The Universe tells me that......

Letting the opinions of others dampen your enthusiasm, restrain your joy, and stifle your creativity, Rachel, is often exactly what they were after.

Pity for them, huh?

Let's rock -
The Universe

Past the point of no return.....

No second chances.....daaa de da de daaaa de da....This song from 'Phantom' is running through my head for various reasons. I know it will go away if I just listen to it. Sadly, I do not have the soundtrack to this musical...so the same line will just continue to repeat in my head.

In all honesty, I think I am "past the point of no return" I need sleep. :(

Confirmed Yet Again

As if the whole world didn't already know I was a pushover. Lol! Defender of the underdog, shy to a fault......Gonna have to work on that...Ha Ha Ha

Matt Parkman You scored 62 Idealism, 37 Nonconformity, 25 Nerdiness

I don't want to be a chump. Congratulations, you're Matt Parkman! You're a great person: caring, hard-working, and honest. You might not have the best of luck, but you do your best in all areas of life. Your kind and responsible nature is rare, and you should be proud of it. Your best quality: Heart Your worst quality: You may take more abuse than you deserve

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Idealism You scored higher than 99% on Nonconformity You scored higher than 99% on Nerdiness

Link: The Heroes Personality Test written by freedomdegrees on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Words of the days.......

I don’t know if I mentioned this already but my desk calendar for this year is a “Word-A-Day” calendar. I love desk calendars that teach me something. I know I am sick. Sorry. But what I really love is the fact that on the back of each page I get to learn more about the roots of the day’s word. Some words I have known, like disingenuous, or imbue, others are new to me, and still others are words that I thought I new but can have different meanings. Unfortunately, I have been ignoring my calendar since the 12th….I have been rather busy (or lazy depending on how you look at it) here at the office.  So here are a few of the words that I caught up on today. Maybe you guys recognize these words(yes that means you Perry and you too Professor).

February 12th:
Comity (kŏm'ĭ-tē) n: Friendly civility
:courtesy

February 14th:
Twee (twē) adj. Chiefly British: Affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or
quaint.
Apparently this word comes from baby talk, an alteration of the word sweet. In the early 1900’s it was a term of affection, now it just means that you have bypassed sweet and are in the realm of disgusting.

February 17th:
Catawampus (kat-uh-wom-puh s) adj.: Askew, awry, catercorner.

Interesting to note (according to the calendar):
Back in the Middle Ages, the French word for “four” could be spelled quatre or catre. Speaker of Middle English preferred the form cater, and they used the word mainly to refer to the four spots on one side of the die. Someone noticed that you can connect these four spots to make and “X,” a fact that might have helped cater to develop the extended sense of “diagonally.” Over time, that sense was built into dialect compounds meaning “diagonal” or “askew,” including “catercorner,” a word linguists think was later modified to create “catawampus.”

So while all that was interesting….can some one please tell me how that made sense? And how in heavens name was catercorner turned into catawampus?

And Lastly:
February 19th:
Bromide (brō'mīd') n. 1: A compound of bromine and another element or chemical group.
2a: A commonplace or tiresome person
*2b: A commonplace or hackneyed statement or notion

Apparently, in the mid 1800’s potassium bromide was added to medicine to induce sleep. By the 20th century “bromide” was being used to describe anything that might put you to sleep. We have since advanced medically but apparently not figuratively. So there you go…another word for those talks in Church!

Off to Clean.....

A day off….It was nice to sleep until the sun woke me this morning. Did you ever see the musical Oliver, when Oliver wakes that first morning in the house of the rich people. He wakes to the sun and the sounds of the world outside his widow. I have always loved that. I love to wake to the sounds of the outside world......today was a little cold to have my widow open so I just woke to the sun. Good enough for now. The problem is that here it is 11:30 in the morning and I am bored. There are things I should do. I should finish unpacking. I should clean my room as it looks like a disaster. I should do laundry. These are things that I have avoided doing because I have been working or sleeping so much lately. But now that I have the time…….Well who wants to spend their day off cleaning? Now that I have complained, I will buckle down. I tell myself that I will have everything done in time to go to the movie tonight. Here’s hoping!

Beauty and the Geek

Regina was kind enough to wait to watch Ugly Betty so that I could finally watch the season finale of Beauty and the Geek last night. Wahoo!! Regina is now in love with Nate. And me, how do I feel about it? Well in the immortal words of Steph Harbour….
“I love me some Geek!”

Happy just the way I am....

It’s not as if I didn’t recognize that it was Valentine’s Day. I even posted the poem yesterday morning. But it didn’t feel any different than any other day. I received a couple of nice e-cards from the girls and Mark. AZ Dad even sent a text message (which he hates to do). So I wasn’t forgotten, I just didn’t do anything big for the day. Last year I made a big fuss. I handed out valentines to all of my co-workers and friends and spent the evening at a fabulous restaurant with all of my friends. This year, it didn’t really feel like a holiday. It didn’t really feel like anything. I spent the morning working from home. Came into the office for a few hours and then finished the evening at Barnes and Noble. I talked to Steph on the way home (thank you for keeping me occupied on the bus…. I might need you again next time, not sure yet.) There was nothing really special to mark the day. I don’t think that is a bad thing. There was no one in my life really that I needed to go out of my way for. And no one I expected to go out of their way for me. Maybe someday there will be someone that I want to buy little cheesy gift for and from whom I will expect flowers and such. But for now I am happy just the way things are.

And that is a good feeling.

In and Out of time

I am sorry that I haven’t blogged recently; all I can say is that I am tired a lot, and I will be going to the Doctor on the 28th. The cycle is repeating itself. Don’t worry. I will blog what is going on in my life some time soon.

But in the interim I am following Bond Girls Example.

This poem was first introduced to me through a chick flick. Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Family Reunion” gave me the opportunity to hear Maya Angelou actually recite it. It was beautiful. I found it in a book later and bought the whole book just for this one poem. I can't explain my feelings in regards to this poem. They are there for it all, the good and the bad, the happy and sad. And yet, the love is there. The love is strong enough to with stand the trials of our day. Who finds that any more?
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Days.

The Sun has come out
The Mists have gone
We see in the distance
Our long way home

I was yours to love
You were always mine
We have belonged together
In and out of time

When the first stone looked
Up at the blazing sun
And the first tree struggled
From the forest floor
I loved you more

You were the rhythm on the head
Of the conga drum
And the brush of palm
On my nut brown skin

And I loved you then

We worked the cane
And cotton fields
We trod together
The city streets

Wearied by labor
Bruised by cruelty
Strutting and sassy
To our inner beat

And all the while
Lord, how I loved your smile

You’ve freed your braids
Gave you hair to the breeze
It hummed like a hive
Of busy bees
I reached into the mass
For the honeycomb there
God, how I loved your hair

You saw me bludgeoned
By circumstance
Injured by hate
And lost to chance
Legs that could be broken
But knees that would not bend
Oh, you loved me then

I raked the Heaven’s belly
With torrid screams
I fought to turn
Nightmares into dreams
My protests were loud
And brash and bold
My, how you loved my soul

The sun has come out
The mists have gone
We see in the distance
Our long way home

I was yours to love
And you were always mine
We have belonged together
In and out of time

Dead or Alive - Brand New Lover

Thanks Chag.....
My latest theme song...

