Our very talented photographer friend Janelle at Atelier Photographie took some photos of our little family for Christmas.
She will likely win a Pulitzer Prize for photography since she not only had to deal with photographing two wild animals, but my wild husband as well. We loved the photos, thanks, Janelle!
If you'd like to contact Janelle about taking pics of your family, let me know.
anything you say can and will be used for my entertainment...
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Mark Your Calendar: Financial Planning Girl's Night
Hopefully everyone had a very merry Christmas. I'll be posting a holiday recap in the next few days, but until then, I wanted to remind you to pencil in the YWCA successitea for Jan. 8.
Its focus is on financial planning. Plus there are FREE COOKIES and TEA. Plus a bunch of girls having a good time. And learning to be financially responsible. I'm not sure what is better than that. Did I mention there are FREE COOKIES?
Hope to see you there. These successiteas really are fun, if you haven't been before I encourage you to give this one a shot. They only last about an hour and all of the info is always so helpful. FREE COOKIES.
"Financial Planning: How to Plan and Manage Your Finances"
Speaker: Sue Wamsley with New York Life
DATE: Tuesday, Jan. 8
TIME: 7 p.m.
PLACE: The Tao, 900 East 2030 South
RSVP: To me, or to Heidi at hgroebs@ywca.com
Its focus is on financial planning. Plus there are FREE COOKIES and TEA. Plus a bunch of girls having a good time. And learning to be financially responsible. I'm not sure what is better than that. Did I mention there are FREE COOKIES?
Hope to see you there. These successiteas really are fun, if you haven't been before I encourage you to give this one a shot. They only last about an hour and all of the info is always so helpful. FREE COOKIES.
"Financial Planning: How to Plan and Manage Your Finances"
Speaker: Sue Wamsley with New York Life
DATE: Tuesday, Jan. 8
TIME: 7 p.m.
PLACE: The Tao, 900 East 2030 South
RSVP: To me, or to Heidi at hgroebs@ywca.com
Friday, December 21, 2007
Flashback Friday: Merry Christmas, Pard'ner
A little holiday treat: Zach as a cowboy when he was around two or three.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
So What if I Still Count on My Fingers
Go ahead and just guess who CORRECTLY stated the number of jelly beans in the jar at the Nielsen Sio Salon Bumble and Bumble product line launch event?
Go ahead. Just do it.
Hint: ME!!!!
I scored nearly 200 bones in free B&B product. If my days-old ponytail is looking much silkier than usual, now you know why. I may just blow dry my hair to celebrate.
My loot
Go ahead. Just do it.
Hint: ME!!!!
I scored nearly 200 bones in free B&B product. If my days-old ponytail is looking much silkier than usual, now you know why. I may just blow dry my hair to celebrate.
My lootThursday, December 13, 2007
Overheard: Dept. Meeting Girl Talk
Her: I KNEW he was watching the clock. He has ovaries to save.
Him: Uh, actually it's breasts and cervixes.
Her: Whatever. And isn't it cervi?
Him: Uh, actually it's breasts and cervixes.
Her: Whatever. And isn't it cervi?
Friday, December 7, 2007
Flashback Friday: Christmas in '81
I love this picture, which accompanied our Christmas cards in 1981 (I was two years old), because of
1. My dad's sweet Grizzly Adams beard;
2. My adorable crocheted dress with matching purse and doll; and
3. My mom! She is a hot mama. Hopefully I'll look that good after having a baby (but I doubt it).
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Be there or be square
My friend Ryan's band is playing Saturday night at Solid Ground Cafe in Sandy. For only 6 bucks. They are amazing.I wouldn't miss it if I were you.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Personal Timeline: The First Decade
Age One: I spend my days with my mom and hanging out at my grandparents' house, since we live just next-door. I am basically bald. Mom pierces my ears in the hopes that someone will know that I am a girl. Dad is mad that his first born has gone through the pain of pierced ears.
Age Two: A clumsy child, I fall down a lot and have many bruises to show for it. My aunts babysit me, I fall down and get a black eye. The aunts hide from my dad, sure that he will kill them since his first born has gone through the pain of a black eye.
Age Three: I give myself another black eye while visiting our new house's construction site. Nobody knows how I got it. My best friend is our collie puppy, Lucky, The Best Dog Who Ever Lived, and whose name, when mentioned, still causes my mom to tear up.
Age Four: I go to my preschool interview. To judge my mechanical skills, the teacher asks me to color a black and white outline in the shape of a heart. I sit quietly staring at my paper. The teacher asks me why I haven't started coloring, and I tell her I didn't know which of the crayons I was supposed to use.
Age Five: My favorite coat is long and purple with thick buttons and matching mittens on a string. While playing on the slide, I overhear a classmate say that mittens are for babies and decide that next year, I'm moving on to gloves and never looking back.
Age Six: A first-grader at Creekview Elementary, I tell my parents about my teacher and how her boyfriend stops by occasionally to meet her in our coat closet. The next year I start private school.
Age Seven: I love wearing a uniform to school every day and my new friend, Rachele Sacco, pulls me aside to teach me how to get away with wearing gray cordouroy pants instead of the mandatory jumper: Just tell the nuns you spilled ice cream on your skirt.
Age Eight: My first year of using hard-cover text books. I feel very grown up and make a big deal of proclaiming, as often as possible, that "I have social studies homework." For some reason I liked the sound of that.
Age Nine: We start our first year of sex ed and my fear of childbirth is born.
Age Ten: My grandfather takes his airplane, that he built in his garage, for its first flight on my birthday. I feel very special and notice that the reporter from the Delta, Utah newspaper is there to cover the grand event. I am certain I'm just a bi-weekly newspaper away from being famous.
