Christmas Lights = Christmas Cheer?

Just a few pictures of houses in my neighborhood... I console myself that the number of lights is really not a measure of Christmas spirit, that these houses either pay someone to put up their lights, have nothing else to do or don't get anything else done!!

Christmas Pictures...

So last night I realized that I hadn't done Christmas cards yet - at least it's still more than a week before Christmas. I thought, hey no fun travel pictures this year, so how about a picture of Salsa and me in front of the Christmas tree. Great idea, BUT that requires Salsa coming inside. Made all the preparations - lights on, camera aimed and ready... treats to bribe Salsa with, and that dog refused to come inside. I had treats lined up on the floor leading to the Christmas tree and she'd run in grab one and run back outside until she got about 4 feet away from the door and she wouldn't even be swayed by peanut butter.

Change of plans - outside pictures with Salsa for Christmas card... get a stool set up, get camera turned back on and aimed...

Attempt one - me holding a treat:

Attempt 2 & 3 - Treat by the camera:

And Attempt 4 - Treats by camera and in my hand...

Hopefully next year I'll have some fun travel pictures again - this was too much work!!

Projects, Projects and More Projects...

How can it be that one simple project can in reality spawn many, many projects? Case in point - I bought a new dresser before Thanksgiving - my old, Wal-Mart dresser just wasn't cutting it anymore (the final straw was the morning that the bottoms of two different drawers dropped out and something heavy landed on the big toe - crying and a great desire to curse followed shortly...). First it was a struggle to find something that would actually fit into my tiny room - finally found a "media chest" (who knew that they don't make amoires anymore? Chop off the hutch and presto - a media chest), and then the rearranging ensued - have to move the bookcase, while I'm at it how 'bout a new bookcase (that I managed to fill up before I even got to the books that are in the storage room), and while I'm moving stuff into a different closet, maybe I should empty out another closet and organize that one as well, and where do the dirty clothes go now? And what about the nightstand? And I've really wanted to get new curtains/blinds for my room. And don't even mention the dust bunnies that appear after moving furniture that hasn't moved in years! My afternoon project has turned into a month long project, without an end in sight!!

Twilight Junkie

OK - I'll admit it - I am a Twilight junkie. I picked up "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer to read a couple of summers ago and finally cracked it open to read one night when my brother and his wife slept here. At one point during the night Luci, my sister-in-law, came upstairs and asked me what I was doing - I told her reading and she asked me if I knew what time it was - it was 3 am. I told her "Good news - I'm almost done" and it was like that with the three that followed, although I wasn't a big fan of "Breaking Dawn", the final book. I still pick up one of the first three books to fill a few minutes and I'll realize that I've been reading for hours. Why am I so addicted to these books?!! Are they great literature? Not really, but neither was Harry Potter (and I was almost as bad with those - I did read "Deathly Hallows" in one day). I have theories as to why I have a hard time putting these down, but that's not what this post is about...

Today I went with my friend Krysta and friend/sister-in-law Luci (yes - I got her hooked also!)to watch the Twilight movie, again. You see, I was among the crazies that went to one of the midnight premieres of Twilight, albeit not in a Prom dress like some. A friend rented out a theater and fed us pizza and had treats and a cutout of Edward for picture opportunities (why can't I get it to load straight?!), and it was a kick in the pants (and afterwards my friend and I went to work... further proof of craziness... my first all nighter ever - could never do one when I was in school!). I have to admit that the first viewing was a bit of a let down - I didn't think it was horrible, but I didn't love it either, as much as I wanted to. I was happy to go again today and watch it at a normal hour and while I still didn't love it, it was better the 2nd time around (sorry Luci - I just couldn't bear to tell you - because we had planned to go watch it long before this midnight thing came up and I really did want to watch it with you and I really didn't want to give you an excuse not to go!!)

Guilty pleasure is one of my theories... and even though I didn't love the movie, I'm still excited about "New Moon", the 2nd book, being made into a movie also (and I promise Luci we'll go see that one together for the first time!)

TAG 7 - or maybe just 5

Has it been that long since I checked my friend Dani's blog?? According to my brother I'm not a real blogger since I come and go in posting frequency... so here's a good excuse to blog - thanks Dani, but I'm wimping out and just doing 5 instead of 7 (too many distractions at the moment)!!