Sorry....

I am too tired to write. :s

P.S.
My books are finally unpacked...
3 sets of shelves in the main room and a set in my bedroom....
It is like being back with old friends....
It is.............
Comforting.

FYI

Just so you know.........

I am finally finished listening to the Wicked soundtrack on repeat.

It only lasted 3 days.

I think my co-workers are grateful! :)

I know you were curious. ;P

The Show went on.....

General Note: My hands shake when I take pictures. I don’t know why, but they do and therefore my pictures tend to come out blurry. Tiana and I discussed it last night; I decided that I would have to steal some of her pictures to replace the ones that are too blurry to decipher.

Yesterday was filled with “Wicked”. I played the soundtrack all day long. I couldn’t concentrate. Tiana and I were IM’ing back and forth, then talking on the phone while she was driving. How do people do this all of the time? Every time I go to the theatre I get excited. But this is a show I have wanted to see for over a year so the excitement was a little difficult to control. Lol!

Tiana was running a little late, and I was a little stressed about the drive. Everyone kept telling me that it would take hours, and if there was traffic we could possibly be late. AAGGGHHH! So we started off a little tense. Once we hit the freeway we were fine. The drive only took about 45 minutes.















Hours pshaw…Tiana knows how to get where she wants to go! But can I blame my blurring pictures of the Baltimore skyline on her driving? Going 90 could make it look like this right? Lol!








We had left the restaurant list back at my office so we drove around until we could find a place to eat. A few quick calls and we had a few restaurants in the Inner Harbour that sounded like a good idea. We settled on McCormick and Schmick’s; not too fancy but not McDonalds either. The food was fabulous. It was nice to sit and relax and just chat. Tiana and I never really have trouble finding things to talk about. Both of us were worried about being late to the theatre so we probably ate a little faster then necessary.

On the walk to the car we ran into Yenta, unfortunately she still has not found a match for me…but maybe someday. ;)



Off to the Hippodrome!



The Show was fabulous and the seats were totally worth the money that was paid. It was a thrill to sit and listen and be swept up in the story. Tiana bought me a shirt that I can’t wait to wear. I must admit that we were slightly disappointed in the vocal talents of Fieryo and Elphanba. Fieryo just wasn’t strong enough for us…though he was cute, so that kind of makes up for it. Elphaba blew us away for the most part, but there were a few notes at the bottom of her range that she just didn’t hit. Sad but true. But hey, we are armchair critics…there is no way we could do what she did so we are not complaining.
Tiana drove back to my house and got to see the new place for the first time. She was up early this morning to drive to her 8 am class.....All in all it was an amazing evening. We even discussed maybe going to NY in June and seeing a couple of shows there.

Tiana..I hope you had Fun! Happy Birthday, Big Sister! Here’s to a better year then the last.
Love you Always
Rae

"Dancing through life, skimming the surface, gliding where turf is smooth. Life's less painless for the brainless.... "

~Fieryo~

"I through accepting limits cuz someone says there so. Some things I cannot change but till I try I'll never know."

~Elphaba~

And so much more...I can't wait till tonight. Concentrating is difficult.

Thinking....

I have started blog after blog. I then stop halfway through because nothing sounds right. So here are the current thoughts:

I seem to be busy all of the time.

I went with the ward (congregation) to visit Williamsburg/Jamestowne Virginia. It was an enjoyable trip, though I realized that most of my friends in the ward have moved on. It is no longer the same. I have a ton of pictures and will get them up soon. I promise Boo…I will down load them tomorrow.

I am going to see the musical Wicked on Tuesday. I will be celebrating my sister Tiana, she deserves to be celebrated. I’ll blog about that after the show. Suffice to say that we are very excited.

January is over...it went by so fast.

I think a lot. I recognize this is not always a good thing. I tend to over-analyze things. But I need to understand why things are. Why a person would act a certain way, or say such, or do such. Lately, I am trying to understand why I act the way I do. Then maybe, if I understand why, I can go about changing some of them.

There is so much that I don't know or understand. There is so much to learn.

And it goes on...to much to blog about....

You know that day....

The one where you are to supposed to be up at 5 am to go to work and then work both jobs, which have multiple projects that have to be done that day
....and you wake up at 4:45 am……….sick.

I’m sure you’ve had at least one of those days...right?

Well, in case you were wondering:

These days suck.

Lyric of the moment:

“Let’s pray that it is raining on Sunday. Storming like crazy and we’ll hide under the covers all afternoon”

You know when you get in over your head but you don’t want to give up any of the activities that you have going on. They all seem to be important in your head. And yet, staying awake seems to be a problem during the day. Today I am praying for rain…or better yet…make it snow. I want a bad storm that will stop the crazy world I am in. Just for a day. Just long enough for me to catch my breath (and maybe clean my room?)

Waiting.......

I would like to state that I have a great Boss. I am to work an B and N tonight. My Boss has closed the door to my office and I have been given strict orders to relax before I go to my next job. She is also driving me to B and N tonight as it is a bit too slick for me to walk in such a busy area. Lol!

So here I sit, listening to James Taylor (for the moment) and reading over old blogs. One of the blessings of my horrible memory is that when I read over the old stuff I get to remember my life at that moment and the sad things aren’t with me always. I read about my life a year ago…..it was a very difficult time. As a matter of fact, life is still difficult for others due to the events of Jan 2006.

Ahhh…… A little Schaumann for relaxation…..

I don’t seem to be all that different from the person I was a year ago. I was reading the New Years’ resolution blog for ’06 and realized that they went unfulfilled. I have taken them up again. Here’s hoping that maybe I can get them done this year.

Ahhh…a little Boston….

Wow I am tired. I can’t concentrate. Maybe I will take a little nap at my desk, until my Boss is ready to leave.

SNOW!

"It’s a marshmallow world in the winter….when the snow comes to cover the ground."
La La La....I forgot the rest of the song....

Well Ladies and Gents, it has finally happened. We got snow!! Fine, only about an inch or so and the rest is ice. But the world is white(or at least has a white tint;) ) this morning. It is beautiful! Winter seems to have arrived. Finally…I love it!

Oh yeah…Tallie and Kristin tell me that the Colts and the Bears are playing each other in the Super Bowl…Good for them.

Anonymous?

So I am back from lunch and I should be working on any of the 10 things that are on my “to-do” list for this afternoon. But I want to blog and won’t have any time this weekend….
My last post had a comment from anonymous and it has garnered much discussion among the “Girl Mafia” [just for you, Professor ;)]
One friend was extremely impressed that someone “rattle off "to be or not to be" with appropriate punctuation and continue to use fitting ideas and punctuation in the response that makes it all fit together so well. He's smarter than he thinks.” Some think I have a “cyber-stalker” and wanted me to be careful. Others suggest I “demand an identity.”