(This blog post topic is one recommended by Mighty Girl and featured in her popular book.)
Age Two: A clumsy child, I fall down a lot and have many bruises to show for it. My aunts babysit me, I fall down and get a black eye. The aunts hide from my dad, sure that he will kill them since his first born has gone through the pain of a black eye.
Age Three: I give myself another black eye while visiting our new house's construction site. Nobody knows how I got it. My best friend is our collie puppy, Lucky, The Best Dog Who Ever Lived, and whose name, when mentioned, still causes my mom to tear up.
Age Four: I go to my preschool interview. To judge my mechanical skills, the teacher asks me to color a black and white outline in the shape of a heart. I sit quietly staring at my paper. The teacher asks me why I haven't started coloring, and I tell her I didn't know which of the crayons I was supposed to use.
Age Five: My favorite coat is long and purple with thick buttons and matching mittens on a string. While playing on the slide, I overhear a classmate say that mittens are for babies and decide that next year, I'm moving on to gloves and never looking back.
Age Six: A first-grader at Creekview Elementary, I tell my parents about my teacher and how her boyfriend stops by occasionally to meet her in our coat closet. The next year I start private school.
Age Seven: I love wearing a uniform to school every day and my new friend, Rachele Sacco, pulls me aside to teach me how to get away with wearing gray cordouroy pants instead of the mandatory jumper: Just tell the nuns you spilled ice cream on your skirt.
Age Eight: My first year of using hard-cover text books. I feel very grown up and make a big deal of proclaiming, as often as possible, that "I have social studies homework." For some reason I liked the sound of that.
Age Nine: We start our first year of sex ed and my fear of childbirth is born.
Age Ten: My grandfather takes his airplane, that he built in his garage, for its first flight on my birthday. I feel very special and notice that the reporter from the Delta, Utah newspaper is there to cover the grand event. I am certain I'm just a bi-weekly newspaper away from being famous.
(This blog post topic is one recommended by Mighty Girl and featured in her popular book.)
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
She Wanted to Be Like the Dryer
As you may already know, Zach and I had an exciting weekend. Our little dog, Sydney, was sick the entire time with what we thought was the flu. After her symptoms kept up until Sunday night, we decided to take her to the animal E.R. and have her further checked out.
Several x-rays later, the doctor found that there was something stuck in her intestines. They ended up giving her an IV and let us take her home at 1:30 a.m. Sunday night/Monday morning so that she could have emergency surgery first thing in the morning.
Since the vet let us know that her condition was life-threatening, we didn't get much sleep with her between us where Zach & I could stare at her all night long. The next morning, we rushed to our fabulous vet, Dr. Latimer at Sugarhouse Veterinary Clinic, and were on his doorstep as soon as the office opened. He checked Sydney out and we did more tests to make sure that surgery was necessary.
It was, and he ended up operating on her late Monday afternoon. Fortunately, everything went well, and he ended up extracting (what we think was) a long sock from her intestines. Why she would eat an entire sock, we have no idea. Dr. L said that it was string-like, which is the worst kind of foreign object for a dog to have stuck in them, since it wreaks havoc on their intestines as they work to pass it. He said that she only would have had another day before things would have been very, very bad and un-operable.
About 5' of her bowels ended up being wrapped around this 18" piece of fabric. Luckily, the doctor was able to remove it with only two incisions to her intestines (he thought originally it would take 4 or 5), so that was great news.
Zach, Parker and I are missing her terribly since she'll be in the hospital until Thursday. We can't wait for our little Sydney to get home and we all feel so lucky that her problem was caught in time. I thought about taking a picture of the "foreign object" which the doctor saved for us, since it isn't every day you get to see a $2,000 sock. But, it turns out, even $2,000 socks are pretty disgusting once they've been living inside an animal for a few days.
The little sock eater tonight at the hospital.
Several x-rays later, the doctor found that there was something stuck in her intestines. They ended up giving her an IV and let us take her home at 1:30 a.m. Sunday night/Monday morning so that she could have emergency surgery first thing in the morning.
Since the vet let us know that her condition was life-threatening, we didn't get much sleep with her between us where Zach & I could stare at her all night long. The next morning, we rushed to our fabulous vet, Dr. Latimer at Sugarhouse Veterinary Clinic, and were on his doorstep as soon as the office opened. He checked Sydney out and we did more tests to make sure that surgery was necessary.
It was, and he ended up operating on her late Monday afternoon. Fortunately, everything went well, and he ended up extracting (what we think was) a long sock from her intestines. Why she would eat an entire sock, we have no idea. Dr. L said that it was string-like, which is the worst kind of foreign object for a dog to have stuck in them, since it wreaks havoc on their intestines as they work to pass it. He said that she only would have had another day before things would have been very, very bad and un-operable.
About 5' of her bowels ended up being wrapped around this 18" piece of fabric. Luckily, the doctor was able to remove it with only two incisions to her intestines (he thought originally it would take 4 or 5), so that was great news.
Zach, Parker and I are missing her terribly since she'll be in the hospital until Thursday. We can't wait for our little Sydney to get home and we all feel so lucky that her problem was caught in time. I thought about taking a picture of the "foreign object" which the doctor saved for us, since it isn't every day you get to see a $2,000 sock. But, it turns out, even $2,000 socks are pretty disgusting once they've been living inside an animal for a few days.
The little sock eater tonight at the hospital.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Flashback: M-I-C-K-E-Y? Because tube socks make me so, so happy.
A little Flashback Friday treat for you: Zach's family at Disneyland sometime in the early 80's.