7 - I mean 5 Things I Can Do
1. I can get dragged around the neighborhood by my dog and be up for doing it again the next day!!
2. I can multi-task like crazy, especially at work (maybe only at work?)
3. I can function with little sleep (the usual is about 5-6 hours a night...and as I found out a week ago, all nighters are not good for me - more on that later!)
4. I can use the phone, even though I don't like it very much
5. I can laugh at myself (case in point - my brother "yearbooking" me today at yearbookyourself.com - let's just say not pretty or cute or...)

7 - I mean 5 Things I Can't Do
1. I can't wait for my next trip... still working on where
2. I can't wait for my house to be all remodelled with a decent sized kitchen and a 2nd bathroom and another bedroom (very long range plan with mucho dinero required)
3. I can't seem to get caught up with everything I'm suppose to do
4. I can't eat shellfish (well I can, but it comes back up - sorry, too much info!!)
5. I can't dance - seriously, no rhythm

7 - I mean 5 things that attracted me to my spouse
Hmmm... maybe one day I will be able to fill this one out

7 - I mean 5 things I say most often
1. Salsa sit
2. Salsa stay
3. Salsa did you just eat that?
4. Just peachy
5. My friend...

7 - I mean 5 favorite foods
1. lasagna
2. waffles
3. ice cream
4. chipotle burritos
5. chocolate/caramel combinations

7 - I mean 5 celebrity admirations
I'm skipping this one also - I really don't know, most of the people that I admire are much closer to home than what "celebrity" would indicate.

7 - I mean 5 people I tag (watch out!!)
1. Kirk
2. Missy
3. Amanda
4. Heather C.
5. Heather P.

For the unbelievers

Yes, we really did ride the pigs (I don't remember if this was Charlotte or Petunia)!!

And "I" baked again!!

Look at this luscious looking bread!! Sweet potato rolls, dinner rolls (in various forms) and croissants (including chocolate filled croissants!!). Excuse me, I must go eat my fruit of my labors!!

Proud of ... well, me!

My usual pathetic Friday night - crashed at home in front of the boob tube and on-line. And during my surfing I went to the women's basketball page at Fort Lewis (my alma mater) and wow!! I'm still in the top 20 in scoring, steals, free throws, rebounding and assists! It may be dumb, but I'm proud of that - my memories of college are: classes, basketball practice, homework, sleep... and repeat. It was really hard and exhausting, but I don't regret a single minute of it! Check me out:

http://www.goskyhawks.com/Pdfs/wbball/2007/7/5/wbb_records(7-07).pdf

Irrational sentimentality (is that even a word?)

I have a friend who blogged about how sentimental she was over an old broom and that she was having a hard time giving it up. Well, here's my version... Yes, that's my poor old Escort being crunched, the Escort that made many trips between Provo and Salt Lake, and after I wrecked Kirk's car, went home with him. I know that it wasn't worth saving or fixing and it's stupid to just leave a car that doesn't work sitting around, and it wasn't even my car anymore, but I keep seeing this picture in my head and feeling really sad for the poor Escort - surely it deserved a more dignified end, not being used by sledgehammer wielding junior high kids... So irrational, but again this is the girl who cries during commercials - and not even the Christmas ones!

Ready or Not...

Winter cometh... I wish I was quick enough to get a clip of the Salsa happy dance, but this will have to do!!

I Successfully Baked...

I remember once when I went to a Pampered Chef party the sales lady went around the room and we had to describe our cooking ability in one work - my word was "wishful". I wish I was a good cook, I wish that cooking lasgna wasn't my version of gourmet cooking, I wish I was more motivated to cook, I wish, I wish, I wish... and I wish I could say that this bread was done all on my own, but my friend Rena and I took a crusty bread making class, and we made sourdough, ciabatta, and french bread. Of course I sampled it all and wow - so good, and wow - it seems so easy when you have someone telling you what to do!! In two weeks we do croissants and dinner rolls...

A Few of My Favorite Things

It seems that every day lately there's some bad news or big change in the works... and some days it's hard to find a happy thought. That's when I remember a few of my favorite things (with apologies to "The Sound of Music"!)I love eating cheesecake

I love books and reading

I love watching movies

I love playing volleyball!!