I on the other hand have been pondering his actual comment….I find myself curious what happened at the new job? Why was my blog in any way relevant? When did I know someone who could quote Hamlet? (This old age is getting to me… having a poor memory is no fun; hence I have the blog.) Who didn’t take his chance to impress the girl who would hide in baseball caps? I think you are partially right…Charm is not something that you can get by going through the motions…I find charm is a personality trait that some have and some do not. I am not a big fan of “charm” per se….those that I find charming are usually hiding something underneath all of the smooth talk and bright smiles. But intellect and intelligence is something that can be worked towards…..there are many ways to improve your intellect, but it takes work which can start with just going through the motions. You’ll have to trust me and the girl mafia when we say that the work is definitely worth it….many a girl is turned on by the spark of intelligence. Lol!

Who ever you are…I hope the new job is going well….and I hope you’ll tell me who you are….then maybe I can tell you what the reaction would have been.

To be or not to be.....

Apparently, I spend too much time trying to understand the world around me. I think I should give it up....

Hamlet
Hark, Ye scored 52!

Ahh, You are Hamlet, the protagonist from, duh, Shakespeare's Hamlet. You have an inherent need to wax philosophical and figure out everything... no matter how painstaking that process may be. You need to plow through all sorts of thoughts before you make a decision, and normally, you waste way too much energy in doing so.

Link: The Shakespearian Character Test written by LoudmouthLee on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Thanks Kuri for cluing me in on this test....

Everything is a little Blurry

Have you ever reached that point where you have pushed to far? I hit that point somewhere…and I missed it. It was probably sometime yesterday that got masked with a sugar/cherry coke high.

Did you know that Dairy Queen will make a coke float? Well they do…or they thought Amber was cute and decided to do her a favor…either way I got what I wanted last night.

Anyway back to the point…by the time I got home last night and crawled into bed, my mind was clicking and would not shut down. It drove me crazy until I finally gave in and decided to read. Nothing helpful, of course, it was a murder mystery. Unfortunately, by the time the caffeine had subsided and my mind had quieted I had past the point of no return. Exhaustion took over and I was out until about 1:30 this afternoon. I vaguely remember Regina coming in and asking me if I was going to church. I must have said no, I sure hope I was nice about it. At 1:30 Mel’s truck was arriving and I hurriedly threw on some clothes so I could help move her things in. There were 6 of us working together and it only took about 30 to 45 minutes. Unfortunately, by the time we were done, my eyes wouldn’t focus and I was starting to mix up my words. I crashed again and have just gotten up to an empty house.

So here I sit at 7 pm,recognizing the fact that there was a lot that was supposed to be done today. I have yet to unpack my clothes. They still sit in boxes scattered in my room. I have to figure out my bus schedule for the next week. I have to go shopping sometime this week for necessities (no matter how much I would like to, a girl cannot live on homemade popcorn and dried fruit). I have not put much thought into how I am going to get my couch and bookshelves from the Leeland house to the Chapman house. I am working B & N Mon, Fri, and Sat this week. I have a new hire starting on Wed. I am helping Jen Move in on Tues. I have to find someone to cover my B & N shift for the 26th for the trip to Williamsburg. (Boo you are coming to that right?) And I have not even started on my work for the volunteers for the 10K Race for the George Washington Birthday Celebration. The worst part is I have been up for less then 30 minutes and all I want to do is go to bed. I need to find a way to decrease stress and increase sleep per night. That way I am not always crashing. Anyone have any suggestions?

My Favorite Moment

As I recall, I posted in my Christmas recap that one of my favorite moments was watching my brother fall asleep while rocking his daughter. I can’t explain why it was so cool to watch.

My big sister was able to capture the moment on film:

It looks like quite the peaceful scene, which is completely contradictory to the chaos that actually surrounded the pair:

This is a moment I would like to remember. I am really proud of my brother. I think he is turning into a wonderful Daddy.

Per Gwen's Request....

A= Available~ Am I ever anything else?
B= Best Friend~ Margaret Elaine Thorne Zerkle.
C= Cake or pie~ Chips…yum salt.
D= Drink of choice~ Cherry Coke (or water if I am trying to be a good girl
E= Essential item you use everyday~ Laptop
F= Favorite color~ Green
G= Gummy bears or worms~ Worms!
H= Hometown~ I was born in Pocatello, ID, but I have spent the longest amount of time in Orem, UT
I= Indulgences~ popcorn made on the stove in Olive Oil topped with Lots of salt yum
J= January or February ~ neither really, there is nothing wrong with either month but I do not have a preference
K= Kids and Names~ How about I name my Kangaroos? Oh wait I don’t have any of those either
L= Life is incomplete without? ~ Relationships and Books…Maybe books should come first?
M= Marriage date~ the end of never?
N= Number of siblings~ 15: 1 brother, 2 sisters, 4 step-brothers, 1 step sister, 3 half brothers, 3 half sisters…oh and 6 in-laws so far. But really it’s all just family….
O= Oranges or apples~ Apples with Cheese!
P= Phobias or Fears~ the dark, needles, and the dentist. If I ever met up with a dentist carrying a needle in the dark I think I would die of fright!
Q= Favorite Quote~

"People become librarians because they know too much….. Librarians rule. And they will kick the crap out of anyone who says otherwise.” Librarianavengers.org

R= Reason to smile~ I have a new home….and I might get to sleep on Sunday 
S= Season~ Spring or Fall…Who can choose?
T= Tag 3 or 4 people~ The Professor, Tara, Kim
U= Unknown fact about me~ I have a temper.
V= Vegetable you don't like~ I like all vegetables I think….At least I can’t think of one I don’t like
W= Worst habit~ I spend too much time between the pages of books.
X= X-rays~ my teeth have been x-rayed and my right hand I broke the pinkie knuckle twice.
Y= Your favorite food~ Currently Lamb Korma…but sushi rolls, lasagna, enchiladas, and a bunch of other things are high on the list too
Z= Zodiac Sign~ Gemini

And we are on our way....

Wow…I guess all those years of moving has trained me for it. It only took about 2 hours for everyone to collect my things and have them delivered. There were three locations with a group of people at each location.

Group 1 was Ben and Amber who loaded up my 7 boxes of books that have been patiently waiting for me at Boo’s house. (Last night they were begging me to open them and sit down for a read…but who has the time anymore?
Group 2 was Kate Taylor, Heather Biddulph, and me. We were in charge of the boxes that have been stored at the Leeland house. I was pleased to know that I could fit them in 3 cars.
Christy Campbell kindly did double duty, loading her car with boxes at my house and then heading over to help move furniture with the final group. Group 3 were in charge of the furniture. Chris Garlick and Hugh Warren allowed me to borrow their trucks to move with, they were assisted by Christy and Perry Young. Items were loaded and delivered in about an hour…I was impressed. Once everything was unloaded we had pizza to celebrate my new house. I will take more pictures once we are settled in...right now everything is either emplty or messy. :)



Yesterday also celebrated the official anniversary of the R.A.G.S.! 2 years, it has flown by. We are now scattered to the winds. Gwen is in Salt Lake, Steph is in Missoula, Boo is in Dunn Loring, and I am now in Alexandria. Thanks to today’s technology we are no farther then a phone call or a quick IM away. I am very grateful that God has blessed me with such amazing women for my friends.