Zach wishes he still had that captain's hat so that he could look more convincing when bossing around his workers at the restaurant. But let's all be thankful he doesn't still wear shorts that, uh, short. Cute little Amie, Z's sister, is wearing an outfit that I also owned and loved. His dad looks awesome and, unfortunately, doesn't wear those socks anymore. But Zach's mom's outfit is my favorite. The fact that she wore those high-heeled platform sandals while chasing mini-Zach around the Happiest Place on Earth for a full day makes her my hero for sure (Can you even imagine what he was like as a child? I can't keep him under control now and he's almost 30!). I hope that if Zach and I take our future children to Disneyland someday I remember to look half as stylish as she did.
The lesson for today is that fashion always trumps comfort, girls.
Zach wishes he still had that captain's hat so that he could look more convincing when bossing around his workers at the restaurant. But let's all be thankful he doesn't still wear shorts that, uh, short. Cute little Amie, Z's sister, is wearing an outfit that I also owned and loved. His dad looks awesome and, unfortunately, doesn't wear those socks anymore. But Zach's mom's outfit is my favorite. The fact that she wore those high-heeled platform sandals while chasing mini-Zach around the Happiest Place on Earth for a full day makes her my hero for sure (Can you even imagine what he was like as a child? I can't keep him under control now and he's almost 30!). I hope that if Zach and I take our future children to Disneyland someday I remember to look half as stylish as she did.
The lesson for today is that fashion always trumps comfort, girls.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Moonwalk Monday: Bunny Names
Since I missed last Friday's Flashback, as well as the one previous, I thought I should post one today. Don't worry, loyal reader(s), as of this Friday we will resume normal Flashback programming.
These pictures were taken in May and June of 1983, which means I was almost four years old. I loved animals, still do today, and was lucky enough to have a menagerie of pets. Dogs, cats, a turtle, rabbits, pigeons, chickens, ducks, a guinea pig and a short-lived hamster rounded out our family at one time or another.
All of them had names that we chose after an extensive process involving research into the animal's appearance and/or personality and usually the input of a focus group or two.
Pictured below is the appropriately named Snowball--a name that is so creative it must have taken days of brainstorming and debate:
And her bunny sibling, Black Snowball:
Even at four I was a naming genius.
These pictures were taken in May and June of 1983, which means I was almost four years old. I loved animals, still do today, and was lucky enough to have a menagerie of pets. Dogs, cats, a turtle, rabbits, pigeons, chickens, ducks, a guinea pig and a short-lived hamster rounded out our family at one time or another.
All of them had names that we chose after an extensive process involving research into the animal's appearance and/or personality and usually the input of a focus group or two.
Pictured below is the appropriately named Snowball--a name that is so creative it must have taken days of brainstorming and debate:
And her bunny sibling, Black Snowball:
Even at four I was a naming genius.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Blogging Friend Birthday: Marcae
[Editor's note: Due to a perfect storm of scanner, internet and computer problems, this post is a day late.]
Marcae and I have been friends for --gulp!-- almost 10 years. We realized this last week. Back in 1997 we were next-door neighbors at Stonebrook Apartments in Cedar City where Marcae lived with Jamie. We were all fascinated by Marc since she had the greatest hair, cutest name, always wore high heels (amid a sea of clunky Doc Martens), drove a cute Pontiac Sunfire and was from Roperville, also known as Fillmore. (Since her last name was Roper and her family owned multiple businesses there, our friends thought our name was better.)
For the next couple years we lived together and I quickly learned to love Marc's stellar sense of humor, genuine personality and ability to coordinate her famous "all nighters" where we would all stay up the entire night watching movies and eating junk food while Marcae, wrapped in her favorite blanket and still wearing her shoes, would fall asleep at the late hour of, oh, 9:30.
Over the last decade we've stayed great friends and have, for the most part, kept up with our almost-monthly dinners where we pass the hours laughing and having the kinds of conversations one gets to enjoy with a friend they've had since they were a teenager.
Marcae still has the fun-loving personality that made me want to be her friend when we were just 18, and her naturally giving, thoughtful nature has never changed. She is an unbelievable mother who can rattle off her latest baby hair styling tips one minute and discuss enough medical terminology and procedures to make even a skilled surgeon jealous the next. Marcae is the personification of patience, generosity and friendship.
Happy birthday, Marc! Sure love ya.
Marcae and I have been friends for --gulp!-- almost 10 years. We realized this last week. Back in 1997 we were next-door neighbors at Stonebrook Apartments in Cedar City where Marcae lived with Jamie. We were all fascinated by Marc since she had the greatest hair, cutest name, always wore high heels (amid a sea of clunky Doc Martens), drove a cute Pontiac Sunfire and was from Roperville, also known as Fillmore. (Since her last name was Roper and her family owned multiple businesses there, our friends thought our name was better.)
For the next couple years we lived together and I quickly learned to love Marc's stellar sense of humor, genuine personality and ability to coordinate her famous "all nighters" where we would all stay up the entire night watching movies and eating junk food while Marcae, wrapped in her favorite blanket and still wearing her shoes, would fall asleep at the late hour of, oh, 9:30.
Over the last decade we've stayed great friends and have, for the most part, kept up with our almost-monthly dinners where we pass the hours laughing and having the kinds of conversations one gets to enjoy with a friend they've had since they were a teenager.
Marcae still has the fun-loving personality that made me want to be her friend when we were just 18, and her naturally giving, thoughtful nature has never changed. She is an unbelievable mother who can rattle off her latest baby hair styling tips one minute and discuss enough medical terminology and procedures to make even a skilled surgeon jealous the next. Marcae is the personification of patience, generosity and friendship.