I love basketball - mostly watching (college!!) now - I get too many bruises in weird places to play anymore

(one of Sara's Maine pictures!)

I love the fall - crisp air, crunchy leaves (that I really need to rake), cool nights...

I love travelling to... anywhere. Next year maybe India or Greece or Columbia or NYC or Boston or... any other suggestions?

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these munchkins (including the one that's missing). Nothing makes me happier than hearing "Aunt" Rosann!!

Birthdays...

It was my birthday last week, and I'm NOT fishing for birthday wishes (like my boss does - he starts about a month before letting you know exactly how many days are left until his birthday - I'm still waiting for him to wish me a happy birthday - I'm guessing it won't happen!!), but it has brought on some "deep" thoughts. Lately I seem to dread my birthday, maybe because I'm reminded that another year has come and gone and well, life hasn't exactly turned out the way I'd planned. Or maybe because it reminds me of all the fun birthdays with my brothers and sisters and dear friends and how much I miss them. Anyways, I was dreading my birthday again this year, and it wasn't so bad. On Saturday I got to have lunch with my brother and his family, and Monday at work my friends/co-workers took me to lunch also, and on top of that brought my favorite cheesecake (the European Cheesecake from Red Butte Cafe - a slice of heaven I tell you!!), another friend took me to dinner (apparently food is the way to my heart!) and I got to talk to all of my brothers and sisters (which is always a highlight), not to mention all of the birthday emails and facebook birthday wishes. So why do I dread birthdays? Because they always turn out alright, thanks to my good family and friends - I am a blessed girl. Thanks for always remembering me!!

Not Deep Thoughts....

First an apology - I do NOT think that I am busier than the average person. My point was simply that everyone is busy despite marital status, jobs, etc. We should all be busy "creating" something - homes, family ties, friendships, skills, memories, and so forth. That's what a full life is all about.

Second - oh cooler weather!!! I love fall, and well, it's just been almost summer-like with daytime temps in the 80's (!) - I keep waiting for the leaves to change and the air to have that lovely crisp fall feeling...

Third - why do I keep starting new projects, especially without finishing old projects? I was in the craft store tonight and was looking at their selection of albums and found one that reminded me of Hawaii, and so I decided that my Hawaii pictures had to be in it, despite the fact they've happily been in a different, small album since I got back a year and half ago! (Other picture albums that are sitting in a closet not finished - Ukraine (about 6 years ago!), apparently Hawaii, Peru (last year), plus various family events, holidays, etc!)

Fourth - GO DODGERS! Way to sweep the Cubs! We grew up watching Dad get frustrated almost every year watching his team. In my dreams I would love for them to be in the World Series and that I would be able to take my Dad and brothers (and sisters too, so basically the whole clan) to a game in LA...

Hey Mom! Look At What I Did!!

WOW - I really can get something done when I have the time to actually do it - I'm not a total blob and/or lazy bum!! (I suppose it helps to when you have "vacation" days at work that are at the use it or lose it state!)

BEFORE:

AFTER:
The general, all-encompassing "Finish bathroom" on my to-do list might actually get crossed off one of these months!

Winter Salsa

My crazy doggy... the cooler weather (OK - the cooler nights) have brought out "Winter Salsa". Every summer I delude myself into thinking that I have done such a good job of training her, how calm she is, blah, blah, blah. Then fall arrives and she is just like a puppy again - hyper and dragging me down the street!! I'm in charge, I'm in charge, I'm in charge... is it working?

Things To Do...

I really and truly believed that once "FALL" arrived some of the chaos would go away - HA!! What was I smoking? Now, granted, some of the craziness is of my own choice:

Volleyball league - really a necessity for my own sanity, not to mention for the benefit of others who have to deal with me. I get HUGE amounts of pent up frustration, anger, disappointment, etc worked out of my system playing sports. I get too beat up playing basketball anymore!

Pioneer Theater Company Season Tickets - with a big thanks to Myriad who generously subsidizes their employees tickets... and to my friend and co-worker Brita who lets me go with her and puts up with my ignorance. My Fair Lady premiered last week - and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it... extremely well cast, well done, kudos all around.