Long Live R.A.G.S.!

Change.....

Two years ago I told myself I was going to make a change. I moved to the east coast, I was going to be a new person. I was going to try all sorts of new things and never say no to an experience. I was no longer going to be the shy girl who worried about her family.

Then I woke up and realized that I was never going to be a “new person.” I can grow but I am still me on the inside. I am always going to worry and I am always going to be shy on the inside. Amazingly enough I have stuck to the resolution to try new things. I now enjoy things like hiking, camping, and rafting. I read different types of authors, I volunteer for committees. In short, I do things I would have never done back home, even if I had the opportunity.

The most obvious adventure was definitely my experimenting with food. 2 years ago, I was completely content with Olive Garden, Wingers Wings, and Los Hermanos Americanized Mexican food. I told myself that I would never turn down the opportunity to try something new. When I went to a new restaurant I would try to order something I had not had before. My resolution was to try anything once. It was a bit of work. Thai food was no problem, love it! Moroccan was close enough to Arab and Lebanese that it wasn’t really a stretch for me. Other things have come and gone, some I liked some I didn’t. But the big hurdle was Sushi. I had to get it past my brain, but now I love it and can’t wait till my big brother Ralph comes to visit!

For some reason today I noticed how much my eating habits have changed. I was working through lunch anyway, but the guys came up and we ordered out. What did the girl from Provo order? Indian Food. The girl who refused to even TRY the Bombay House back home is in love with Indian spices…

See how much we miss when we are afraid.

A new house....

Tonight is my last night as a vagabond. It has been a very pleasant to know that I am actually going to have my own living space in less then 24 hours. Unfortunately, I am working tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday. Lol! I never do things the easy way.

For those that want to know the details….

I will be living in a fabulous area that is within walking distance of the metro. My boss is less then a mile away, she is very excited. Lol! The house is amazing; I will post pictures when I have some. I haven’t really had time to get any yet. I haven’t really had time to do anything; but that is beside the point. There will be three other girls in the house, each with their own room. We are still working out the furniture, but we have my crappy love seat and the dining set from one of the other girls. That about covers it, I can't think of anythign else right now. If you want more then you’ll have to ask questions. Or just come by and see the place yourself. Visitors are always welcome!

I have mixed feelings about this move. While I love to move, and have done frequently in the last two years, I have always stayed with in my current ward (congregation). I like my ward, I am comfortable there. I am sure there is a joke there somewhere. But I am slightly nervous about the new ward. I have to do the whole new member thing again, they will make me stand up in classes and introduce myself. I hate that. It is slightly difficult to fade into the background when you are introducing yourself to the room.

And yet …. I have a place to live, and I am moving!!! Bring it on…

Too Much....

I have started writing at least 4 different times…but nothing is coming out right. All of my words seem to be jumbled and out of sorts.

Tonight I am quite happy sitting in a hotel room in Arlington. You see, my company had its annual “Kick-Off” meeting this week. Our employees world-wide come to our head quarters here in McLean and we start out the year right. There are training sessions for the departments that need it, there are employee bonding times, there is a motivational speaker, and other stuff to keep us busy. This year it was held at the Westin in Arlington (Steph you are a genius!). Due to the traffic congestion we were given hotel rooms to allow us to be at the meetings at 7:30 this morning. Not a big deal but nice for me as that is two nights I don’t feel like a mooch.

Last night was “employee bonding”. A couple of cheerleaders from the Washington Redskins came to cheer for us, then the employees were split into teams and required to create a cheer. Now, I am pretty sure this was uncomfortable for many of the employees. By the way the drinks were going, most of the participants got pretty loose due to the need for a bit of liquid courage. This only added to the humor of the created cheers, the group that won the contest that consisted of about 4 lines….one line referred to our CEO as Mama Siki, one line said our company kicked a** and the last line said: Cuz Mama ain’t no hoe! Throw in pom-poms and a lot of liquor and this is a very funny scene. (One of the guys let me play with his expensive fancy schmancy camera..I got a ton of pictures including one that has MY BOSS on top of a pyramid of people arms raised to the V.) A down side to all of the liquor is that the guys in our company were circling the cheerleaders like sharks by the end of the night. It got a little old after a while.

Today our speaker was David Breshears, he has climbed Mount Everest, and made an IMAX film about it. It was an interesting presentation; I am interested in reading his book and seeing the DVD of his movie. There were many other presentations, which I was the photographer for. (I will get better.) It has been nice.

Here is my problem. I really don’t have much to do with these events. This is my second one and, as Steph can attest to, I come in at the very end and help fill in all the spots where an extra set of hands is needed. That is all. Today I have been thanked many times for all of my work. I haven’t done anything to be thanked for. Yeah I help with set up, prep, etc. for these two days, but there are other people that have spent months working on this project. Yet every single time they extend the appreciation I am on the list of those that “make everything possible”. On top of it I got an achievement award for my work during the second half of this last year. It came as quite a shock. I sit with those that are running the show, doing what ever needs to be done, so we were outside of the banquet room during the announcing of the awards (we had finally gotten a chance to eat) I was called into take a picture, only to find out that they are presenting me with this award. Everyone thought it was funny to watch me be surprised. I felt awkward. This company has always been good to me. I know my loyalty is not misplaced, but I sometimes feel as if they think I do more then I actually do.

Anyway, I have a few projects to work on tonight. I finally have my move in date and need to see if I can get people to actually help me move that day. On top of that I am working on the committee for the George Washington Birthday Celebration in Alexandria…Anyone want to volunteer to help on the Race? :)

Boo just for you.....

You thought the day would never come.
But Indy is back.....and due to hit the big screen again May of '08!

Have you ever tried..........

I am currently reading the book The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I find it to be well written and enjoyable. I was intrigued when I read about August and Lily's favorite drink. I have never thought to add peanuts to Coke. It sounds like something I would enjoy. A touch of salty added to the sugar sweet of Coke. Today I think I will be adding nuts to my afternoon caffeine fix (Cherry Coke of course). Have any of you tried it? Is it any good?

Thank Heavens for comfy Tennis Shoes

That is all I have to say about that.

Day 2…….

Today is the second day of the New Year. Things are officially back to normal. I am busy as can be. Unfortunately, I have learned that I am supposed to work at B & N tonight; guess the heeled boots with a skirt was not my best choice for today’s outfit. Oh well at least I can say they have been broken in after today.

So the new year has arrived....

Last night we rang in 2007. The ball dropped on time square. There was kissing, not by me of course but there were others kissing. So the question that begs to be answered is……..Now what? What am I going to do with this New Year? There is a quote from one of the L.M. Montgomery books that says “Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it.”
Well today is a New Year, no mistakes and nothing but opportunities. So what do I want to accomplish?

Last night I had a good time with some friends that I know through work, but it brought on a very contemplative mood. The party was a lot of fun… Thanks Paul, Ellen, and Ben!! But once I was home, there was just me and my thoughts. So I spent the first few hours of this New Year mulling over what I want….unfortunately I have come to no conclusion.