Happy birthday, Marc! Sure love ya.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Blogging Friend Birthday: Abby!
I remember the first time I met Abby and her husband Ben. A few years ago, Zach and I were attending our neighborhood watch meeting at the Salt Lake Library. We knew everyone there except the new couple who had an adorable baby in tow.
While everyone was taking turns recounting their own personal thoughts on our biggest neighborhood concerns, Ben (one half of the new couple and father of the adorable baby) said something like, "I wish someone had told us about all this before we moved in."
Zach, ever the shy, introverted one, laughed loudly and blurted out "HA HA, Suckers!!" Ben shot Zach a look and I wanted to crawl under my seat. What a way to meet the new neighbors.
Turns out that Zach and Ben's personalities meshed just right and soon after, the boys hit it off by playing darts and eating salsa until about 3 or 4 in the morning.
Abby & I also bonded over food. To be specific, the food that she made and I ate. Almost every night. Zach worked a lot so Ben & Abby were always so great about inviting me over for dinner and I was really great at never turning them down.
Abby is really talented at soooooooo many things: being a mom (she's the greatest), a friend (again, pretty much the greatest), baking (I think I've lost 10 pounds since they moved away), any kind of cooking (my jeans are happy they're fitting a little looser but my belly is very, very sad), tennis, card games, birthing adorable children and many other things too numerous to mention.
They moved away this summer and I miss them a lot. Luckily I have some fun pictures to keep me entertained and, even from South Carolina, she's taking care of my sweet tooth by sending me lovely baked goods through the United States Postal Service.
Now that's a true friend.
Abby being a fearless mountain climber.
.JPG)
She has an impeccable sense of style.
Abby with Ben at the famous One Man Band Diner.
.JPG)
Happy birthday, Abby!
While everyone was taking turns recounting their own personal thoughts on our biggest neighborhood concerns, Ben (one half of the new couple and father of the adorable baby) said something like, "I wish someone had told us about all this before we moved in."
Zach, ever the shy, introverted one, laughed loudly and blurted out "HA HA, Suckers!!" Ben shot Zach a look and I wanted to crawl under my seat. What a way to meet the new neighbors.
Turns out that Zach and Ben's personalities meshed just right and soon after, the boys hit it off by playing darts and eating salsa until about 3 or 4 in the morning.
Abby & I also bonded over food. To be specific, the food that she made and I ate. Almost every night. Zach worked a lot so Ben & Abby were always so great about inviting me over for dinner and I was really great at never turning them down.
Abby is really talented at soooooooo many things: being a mom (she's the greatest), a friend (again, pretty much the greatest), baking (I think I've lost 10 pounds since they moved away), any kind of cooking (my jeans are happy they're fitting a little looser but my belly is very, very sad), tennis, card games, birthing adorable children and many other things too numerous to mention.
They moved away this summer and I miss them a lot. Luckily I have some fun pictures to keep me entertained and, even from South Carolina, she's taking care of my sweet tooth by sending me lovely baked goods through the United States Postal Service.
Now that's a true friend.
Abby being a fearless mountain climber..JPG)
She has an impeccable sense of style.
Abby with Ben at the famous One Man Band Diner.
.JPG)
Happy birthday, Abby!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Flashback Friday: Rockefeller Center
So I was at Costco today and noticed that everything they are selling right now is Christmas related. Poinsettias? Check. Fake trees? Got 'em. Enormous crock pots? No problem. Industrial size bottles of Xanax? Sure thing. Well, not really, but they should sell that, too. This is Utah after all.
Anyhoo, it obviously got me thinking about Christmas. One of my favorite holiday season memories was probably about four years ago, in a far away time we refer to as BZP (before Z Pizzeria). I was in NYC for a media tour and Zach braved one of the worst blizzards in Manhattan's history to meet me there. We had a blast touring all of the movie-set-perfect holiday sites and doing our Christmas shopping. Although I've been lucky enough to make it back to New York almost every year during Christmas time, this first trip with Z was my favorite.
Anyhoo, it obviously got me thinking about Christmas. One of my favorite holiday season memories was probably about four years ago, in a far away time we refer to as BZP (before Z Pizzeria). I was in NYC for a media tour and Zach braved one of the worst blizzards in Manhattan's history to meet me there. We had a blast touring all of the movie-set-perfect holiday sites and doing our Christmas shopping. Although I've been lucky enough to make it back to New York almost every year during Christmas time, this first trip with Z was my favorite.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Just Fore' Fun
After months of trying to get out of the office and hit a bucket of balls, Natalie and I finally accomplished our goal. We had a ton of fun and were able to take advantage of the day's incredible weather during lunch. We couldn't believe how nice it was outside--warm and sunny. We (heart) global warming.
We arrived at the posh golf club and began with our highly scientific method of filling our baskets with golf balls (using our feet to ensure there would be no spillage):
Natalie demonstrated her superb technique:
Even more impressive, considering her (lack of) footwear:
Notice we are wearing our best matching golf gloves:
I am getting ready to hit the ball out of the park. Or, something like that:
Here we are--Michelle Wie and Annika Sorenstam. Oh, I mean Miranda and Natalie:
We must have burned at least 10 or 15 calories so of course we replaced them immediately with the best part of our day--grilled cheese sandwiches, Coke (Diet for me) and fries:
Editor's Note: If you are a golf executive and are interested in persuading us to either 1. join the LPGA tour or 2. be ridiculously overpaid spokespeople for your golf-related business endeavour, have your people call our people.
But bring your best offer. We're highly in demand.