OK - this one is totally and completely frivolous and going to a game is really an all day affair, but I love going to the BYU games and yelling like a crazy person. I was a lot worried the first quarter against Wyoming, but the boys in blue pulled it out. 4-0 record, ranked 11 in the nation - how amazing would it be if BYU and Utah met in the final game of the season both undefeated and nationally ranked? Game of the year... Go Cougs!! And who'd of thunk it, but Go Utes!!

OK... so that's the fun stuff... which apparently many people think that's all that single people do (if I have one more person tell me how lucky I am because I'm single... watch out... heads might roll)... Here's some of the not so fun stuff that is STILL on my to do list (being superseded by long weeks at work, church stuff, yardwork, housework - how do I generate so much laundry?? And those dust bunnies under the furniture are about to start breathing I think... - etc. etc. etc):

OH MY... an unfinished bathroom... still... I need to get the beadboard and cut it to size, paint it, install it and the trim, order a linen cabinet, install the new ceiling light fixture, texturize the ceiling, do something with the heat grate... At least all the necessary parts are there and working, and I do have all new plumbing (THANK YOU NATE!!!), but how in the world do people remodel whole houses while still working and taking care of their families??

I'm embarrassed to admit that this is the current state of my coat closet, and sadly enough, it's the most organized "storage" in my house at the moment. HELP!!

AND I could go on, but it would only serve to depress me... I guess it's time to use some of that precious vacation time and stay home and work on projects, which just doesn't seem like a vacation to me - now if it was called "Time-to-do-things-that-you-don't-normally-have-time-to-do", well then maybe I wouldn't be so reluctant to use it!!

College Football... GO COUGARS!!

Ahhh... it's that time of year again... college football means that fall is on it's way, college basketball is on it way, and that life is good... This year in addition to my season tickets to Ballet West and Pioneer Theater Company, I have season BYU football tickets with my brother Kirk (what can I say? I'm a girl with a wide range of interests!)
I'd forgotten how much fun it is to go to BYU games - I'm amazed at how a loud crowd of over 64,000 can go silent at the drop of a pin for a prayer, I love that you can hear the crowd singing the national anthem (and that crazy fight song that I just can't see to master, although not being an alum is a valid excuse in my book), I love that I can yell and scream ("GET HIM" seems to come out a lot - pretty technical, huh?!) and no one can hear me, I appreciate not getting doused in beer or hearing potty-mouths, I'm amazed at the talents and abilities of the athletes, and this year - I love that I get to hang out with my brother. And this last picture just cracks me up - I had a Julia Roberts moment - replacing divets?? On a football field?? As long as I don't have to show up in a dress... or hose and heels... or a fancy hat...

Olympic Junkie!

How are you suppose to get anything done during the two weeks the Olympics are on? I've become a Phelps groupie, fan of the Redeem Team, love the beach volleyball, regular volleyball, softball.... LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!

Shower Heaven!!

(Imagine singing, dancing, tears of joy, etc....) I took a shower at my own house this morning!!! Micracles do happen!!

Swimming Hole next door

at work that is... the amount of dirt that has disappeared is mind boggling. And in years past people built without the benefit of big machines and trucks and survey equipment and... unbelievable!!

Tile and Tub Surround

Tile... Paint... Tub surround... A shower in my own house may soon be possible!! (oh glorious dream....)

Soul sisters...

My dear friends the Smiths were in town last weekend and were kind enough to give me a few hours to catch up with them and their four beautiful girls - it's hard to believe how time flies!! Mary was an answer to a prayer - I had just moved to Salt Lake and knew no one, most of my work friends were moving away, and my parents had just left on their mission and I felt so alone. Mary and I were assigned to be visiting teaching partners and she just welcomed me into her life. Her girls and I spent many hours playing hide and go seek, singing and having sleepovers. I was so sad when they first moved to Texas and then to Chicago - so far away!! How much I miss them!!

C'mon Aunt Rosann!!

Now really - my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids come up and spend the weekend helping me work on the bathroom, and the kids are so good, and the only place my nephew can find to take a nap is: Now what kind of aunt am I??

Bathroom... week 4

A few weeks ago: And on Sunday night:
I think there's been progress... maybe? At least I have great neighbors who let me use their shower!! It's gonna be great... It's gonna be great... It's gonna be great... It's gonna be great... It's gonna be great... It's gonna be great... It's gonna be great... It's gonna be great.......