Here are some things that I know:

In the month of Jan:
I will find a new place to live!
I will go and see an education counselor at NoVa

In the month of June:
I will go to the Gifford Family Reunion (AZ Dad’s family)
I will start the summer semester at NoVa

In the month of Nov:
I will attend the Hinkson Family Reunion (UT Dad family)

In the month of Dec:
It is requested that I go home for Christmas (Mom)

Other then that who knows what will come?

May the New Year be even better then the last!!

3 Things......

It's late and I am tired so to make this short

1....I might have a house to move into soon. Then I can stop feeling like a mooch, and be more independent again.

2.....I really love working in the book store. I'll be honest: if I could make the same amount of money with the same great benefits, I would give up my day job and never leave the store. *sigh*

3....The Kindertransport was an amazing thing....I have now read the book and now onto the movie.

2006

I found this on my Friend Jeremy's site! Let’s see what I can remember.Now we all know the answer is not much. Thank heavens for the blog...I wrote most of the important things on at least one of my sites. Lol!

JANUARY
1. Where were you on New Years Eve?
I do remember that: We were in Alexandria looking for fireworks…..Steph and Boo were getting annoyed by a boy….Who else was with us? Gwen was there with her boy….who else?

2. Did you have a new year's resolution this year?
Yes, there were a couple of resolutions: continue on my track to go to the temple, continue to walk everywhere, and travel over seas. None of them stuck! 

3. Does it snow where you live?
It should be…but it is not yet

4. Do you like hot chocolate?
Of Course……

5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop?
I haven’t been to New York ( I am not counting the times we flew in and out of the airport to go over seas…we never left the airports (did we? Tiana do you remember?)

FEBRUARY
1. Who was your Valentine?
I don’t think I had one….There might have been a crush at the time but nothing that got written about.

2. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your whole class?
Well, I don’t actually remember that but I know that the boys had to make cards for everyone in their class….so I am assuming that I was also required to.

3. Do you care if the groundhog sees its shadow or not?
Am I supposed to? Never really thought about the poor rodent!

MARCH
1. Are you Irish?
I believe there is a trace of the Irish in the mutt blood that I have.

2. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?
Always! It is my favorite holiday.

3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2006?
Got mad at a friend (wonder what it was about, Steph do you remember?) and went to dinner with R.A.G.S. to plan the trips we never took. *sigh*

4. Are you happy when winter is over?
Yes and No. I love winter but there is something about be able to walk with out the biting wind or sleet.

APRIL
1. Do you like the rain?
My ring tone is Singing In the Rain!! I love the Rain!!!

2. Did you play an April fool's joke on anyone this year?
I never got in to April Fool’s jokes…I feel bad when I make someone else feel silly.

3. Do you get tons of candy on Easter?
Not tons…but I believe there was Easter candy consumed this year.

4. Do you celebrate 4/20?
No

5. Do you love the month of April?
Yes! Usually……..maybe……..I don’t know. I think so.

MAY
1. What's your favorite kind of flower?
I love the Forget-me-nots. But I also love Lilacs…so much so that my mother planted them in our yard just for me!

3. Finish the phrase "April showers":
bring May flowers. What do Mayflowers bring? PILGRIMS!

4. What is the first color you think of when you think of Spring?
forget me not blue….pastel Green….

JUNE
1. What year do/did you graduate from High School?
1997.

2. Anything special happen to you in June?
June was a busy month: I turned 27; I gave CORRECT directions for the first time; I worked on the time out for women conference, I came home from the beach, I went to baseball games, there was lots of Rain (YAY!), and I got a broken heart. Not sure any of it was special though.

JULY
1. What did you do on the Fourth of July?
I can’t remember, I know we watched fireworks at my friend Nicks House, because Staph and Boo blogged it. But I think I slept through the rest of it? That is the only thing I blogged on any of my sites.

2. Did you go on any vacations during this month?
My sister came for a visit and I went rafting!! And camping!!!

AUGUST
1. Did you do anything special at the end of your summer?
I went to Utah for my brothers Mission Farewell and I got sick. The dizzy spells had set in and I was not a happy person.

2. What was your favorite summer memory of '06?
Sitting on the Beach all by myself….sleeping in the hammock at the beach….really most of my time at the beach.

3. Did you have a sunburn?
Yes…SPF 15 is not strong enough for this whitey!

4. Do you go to the beach a lot?
May….I spent 2 weeks straight at the beach. It was heaven!


SEPTEMBER
1. did you attend college in 06?
No. I wish!

2. Who is your favorite teacher?
I had an English teacher in High school named Mrs. Bestor (Kurt’s mother not his wife) I loved her!

3. Do you like fall better than summer?
I love the fall as much as I love the spring…Summer is probably my least favorite season, though I still like it.

OCTOBER
1. What was your favorite Halloween costume?
I really don’t dress up….though this year I wanted to be Velma Dinkley from Scooby Doo….I think I could have pulled it off….Oh well maybe next year!

2. What's your favorite candy?
I love Candy Corn.

3. What did you dress up as this year?
I didn’t….

4. Carve a pumpkin this year?
(Jeremy you are so right with this answer I am going to keep it!)
No. It's really no fun for me to do these decorating things all by me onesies. I'll carve a pumpkin when there's someone worth carving a pumpkin for.


NOVEMBER
1. Whose house do you go to for Thanksgiving?
I stayed at my place. Boo came over and we made soup and Pie!

2. Do you love stuffing?
I love Stuffing! It goes with Mash Potatoes and Gravy! Oh I miss those foods. I wonder if I could make them on my own with out ruining them? Hmmmm…..

3. What are you thankful for?
Peace of Mind, Family, Good Friends, and so many other things….but mostly the people in my life, they have such an impact!

DECEMBER
1. Do you celebrate Christmas?
Yeah, it is always a whirlwind of activity with the Hinkson Clans

2. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?
Not that I remember. Would be nice to have happen….Anyone know when David Boreanz is going to be standing under some Mistletoe?

3. Get anything special ?
I got a digital camera that I still have to learn, some good books and this fabulous homemade Christmas ornament(from these great girls in Idaho!)

4. What did you want this year?
Not something I got…..but then again it was not something that was really possible so I am not to heartbroken that it didn’t come.

5. Do you like cold weather?
YES! I love the snow…the winds of Idaho this year were a little more then I am used to. I am glad to be back in VA where it is at least 50 degrees!

And that is my year in review!

Home Again

I am Home!! I was glad to have my time with my friends and family. But I am glad to be home! Sunday Morning was a rush, between sick kids, church, and the rush to make the Hinkson Christmas Eve dinner. Dinner was a true Hinkson affair. We barely fit in the dining room. There had to be two separate tables. There was lots of laughter and just a touch of food throwing (but only the rolls I promise, I don’t throw the messy stuff!). From there we went to the living room for gifts. Yet again there was the realization that we just don’t fit any more. Gifts were fun, the new babies made out like bandits as was expected, and the chatter was almost overwhelming. As the night drew to a close, the babies got tired. One of my favorite moments was watching my big brother fall asleep while he rocked his daughter. There were tender moments all around. Those that were staying at the house then stayed up till 1:30 playing Killer Bunnies (a card game of sorts).

