here, finally is the pumpkin I carved right at the beginning of the month. He graced our ledge for about 3 nights, then fell apart. Can you guess who he is?