We arrived at the posh golf club and began with our highly scientific method of filling our baskets with golf balls (using our feet to ensure there would be no spillage):
Natalie demonstrated her superb technique:
Even more impressive, considering her (lack of) footwear:
Notice we are wearing our best matching golf gloves:
I am getting ready to hit the ball out of the park. Or, something like that:
Here we are--Michelle Wie and Annika Sorenstam. Oh, I mean Miranda and Natalie:
We must have burned at least 10 or 15 calories so of course we replaced them immediately with the best part of our day--grilled cheese sandwiches, Coke (Diet for me) and fries:
Editor's Note: If you are a golf executive and are interested in persuading us to either 1. join the LPGA tour or 2. be ridiculously overpaid spokespeople for your golf-related business endeavour, have your people call our people. But bring your best offer. We're highly in demand.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Overheard: Comparing Schedules
Young Woman 1: "I know, we've been really busy, too. Actually, my husband only saw me when I was standing up one time last week."
Young Woman 2: "Spoken like a true newlywed."
Young Woman 2: "Spoken like a true newlywed."
Monday, November 12, 2007
Either/Or
From my Las Vegas hotel elevator. I love how Vegas makes it incredibly convenient, with the push of the same button, to attend your business meetings OR get married to the cute stranger you met at the airport.
Overheard: Monday Morning Staff Meeting
"Because the last thing you'd want is Jesus getting ketchup on his head."
Monday, November 5, 2007
Top 6 List
Since Natalie tagged me and Amanda and Diania keep reminding me of this fact, here are six things about me for your reading pleasure:
1. In my opinion, macaroni and cheese (and not of the Kraft variety) is probably the best thing ever invented. Especially from Noodles & Co., although the mac & cheese Diania made for our work Halloween party may be my new favorite.
2. I've had front row seats at Late Show with David Letterman--twice. I know the system of how to get good seats, so if you're ever in NYC with a ticket to see my favorite funnyman, give me a holla'. As a bonus fact, I used to have a huge crush on Letterman when I was a kid. I have NO idea why, but I used to tell my mom I was going to marry him someday.
3. Things pointed at my eyes are not my friends. I have a very strange phobia about having something pointed at my eyes. This includes upside-down pencils (mid-erase), optometry equipment and red hot pokers.
4. I get more excited than a person should over dessert. I almost never turn it down. Actually, I don't think I have ever turned it down. One dessert highlight includes a particular high school Friday night when Jill & I bought a German chocolate cake from the Smith's bakery and ate the whole thing by ourselves.
5. I have a fear of fish, but only in lakes. I am SCUBA certified and have gone diving in the ocean without being scared but the thought of jumping into a lake seriously makes my skin crawl.
6. In homage to Amanda's fascinating childhood injury story, I once cut my head open, requiring a trip to the ER and a lovely row of stitches, by falling on a notebook. This story is to help just in case you were on the fence about whether or not I really am/was the world's biggest nerd. Since I loved school supplies so much, I wouldn't part with my new notebook. So 6-year-old me, clad in my best leggings and favorite Cabbage Patch Kids sweatshirt, followed my parents into our neighbor's house, tripped over their broom and fell smack onto my sprial-bound notebook. I'm still scarred, and not just on my head.
Now I tag Abby, Ali, Aubrey, Maegan, Teri & Sarah. Ready... Go!
1. In my opinion, macaroni and cheese (and not of the Kraft variety) is probably the best thing ever invented. Especially from Noodles & Co., although the mac & cheese Diania made for our work Halloween party may be my new favorite.
2. I've had front row seats at Late Show with David Letterman--twice. I know the system of how to get good seats, so if you're ever in NYC with a ticket to see my favorite funnyman, give me a holla'. As a bonus fact, I used to have a huge crush on Letterman when I was a kid. I have NO idea why, but I used to tell my mom I was going to marry him someday.
3. Things pointed at my eyes are not my friends. I have a very strange phobia about having something pointed at my eyes. This includes upside-down pencils (mid-erase), optometry equipment and red hot pokers.
4. I get more excited than a person should over dessert. I almost never turn it down. Actually, I don't think I have ever turned it down. One dessert highlight includes a particular high school Friday night when Jill & I bought a German chocolate cake from the Smith's bakery and ate the whole thing by ourselves.
5. I have a fear of fish, but only in lakes. I am SCUBA certified and have gone diving in the ocean without being scared but the thought of jumping into a lake seriously makes my skin crawl.
6. In homage to Amanda's fascinating childhood injury story, I once cut my head open, requiring a trip to the ER and a lovely row of stitches, by falling on a notebook. This story is to help just in case you were on the fence about whether or not I really am/was the world's biggest nerd. Since I loved school supplies so much, I wouldn't part with my new notebook. So 6-year-old me, clad in my best leggings and favorite Cabbage Patch Kids sweatshirt, followed my parents into our neighbor's house, tripped over their broom and fell smack onto my sprial-bound notebook. I'm still scarred, and not just on my head.
Now I tag Abby, Ali, Aubrey, Maegan, Teri & Sarah. Ready... Go!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Flashback Friday: Readin', Writin' and Renegotiating Contracts
My post on Teen Witch below inspired my Flashback Friday for this week. The style associated with the 1980s is probably my favorite, and if you watch that clip you'll understand why this particular fashion era was so spectacular. And a bit frightening. But mostly spectacular.
When I was growing up, I wanted to be just like Angela Bower, the TV mom from Who's the Boss. I thought she was a glamorous career woman and she worked at an advertising agency, which I thought looked like fun. Her style likely influenced my wardrobe choice for my kindergarten picture (as well as my career choice today):
"Excuse me--you over there, playing 'Duck, Duck, Goose' and
eating a tub of Elmer's glue--will you please review the 3rd quarter spreadsheets?"