Christmas Morning didn’t even start until 9 am, luckily for us…..but then it lasted till almost 2 pm. I have many favorite gifts…but I think the digital camera is one that will find the most use in the next little while. I am still learning but hopefully soon I will be posting my own pics here.

Our Christmas movie was Eragon. I won’t say much other then I can see the influence of Robert Jordan and J. R. R. Tolkien in Chris Paolini’s stories. It was enjoyable for what it was, even if they took liberties with a few of the story lines.

Now I am back into the thick of things. Apartment hunting and working (hopefully I still have my job at B & N Lol!). Only 5 days left of December….are you ready for 2007?

December 22nd and 23rd

Today is day three of my Christmas Holiday and day two in Idaho. Every night I have tried to write a little for my blog. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to get my thoughts in order. The trip on Thursday was fine; as a matter of fact I rather enjoyed my second layover in Vegas. I got to watch a beautiful sunset. Yesterday (Friday, December 22) was filled with fun and first meetings:

I met my niece Amber for the first time. She is 8 months old and this is the first time I have had a chance to visit with her. She is adorable and so happy. I couldn’t believe how calm she was, our family is quite chaotic and to see her so calm and content made me rather hopeful for our future generations. My bother Ralph is a good daddy, I never doubted that he would be, but it is amazing to see him in action.

From there we went to see the newest nephew. As I posted a little over a week ago, Kent III (a. k. a. Triple Dee) has joined this mortal realm. Tiana and I had a chance to spend some time with the new baby and his mom Cynthia. As you can see he is also adorable, unfortunately, at a week old all he does is eat, sleep and poop. He is not all that fun yet, but I am sure he will be as he gets older.

Next was a 3 hour drive to Pocatello. Tiana, Sarah, Baby Sean Michael, and I headed north to see Grams Gifford. I must admit to being a bit distracted, I do not handle a change of plans, when my schedule is tight. But thanks to Sheila I was able to get back on track, though not quite focused. Grams is doing well, but there was only time for a short visit before I finished my final leg of the journey.

I was able to catch the Salt Lake Express from the Jackson’s Shell Station and hitch a ride to Idaho Falls. After an interesting ride where I learned that the young man in the back had recently found the delights of “more then a handful” and the woman in front of me felt the need to put her dog in my face, I met up with Sheila at the Kick’s 66 in Idaho Falls. Of course I was running a hour late, but the kids were nice enough to hold dinner for me. And what a dinner, The Professor had made a delightful meal. From the Bisque and Pastry to the Risotto and Beef the food was delicious.

I don’t know if I have time in this blog to say all that I want about the first meeting with Sheila, the Professor, and the children. I will say that I had an enjoyable time, and hope to be able to meet up with them again at some point when I am not on such a tight schedule. They and the children are quite enjoyable to be around

That brings us to today (December 23^rd). Today was a day of activity. It started with a fun drive filled with I spy and Fabulous Stories of Cinder Cheddar and Prince Gorgonzola ( or was it Mozzarella) from Camille. There was a quick goodbye to the Hadden/ Skazzekie clan before I was swept up n the whirlwind that was family pictures.

As you can see they turned out pretty good.


FYI: This is Arizona Dad’s Mother, her 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren (plus spouses) for a grand total of 19 people. We were there for almost 2 hours getting the poses and pictures set up.

Pictures were followed by a family dinner at a local restaurant. We didn’t want Grams to have to cook for all of us, so soon after surgery (Plus this way we didn’t have to do dishes, a major incentive for us!!) Dinner was a boisterous affair, full of laughter and a few tears. Dinner was followed by presents at Grams’ while Ian slept on the floor.

We rounded out the evening with pumpkin pie and a lovely game of Mexican Train. Almost every memory I have of visiting my grandmother includes playing Mexican Train. It is tradition; we cannot leave without playing this game. We surround the kitchen table and try our best to get rid of all of our dominoes. These are treasured memories. They are always happy times full of laughter and joy. As was that night.

Lesson Learned.....

Here I sit at my second layover of the day. The first in Atlanta was pleasant, as is this one in Las Vegas. My next flight is not for another hour and a half and I figured I could impart a bit of the wisdom I have gained today.

So here are the lessons I have learned so far today:

• Do not write at 3 am when you are tired and still not finished packing, life almost always looks bleak at 3 am, even when you have a pretty good life.

• You will not sleep very well on an airplane full of people.

• Delta Airlines Stewards are very nice people, they will wake you every time the pass by your seat offering food (even if you would rather be sleeping).

• Long layovers aren’t that bad, especially if you have a laptop, a slew of movies, and you own electronic handheld Sudoku game (Kate you are the greatest ever!!)

• When the airport is under construction and 3 out of the 4 women’s restrooms are under going renovations…..Hold it till the next airport, you will have to even if you stand in the line that wraps around the corner.

Hope everyone else is having a fabulous Thursday and isn’t stranded in Denver!!

Alone for the holidays....

Well it is that time of year again. Single women around the globe get depressed and stressed over their singleton status then we eat lots of chocolate and holiday foods.

I am never technically alone at holiday time. When all the numbers are added up I have 19 members of my immediate family. If you include spouses, nieces and nephews, grandparents etc. the number rises drastically. Plus I have many good friends that I could call on at a moments notice. So there is never really a chance that I will be "alone" for the holidays. In reality though, I have been a singleton for every Christmas season I can remember. So while I am technically not alone, the holidays remind me just how single I really am. Don't get me wrong, siblings, parents, and friends are great and I love my time with them, but that is not what we are talking about here. This has been on my mind for the past week. Most girls stress over being alone for the rest of their life. I will admit that I can be found stressing over it on occasion; but I am more often then not okay with my status. I like where I am in my life. This week I realized that even though I dislike being alone, it is preferable to being with someone who does not want to be with me. In my head I hear Cheap Trick singing: "I want you to want me."

I am tired of the game. I am tired of trying to sell myself. I know I am not any good at sales. I never have been, I am too shy on the inside. It makes me feel as if I am forcing people to be my friend. That is not a good feeling in the dating world. I want someone who thinks I am interesting enough to pursue. I want someone who will approach me, some one who wants me. Sooooo.........until I find someone who is willing to put forth a little effort I will be single. Every girl deserves to be wanted and needed. I know Christmas hasn't come yet, but that is going to become my New Years Resolution. Not exactly a "Down with Men" year; but a resolve to not date those men that don't think I am worth the effort of pursuit.

Now I am off to pack. I am to fly out in 7 hours and I am not finished packing.

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night.

Time.........

Then (with the clan of course):
Lately, I have been thinking about the passage of time. There was a comment made in Relief Society about things happening one drop at a time. It was said in regards to learning things line upon line when we are a society that thrives on instant gratification. Unfortunately, my brain took a turn from the lesson and all I could think about was the passage of time. Things happen drop by drop, minute by minute, and day by day. One day you look back and you realize that while you have been living day by day, months and even years have passed. I am 27 years old. I have been home from my mission for over 5 years now. I have lived on the East Coast for almost 2 years. (Sidebar: Ladies we are going to have to figure out a way to do a bi-coastal R.A.G.S. celebration this year!)
As I go through the stress of this holiday season, I realize that this isn’t the first time I have done this. Last year there were worries about flights and holiday parties and what to get roommates and friends for Christmas. Next year will be the same. It amazes me how time slips away from us. I start to wonder if I have appreciated all of the things that I have been able to do this year. There have been beautiful sunrises and sunsets; moments on the beach, rafting trips, dinners and movies with friends, baseball games, hockey games, new friends, old friends, new babies, funerals, and memorials. I have learned quite a bit about myself this year, but is it enough? As my dad asked earlier this year: Have I finished finding myself so that I can move home? I think I finally have your answer dad. I think I have found a bit more of myself, and this bit says I AM home. The day to day living had masked that change. I am comfortable here. I no longer feel like a country bumpkin on her first trip to the “big city.” I still miss my family and am shocked when I return to Utah and see all of the changes in my boys, but for now I am home. And I am grateful to be here.

Now (with Tiana):

Friday night was the Holiday Party for work. My company is good to us. Every year they put us in a resort for a night. Each employee and their chosen guest (or spouse lol) are required to get dressed in cocktail attire and then they give us free food and drinks until midnight. It is always funny to watch people you work with get totally smashed and tonight didn’t disappoint in that area. There were a few awkward moments when I was less then graceful, though I was told I handled the situation gracefully. There was a little frustration, I mean come on, when will I be able to get all dressed up and not do something klutzy? I am 27 ½ years old; you would think I would have grown out of the awkward phase, but I guess not. I guess all I can do is learn to handle the mistakes I make, as I am sure they will never stop. Lucky for me, the mishap did not ruin my night. After a few minutes with a hair blow dryer (Cuddles you are a genius!) I was able to return and dance the night away. There were plenty of pictures taken; I’ll have to post some of them later when I get copies.

Saturday, I spent the day at my “second job.” I can’t really call it work because it is more play for me then anything. I mean who can hate working with books. Even when working the cash register, I am happy to be there. We’ll see how much longer it lasts, though with the way I am about books, I doubt it will ever end. Or should I say, I hope it will never end!

Congratulations are in order…..

Wahoo for the Kent Hinkson Jr Family!!

I am happy to announce the newest addition to my ever growing clan.

My newest nephew joined our family this morning at about 1 am……
Kent Dee Hinkson III, weighing in at 7 lbs 2 oz. and 18.5 inches long, had to be here in time to meet Tiana and me at Christmas.

As you can see he came into the world a screamer with a full head of hair.
Congrats to the proud parents!

The next day....

The day after I am sick is always the best day of my life. Have you ever noticed that? Sunday and Monday were rotten days. This morning was beautiful. The air was crisp and clear. You could smell the winter in it. The sun was shining. I feel good! I got to work and was happy to be here. It didn’t matter that I knew it would be an extremely busy day. I was just glad to feel good. To top it off…….Today’s calendar quote reads:

“I will not, under any circumstances, spend my precious time with a man who has already rejected me.”

So I guess I am no longer wondering whether or not to be friends with that “old friend”. Lol!

And this is the pic she wanted.....

Here is your Boo!

The Bells are ringing....

Tonight Kate and I took the time to enjoy the lights at the temple. We were specifically going to the Temple Visitors Center to listen to tonights bell choir. While there we walked the grounds and just enjoyed the peace and the lights. There is nothing greater then being able to enjoy the peace that can be found at the temple. The bell choir was fabulous. Making music is not a talent I have. Even in band I was last chair; well except for one day…I got to be second chair; unfortunately there were only 2 people in class that day. But there is something about music that resonates with me. Music seems to be a living thing, I love to listen and feel it. I have a hard time sitting still at concerts, tonight they even let us sing a long to a couple of the Christmas songs. I was completely content.

By the end of the evening, we had realized that the weeks fatigue had caught up with us. This made it a perfect time for me to watch one of Kate’s favorite movies. Therefore I can now say I have seen Wayne’s World. Interesting…to say the least. Fatigue definitely makes it funnier then I think it really is.

To answer a few questions which have come my way recently:

1) Yes, I have moved out of the house on Jenkins Lane.

2) I packed Tuesday and Wednesday then moved on Thursday.

3) Yes, that means my schedule has been a little crazy with very little sleep.

4) No, I do not have permanent housing at this time.

5) My belongings are being stored at various places

a. A special thanks to The Water Oaks Boys, the Leeland Ladies, and Boo. What more could a girl ask for then good friends.

6) I am currently staying with the Leeland Ladies and looking for something more permanent, so if you know of a place close to a metro please let me know.

I hope that answers everything. I am tired so I better go to bed before Time convinces me to buy a bunch of 70’s soft rock CD’s. ;)

G’Night

So a friend from my past decided to help me pack last night.
He was kind and sweet and funny.

He would like to be friends again.

Do I trust him?

I am too tired to decide for myself.

Isn't it Ironic......

I have gotten into the habit of reading the Express on my way to work in the mornings (I love taking the Bus!!) Ironically today's horoscope read:

You mustn't let a negative outlook keep you from trying, from experimenting, from moving forward. Do everything you can to maintain momentum.

Once in the office my quote calendar read:

"There's never a reason to shout at someone unless they are in imminent danger."

Just a little bit of irony in my world. I hope everyone had a good weekend. If anyone has time on Thursday night I am moving, and could use any help you can give! I'll treat to pizza after we are done, though we will have to go out for it. Lol!

Hmmmm.....

A friend sent me a fabulous quiz today. Lol. I found it rather ironic, especially since Boo posted THIS on Tuesday. Hee Hee Hee





Now that you have read all about me.... Is it true? Am I really the Rock Star? Any one actually understand my psyche? Lol! I sure don't!

.....Phew...

I would like to write something interesting. I would really like to write something that will make people laugh and smile and would help me remember what I have been thinking etc. these days. Too Bad!!

Today was the presentation that I have been working towards for the last month. There were a few hiccups this morning….a little embarrassment…..a little nervousness….but I survived. Now my brain is mush. Let’s hope I can actually get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow I start nights at Barnes and Nobles. Yeah for Book Money!!!

Grams has got cancer. Surgery is on the 7th.

She'll be fine.

Right?

Right.

Nothing to worry about.

She will be fine.

Home for the holidays

I spent most of this weekend tired. Someday I hope to get over this dragging feeling of fatigue but that is not today.

Thursday was nice; it was a quiet and enjoyable Thanksgiving with Amber. She crashed at my place Wednesday night and we were up early (okay 9ish is kind of early right?) to watch the Macey’s Day Parade. It was fun to just laze around in my pj’s and watch the floats and commentators. I even learned a few thanksgiving facts. Dinner was easy…. Amber made her homemade vegetable and chicken soup. No, it’s not traditional Thanksgiving Day fare, but man was it yummy. I know I’m not a cook but I did make pumpkin pie as a nod to the holiday. Might not have been the greatest pie ever but it wasn’t inedible. Boo was even kind enough to eat a piece. Lol!