I loved this shirt; I thought I looked grown up and very much like a businesswoman. I also owned a navy blue dress with a cropped white jacket which, to me, looked like a suit. I think I wore it to kindergarten graduation. The fact that I honestly believed someone may mistake me for a very small business executive is a testament to my optimistic, overactive imagination.
Why I wanted to look like I was punching a time clock when I should have been content just swinging from the monkey bars, I have no idea.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was growing up, I wanted to be just like Angela Bower, the TV mom from Who's the Boss. I thought she was a glamorous career woman and she worked at an advertising agency, which I thought looked like fun. Her style likely influenced my wardrobe choice for my kindergarten picture (as well as my career choice today):
"Excuse me--you over there, playing 'Duck, Duck, Goose' andeating a tub of Elmer's glue--will you please review the 3rd quarter spreadsheets?"
I loved this shirt; I thought I looked grown up and very much like a businesswoman. I also owned a navy blue dress with a cropped white jacket which, to me, looked like a suit. I think I wore it to kindergarten graduation. The fact that I honestly believed someone may mistake me for a very small business executive is a testament to my optimistic, overactive imagination.
Why I wanted to look like I was punching a time clock when I should have been content just swinging from the monkey bars, I have no idea.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Top That This Halloween
For your Halloween viewing pleasure, a look at the greatest movie of all time, Teen Witch.
Thanks for finding this, Clint.
Thanks for finding this, Clint.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Overheard: Being Politically Correct
Diania: We should take one of those Old West photos for a work picture.
Me: I love that idea. I want to dress up in an Old West costume.
D: We can be whores and Indians.
Me: Diania!?!
D: Sorry. I mean whores and Native Americans.
Me: I love that idea. I want to dress up in an Old West costume.
D: We can be whores and Indians.
Me: Diania!?!
D: Sorry. I mean whores and Native Americans.
Flashback Friday: Dogs of our Lives
I apologize in advance for posting two times in a row about my dogs. But since I've hopped on the Flashback Friday bandwagon (scoot over Diania, Natalie and Teri) and this one of Parker is one of the oldest photos I have on my computer right now, here you go.
This is Parker when we first brought him home about five years ago. He only weighed 8 lbs. and got cold easily so Zach's mom made him a little sweater out of the sleeve of a sweatshirt. The day we picked him up was the first day we stayed in our house, even though we bought it six months earlier (so don't judge the bed-in-a-bag bed ensemble in the background). It wasn't livable until that day, though. And for two weeks we didn't have a shower and had to drive to Taylorsville every night to bathe.
This sleeve won't even fit around his leg now. Not that I've kept it in a box in our closet along with his puppy collars and onesies that he used to wear...
And this is Sydney as a sort-of puppy. We got her when she was around four months old. Like me, she's from the greatest city in the world, Price. My aunt found her there at a bank and she needed a home, so she joined our family.
For some reason, she loved getting my underwear out of the laundry basket as soon as it came out of the dryer. And she also put them on. Which is weird. We have no idea how she did this, but it sure makes for a funny photo.
This is Parker when we first brought him home about five years ago. He only weighed 8 lbs. and got cold easily so Zach's mom made him a little sweater out of the sleeve of a sweatshirt. The day we picked him up was the first day we stayed in our house, even though we bought it six months earlier (so don't judge the bed-in-a-bag bed ensemble in the background). It wasn't livable until that day, though. And for two weeks we didn't have a shower and had to drive to Taylorsville every night to bathe.
This sleeve won't even fit around his leg now. Not that I've kept it in a box in our closet along with his puppy collars and onesies that he used to wear...
And this is Sydney as a sort-of puppy. We got her when she was around four months old. Like me, she's from the greatest city in the world, Price. My aunt found her there at a bank and she needed a home, so she joined our family.For some reason, she loved getting my underwear out of the laundry basket as soon as it came out of the dryer. And she also put them on. Which is weird. We have no idea how she did this, but it sure makes for a funny photo.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Reverse Napoleon Complex
A while ago I read (part of) the Dog Whisperer's book in an effort to better understand my canines' psychological issues. The book begins with something like, "Dogs are dogs. They are not people in dog costumes." I remember thinking, Well, of course. Duh. Everyone knows that.
Except that's not true for my dogs.
Although I'm fairly certain someone like Kenny Baker doesn't reside within a gray and black furry costume, roaming our house for a soft spot to lay his drool-filled jowls while he contemplates how hard it is to have to sleep 23 hours a day, I think sometimes that Parker forgets (or maybe he doesn't know) he isn't human.
He doesn't like to spend too much time outside. He refuses to lay on the ground unless he has a cushion or a soft blanket. He won't drink out of a bowl. The list goes on.
He also doesn't know that he isn't a 12-pound dog.
Last weekend, in my crack high that is a Costco visit, I forgot that at 30 pounds, Sydney really isn't a tiny dog, and bought her a bed that is way too small.
Sydney humoring me.
Apparently, though, it isn't too small for Parker. Who is a petite 135 pounds. And nearly 6 feet tall on his back legs. Once I got out the new dog bed, Parker claimed it for his own and insisted on trying to curl up on it and sleep, no matter where I moved it.
Parker calling dibs on the sweet new bed.
Oh yes, it's under there.
Fits like a glove. A very, very small glove.
Except that's not true for my dogs.
Although I'm fairly certain someone like Kenny Baker doesn't reside within a gray and black furry costume, roaming our house for a soft spot to lay his drool-filled jowls while he contemplates how hard it is to have to sleep 23 hours a day, I think sometimes that Parker forgets (or maybe he doesn't know) he isn't human.