Friday was spent in bed. Not as much fun as it sounds, when all I did was sleep with short bouts of reading in between.

Saturday was definitely a “Rachel Day”. I find it funny how easy I am. Amber and I headed into The District to take a tour through the National Spy Museum. Unfortunately, tickets were sold out until 2pm. So after purchasing our tickets for the 2 o’clock tour we decided to visit the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery; there was an exhibit on Josephine Baker that I was excited to see and Amber kindly indulged me. I am a loner when it comes to museums; I like to walk by myself slowly and I love to read the things that are posted. I loved the Portrait gallery; we spent hours in there. I got to see many of the exhibits. There was a fascinating one on the American faces of today and I enjoyed the Walt Whitman paintings. Especially the one where he seems to be laughing, not laughing at you but more laughing at something he has found in his head. Anyway, I finished off with Ms. Josephine Baker who was an amazing woman. After a quick bite and Amber’s favorite lunch spot, Potbelly’s, we headed over to take on our new identities at the Spy museum. As Greta and Angelina we learned…well many things, among them I would make a horrible spy. Lol! Amber is definitely Bond Girl material though. By the time we headed out of the district I was dragging, poor Amber let me crash for a bit at her place before we headed out to meet up with Nic for our last activity for the day. We closed our day with singing and dancing penguins on a giant screen. Yup, you guessed it. It was a showing of Happy Feet on the IMAX out at the Air and Space Museum. A movie that I enjoyed so much I will probably be seeing it again. And maybe I will even own it. (I have a secret love for musicals and for cartoons….put the two together and I am sunk. Lol!) Unfortunately, by the end of the movie I was wiped. Nic drove me home and I couldn’t even stay awake to read. And that is a good thing. Hopefully I have caught up on the sleep I need to get me through the week. It is going to be a doozy! I hope everyone else had an enjoyable Holiday Weekend!

Greatest Thanksgiving Quote....`

"Bond is like Ammon. He will never die.
It's like he's protected or Something."

Thanks Boo! We love you!

I am just a common mutt.....

I find it very interesting that there are 362,962 with my first name and 20,998 with my last name but there are only :

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 25 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Not my generation?

There is just something about listening to Jim Croce.
There is really no explanation.
But I love it!

I need something else at the top of my blog...

So I really have nothing to write except that I no longer want the top post to be my fears...So lets see.....

I have purchased my tickets to fly home for Christmas. I will only be home for 5 days. 2 of which will be spent in Idaho with my grandmother. I have many emotions about going home for the holidays. Most of which I don't wish to express here. (Hi Family...I love you!)
But I will say that I am a little excited to see my mountains covered in snow again. *sigh*

I'll try to think of something better to write later. But for now I am back to Open Enrollment.....

Post Secret....

I recently purchased The Post Secret books. I have spent the last couple of days reading these books off and on. It is amazing the secrets people have. I find that I am even more amazed at the courage these people have to share their secrets, notwithstanding the anonymity. Take a look. I hope that being able to share with others allows these people to get beyond the fear that they believe is holding them back.

Some one recently commented to me that this blog could make me sound intelligent....today I am afraid to write anything. What if everything I write from now on makes me sound like I am stupid?
And that is where these 2 themes converge. I decided to post my secret; maybe if I put it out there then it will not have such a hold on me.

I am afraid of being thought of as stupid. (Pause for dramatic effect)

Who knows where this fear comes from? Who cares? It is something that has been a problem all of my life. I know that when I speak my words never come out right. I stutter. My thoughts tend jumble when I get excited. I forget the word I want to use. I frequently mispronounce words. I know this doesn’t make me stupid. I know that I have a decent mind. My mother has always told me that I am dyslexic…if I am it is a mild case that I believe I have mostly defeated due to my voracious appetite for the written word. I was surprised by my elder brother recently when he commented that he was glad to realize I was a “deep thinker”. That was high praise to me, especially coming from this particular brother; he is extremely smart. (And no, he was not being condescending or unkind , it was a compliment.)

I know in my head that I am not stupid…Logic tells me so. But there you have it. My fear that I do not tell any one.

(Because everyone already knows that I am afraid of the dark and the things that go bump in the night!)

Great Waters?

So today's Fortune Cookie from my lunch said....

"You will soon be crossing the great waters."

Does the Great Salt Lake count as a one of the "Great Waters" and is Christmas considered "soon"? If so does this mean I have to go home for Christmas?

Sigh.....looks like it is inevitable....

Well family, get ready, I'll be home for Christmas!

My memory never serves.....

I saw the movie The Queen with Kate last night. I was excited to see the movie until I realized that I was thinking of a different movie. I had thought the movie was the Esther Movie (One Night with the King) but it was a movie of the british royal family at the time of Princess Di’s death.

Now, as you all know, I have a horrible memory; therefore my memories of the events of August 1997 are extremely hazy. I do remember that I was working on the housekeeping staff for Days Inn in Provo. My boss was very affected by the death of Diana, to the point that she listened to the play by play of the funeral on the tiny radio in her office. I remember that people we lauding the work that Diana had done with her various charities, almost painting her as a saint. I also remember that for some reason there was a great dislike of the Royal Family. The main thing I remember of that time is that I was shocked at the grandiose measures that were taken in regards to Diana’s death and the fame that was heaped upon her head for her charity work when a mere week later Mother Theresa died and it was a mere blip on the radar. A woman who dedicated her life to charity work, she even one the Nobel Peace Prize in ’79 for her work, but she was not as “important” as Di? But that is a diatribe to be written at another time.

Back to the reason for this post…..

Last night’s movie was a view sympathetic to The Queen. It causes one to empathize with her struggle at the time of Diana's death. I was impressed with the way she was portrayed. It gave her a very human feel as she tried to deal with all that is being thrown at her and realized that maybe she didn’t know what was best anymore. I was so intrigued in regards to what I did not know about her that I looked into it today.

I learned many interesting points……..such as did you know that Queen Elizabeth was a mechanic(technically titled a driver) during WWII? She is, so far, the only female member of the Royal Family to serve in the armed forces. Her first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill. She was called Lilibet as a child and was know for her sharp wit. At the age of 14 Elizabeth made her 1st broadcast addressing the children who had been evacuated due to the War (WWII)

Queen Elizabeth II is not a person I have ever thought much about therefore I had no real opinion of her. As I have read about her, I have created my opinion of her. She is a woman who amazes me. One that has done the best she could for herself and her people. I truly believe that she has devoted her life to the service of her people, as she pledged when she was a mere 21 years old. I am glad that I went to the wrong movie last night.

P.S. I promise to post the pics of last weeks wedding soon. It was an adventure and the Bride and Groom deserve to be celebrated.

Upoming Posts.....

I am waiting to blog about This weekend until I have pictures.....It shouldn't be long.

But until then....

Congrats to the Happy Couple Mr and Mrs Truman Hinkson!!!