He doesn't like to spend too much time outside. He refuses to lay on the ground unless he has a cushion or a soft blanket. He won't drink out of a bowl. The list goes on.
He also doesn't know that he isn't a 12-pound dog.
Last weekend, in my crack high that is a Costco visit, I forgot that at 30 pounds, Sydney really isn't a tiny dog, and bought her a bed that is way too small.
Sydney humoring me. 
Parker calling dibs on the sweet new bed.
Oh yes, it's under there.
Fits like a glove. A very, very small glove.Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Summer: Stay Cool, Call Me & Don't Ever Change
It hit me today when I was making lunch plans with Aubrey, and we were planning a date to meet in NOVEMBER, that summer is officially, unquestionably OVER. I won't miss the unbearable heat but I will miss the warm nights, barbecues on our new patio, having an evening glass of wine outdoors with Zach and the flowers' brightly colored blooms.
Stand-out moments of this summer for us are our fun trip to Zion National Park with the Millers (before they moved to South Carolina and ruined our lives), hiking with my mom and dad at Calf Creek Falls, celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary (?!?), celebrating Sydney's first birthday with us and our always-fun neighborhood game nights and barbecues.
A few of Zach's favorite times included finally getting to play baseball again (his first opportunity since college 7 years ago), finishing the long-awaited (and badly needed) concrete at our house and getting to take a couple nights a week away from the restaurant.
My highlights included going to Europe to be with one of my favorite clients in Switzerland and then getting myself--in one piece--to visit one of my best friends in the entire world, Maegan, in Rome (three trains, four bags of luggage and numerous bumps and bruises later), cheering for Zach at his baseball games alongside my fabulous in-laws, getting to see and celebrate adorable mom-to-be Kristyn and reunite with my CHS pals at our 10th high school reunion.
I love fall but am going to miss summer--especially once winter has settled itself in. Goodbye summer, catch you in May '08.
Stand-out moments of this summer for us are our fun trip to Zion National Park with the Millers (before they moved to South Carolina and ruined our lives), hiking with my mom and dad at Calf Creek Falls, celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary (?!?), celebrating Sydney's first birthday with us and our always-fun neighborhood game nights and barbecues.
A few of Zach's favorite times included finally getting to play baseball again (his first opportunity since college 7 years ago), finishing the long-awaited (and badly needed) concrete at our house and getting to take a couple nights a week away from the restaurant.
My highlights included going to Europe to be with one of my favorite clients in Switzerland and then getting myself--in one piece--to visit one of my best friends in the entire world, Maegan, in Rome (three trains, four bags of luggage and numerous bumps and bruises later), cheering for Zach at his baseball games alongside my fabulous in-laws, getting to see and celebrate adorable mom-to-be Kristyn and reunite with my CHS pals at our 10th high school reunion.
I love fall but am going to miss summer--especially once winter has settled itself in. Goodbye summer, catch you in May '08.
Monday, October 15, 2007
An Apple a Day
This weekend Zach and I had a great time. The last couple months, every once in a while, he has been able to leave the restaurant on Saturdays at around 3 or 4 p.m.-- a HUGE accomplishment for us. Since we started the restaurant THREE YEARS AGO he has never been home for an entire Friday or Saturday night, except for a handful of times to go to a wedding or an event out of town. Saturdays have always been especially hard because he heads to ZP at around 8 or 9 a.m. and doesn't usually get home until midnight or later and I am home alone. All. Day. Long. This makes for some very long days that usually result in me discussing celebrity gossip and politics with our dogs because there's no one else around. Which can be frustrating since Parker still hasn't forgiven Britney since the VMA debacle and Sydney is so over Barack and really, what else is there to talk about?
So, on Saturday, Zach and I went to Canella's for dinner (the second Saturday in a row for us there), rented Blades of Glory (I thought it was funny but I still fell asleep) and made caramel apples. We were serious about this, people. We even made the caramel for the caramel apples. We had planned to eat them for our dessert but we both ate so much of the caramel, chocolate and white chocolate while preparing each, that by the time they were finally ready we couldn't eat a single bite. It was still fun, though.
The two lovely, decorated apples below are Zach's creation. I'm pretty sure a certain someone has a budding career as a food stylist.
This one below is mine.
The next day, Zach thought they tasted great.
So, on Saturday, Zach and I went to Canella's for dinner (the second Saturday in a row for us there), rented Blades of Glory (I thought it was funny but I still fell asleep) and made caramel apples. We were serious about this, people. We even made the caramel for the caramel apples. We had planned to eat them for our dessert but we both ate so much of the caramel, chocolate and white chocolate while preparing each, that by the time they were finally ready we couldn't eat a single bite. It was still fun, though.
The two lovely, decorated apples below are Zach's creation. I'm pretty sure a certain someone has a budding career as a food stylist.
This one below is mine.
The next day, Zach thought they tasted great.
Bringing Sexy Back (For Store Credit)
Friday, October 12, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Bad Grammar Makes Me [Sic]
Someone doesn't know the old saying, "If you can't spray paint an insult using a proper contraction, don't spray paint at all."
Photo by Jesse Walker by way of Bill Frost at the City Weekly
Photo by Jesse Walker by way of Bill Frost at the City WeeklyWednesday, October 10, 2007
Walk On
My friend Amanda just kindly pointed out that I am slacking on the blogging lately. During the day I find that I have numerous ideas for hilarious, thought-provoking and groundbreaking posts but when I actually have a few minutes to post something, my memory escapes me. I'm sure I'm actually very, very clever but just have a hard time showing it.
So, in the meantime, I will take this blogging space to tell you that if you have no plans this Saturday morning you should head over to the central terrace at Sugarhouse Park for the YWCA's Stop Abuse and Violence Safe Walk, which kicks off the YWCA's annual Week Without Violence. Get there for food and festivities around 9 a.m., the walk starts at 10 and more fun will follow that. I'll be there with my fellow members of the YWCA Young Women's Leadership Board, probably having many, many, many cups of coffee since we have to be there around 7:30 a.m. to set up on a SATURDAY MORNING (All of you with kids who are making fun of me for mentioning this? I can hear your eyes rolling.).
If, like me, you're sick of stories like this, this or this, [Editor's note: The sad fact is I did not have to search for any of these stories, I just had to go to the homepage of any news outlet and had way too many horrible, horrible stories from which to choose] stop by and grab some free breakfast (did I mention it's free?), win some prizes, learn a thing or two about getting involved from local charities/clubs/organizations and take a walk around the park. Bring your friends, better half, kids, even the dog--why not? This is a fun and easy way to show your support for some of the families who suffer from violence's far-reaching effects every day, and prove that you're no pushover when it comes to making your community a better place.
So, in the meantime, I will take this blogging space to tell you that if you have no plans this Saturday morning you should head over to the central terrace at Sugarhouse Park for the YWCA's Stop Abuse and Violence Safe Walk, which kicks off the YWCA's annual Week Without Violence. Get there for food and festivities around 9 a.m., the walk starts at 10 and more fun will follow that. I'll be there with my fellow members of the YWCA Young Women's Leadership Board, probably having many, many, many cups of coffee since we have to be there around 7:30 a.m. to set up on a SATURDAY MORNING (All of you with kids who are making fun of me for mentioning this? I can hear your eyes rolling.).
If, like me, you're sick of stories like this, this or this, [Editor's note: The sad fact is I did not have to search for any of these stories, I just had to go to the homepage of any news outlet and had way too many horrible, horrible stories from which to choose] stop by and grab some free breakfast (did I mention it's free?), win some prizes, learn a thing or two about getting involved from local charities/clubs/organizations and take a walk around the park. Bring your friends, better half, kids, even the dog--why not? This is a fun and easy way to show your support for some of the families who suffer from violence's far-reaching effects every day, and prove that you're no pushover when it comes to making your community a better place.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Blogging Friend B-Day: Jamie Dawn Palmer Ormsby
This last week was Jamie's birthday.
Since I am a terrible friend, I am late posting this, but I wanted to wish James the very best year yet. I hope this year is better than the day she got the keys to the Turismo. Better than that time she verbally harassed the sign language teacher (he deserved it). And, certainly better than the time that her and Matt's car, containing all of their worldly possessions (I'm talking to you, karaoke machine), was stolen.
Jamie and I met back in 1997 when we were both freshmen at Southern Utah University (go T-Birds!).
The birthday girl cheering on the T-Birds, circa 1997
I was a small town girl away from my lifelong best friends for the first time ever and was relieved to find two new friends, Jamie and Marcae, just next door. I thought Jamie was the coolest big city girl I'd ever met. She was from Riverton. We lived next door to each other in Stonebrook Apartments and bonded over our Early Childhood Development class, late night junk food marathons, the fact we both have dads named Randy, her almost-pledging-a-sorority misadventures, making fun of our neighbor boys and nighttime sledding runs at Brian Head.
Me, James and Monica looking awesome at Willowbrook #40, 1998
Night tubing
How cute is this? We loved being roomies so much we had PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS TAKEN.
Our b-day girl is in the front.
10 years later, Jamie has proven to be not just a fun college neighbor, and later, roommate, but a great role model in pretty much every area of life. She's a fantastic wife and mother, a champion of underdogs' causes and just an all around really, really incredibly good person. She's the kind of friend you always want in your corner. I'm so glad she's in mine.
Happy birthday, James!
Since I am a terrible friend, I am late posting this, but I wanted to wish James the very best year yet. I hope this year is better than the day she got the keys to the Turismo. Better than that time she verbally harassed the sign language teacher (he deserved it). And, certainly better than the time that her and Matt's car, containing all of their worldly possessions (I'm talking to you, karaoke machine), was stolen.
Jamie and I met back in 1997 when we were both freshmen at Southern Utah University (go T-Birds!).
The birthday girl cheering on the T-Birds, circa 1997
Me, James and Monica looking awesome at Willowbrook #40, 1998
Night tubing
How cute is this? We loved being roomies so much we had PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS TAKEN.Our b-day girl is in the front.
Happy birthday, James!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Making Friends Wherever We Go
One of the last times Zach and I were in one of my favorite places on Earth (Price!), we decided to walk around and take some pictures. Well, I decided to walk around and take some pictures. Zach was a good sport and accompanied me. With his charming demeanor and great set of legs he proved to be an excellent lovely assistant.
While we were on the corner of the bustling metropolitan crossroads known as the intersection of Price's Main Street and Carbon Avenue, a woman in a late-80's-model family sedan was parked at the stoplight and stared right at us, revealing she was clearly annoyed. She then turned to her friend who was driving the car, and loudly said, "What the hell they takin' pich-ures of?"
While we were on the corner of the bustling metropolitan crossroads known as the intersection of Price's Main Street and Carbon Avenue, a woman in a late-80's-model family sedan was parked at the stoplight and stared right at us, revealing she was clearly annoyed. She then turned to her friend who was driving the car, and loudly said, "What the hell they takin' pich-ures of?"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)