i love mr. seal

From Thanksgiving to the New Year!

2010-01-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

This year's holiday season was the best I can remember in years! It was real simple and I just love my family and spending time with them. Allison was able to come to Thanksgiving in Cali which was fun--the warmest she's ever been on Turkey Day, I'm sure. :) We had a great roadtrip and watched Friends' Thanksgiving episodes from all the seasons. Such a great tradition! We stopped by my beach off the PCH and said hello to Mugu Rock. We got some great pics and we were feet away from dolphins who stopped by and swam through the waves!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Hanukkah. Going through the Culinary Institute of America with my Jewish friend Gabrielle made me want to eat more traditional Jewish food. I decided to make latkes (fried potato pancakes). First of all, I made so much, I panicked, called Alli and told her, "Ummmmm, I think we need to invite a lot of people over to eat the massive amounts of latkes that I am making...I think I made too much!" She was on her way home and by the time she got home I hadn't even made a dent in the giant bowl. Secondly, there was A LOT of garlic and Parmesan/Asiago/Romano cheese being fried up. IT PERMEATED EVERY PIECE OF FABRIC IN THE HOUSE. Basically, by the time we dropped them off at the neighbors (x3) and Dad Arnold came over on his way home from the temple, we had to go straight to a demo of Capoeira (Brazilian marshal arts) Al was doing with her group at a dance recital. We were backstage when the next ballet troupe came up and one of them whispers to the other, "It smells like dumplings". Truth be told, I smelled like dumplings...for several days. YUMMY!

Happy Hannukah!

On our Thanksgiving trip, WE LOST SEÑOR FOCA! :'( I was so sad. Seriously, he was part of the fam. So, Allison, being the best Hermana in the world found me a medium sized Mr. Seal! He swam all the way from the Arctic Ocean to be with us and snuggle with me at night. I heart him so so much. Can you see the look of glee on my face?

Mr. Seal v2.0!!!

Blue Collar Christmas Wonderland. Westside of Provo. We were so excited one night we decided to have a spontaneous FHE (after we couldn't find the Institute class) and for the activity we went to this marvelous place. We got there a little early and not everything was up, but I found what I wanted...I almost deflated him with my hug!

Christmas with Mr. Seal's cousin

We got tickets to see the Christmas Program and this year's invited guests were NATALIE COLE (I love you) and DAVID MCCULLOUGH (you too!). Poor Hermana. I keep her up 'til the wee hours of the morning and then I wake her up oh-so-early. We met at Keith's and Robin's place before heading out. It was icy, I was in my pointy patent leather boots (not expecting a mini blizzard once we were through) and we made it in time. It was SO good. When Natalie sang The Holly and the Ivy I wept. I don't think I've either listened that closely or paid attention to the lyrics. What a gorgeous song--and singer. At the end, President Monson presented both of them with memorial plaques and told both Natalie and David that, "We are proud of you". It was a sweet moment. Here's us in the Conference Center--the balcony! When we left, like I said it was snowing crazily and as we waited east of the Conference Center (I walked up the hill digging my heels in the frozen ice-covered grass all the way) the boys went off to get the car. As we waited we watched as several people almost crashed literally feet away from us. The angels were working double-time to help us out.

Natalie Cole and the MoTab Christmas Extravaganza!

This is a great sequence of photos. I kept them close so you could compare. This first one is us just before we left our apartment New Year's Eve to go spend the first part of the evening with part of Alli's fam in Lehi. We played the new Mario Wii game--which is awesome and made me jump on top of the couch as we were playing (they have reeeeally high ceilings-it made me feel like I could stand on the couch and no one would mind...). We expended much of our limited resources (like energy...zzzzz) during that activity and then playing Banana Gram. It's like Speed Scrabble, I guess. The only thing that kept me going is my new-found love, Tiki Punch. Just looking at the can makes me start to giggle.

Before.

Toasting to a proseperous New Year! I love how Allison's green cup is in the foreground and Natalie is looking at me like I'm nuts...AND a big shot of the Christmas tree and not all the other people in the room! The effects had already set in.

Happy New Year!

I saved the best for last. As you can see in the picture above, I had already put on my 80's glam rock makeup. It seemed like such a good idea at the time... ;) Here is the culmination of all the fun we had. Here we are at about 2ish? Por Alli. She slept in the next day...I worried I had permanently damaged her. Nope! We're as good as now and ready to go all over again! I was, what do we say...zombie-like? I had gotten 7 hrs sleep in two days before we even started the festivities! Goooooood times.

After.

So, I moved.

2009-12-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

Yep. I quit WLM in October, which I realize now was good money in UT standards, (:|) packed up the garbage AND non-garbage all together and moved to Provo! :)

My room day 1 of packing.

Can you see that it looks like a crime scene?

I have yet to see why (other than BYU) I am here and what the Lord has in store for me. This definitely was a mammoth-sized leap of faith and I am excited for what is "comin' 'round the mountain..." Sorry, I couldn't help it! There's mountains everywhere and it makes me want to climb them all...or burst out into song! :D

I am at a crossroads and am happy to have many people supporting me through this transition but most of all I thank God for Allison. She is my dear friend and much more than a friend: She's my Hermana.

The Happiest Place on Earth

2009-09-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

Before all the terror began...I was happy.

Need I say more? Here are some pics from our trip this last weekend. Let me know if you think the look of terror is an appropriate response for these "kiddie rides". I'm such a pansy.

Rocky Mountain Terror Ride of Death

Splash and Plummet to Your Untimely DEATH

Matterhorn :)

I like the Matterhorn. You know what to expect--the Hellbeast around every corner. It's not trying to pretend that everything's "Disney Happy" and Bambi's mom is still alive.

Hellbeast lurking in an ice cave

Me and Travel.

2009-08-31T14:46:00.000-07:00

Travel, how do I love thee? *sigh*

I MISS IT!! :( One of my many non-escrito goals is to see the 50 states. I really need to do this. It's essential to my mental health. I was just recently reminded of the desire (thanks to Larson)--as I had repressed it for many moons.

So here's the states I have yet to visit:

Hawai'i: Beeeeeeach.

Alaska: Glaciers & mr. seal

Oregon: Bluebedders

Washington: State--I have been but too young to remember

Idaho: Papas

Montana: Yellowstone, yes pleez.

North/South Dakota: Hmm. Rushmore aaaaand ??

Minnesoooota: MALL OF AMERICA!!!!

Wisconsin: Cheese

Michigan: Real Estate.

Vermont: Don't even get me started...I lived right next door for 2 yrs and never went.

Maine: Lahbstah yummm.

So thirteen to go and six of them will get knocked out in a road trip on the I-90. How's everyone else doing on visiting our great nation? Love to hear stories/plans!

R.I.P. Pushing Daisies

2009-03-19T21:18:00.000-07:00

This is our Happiness Pushing Daisies Season Premier Party.
I don't think I even realized it was a "Happiness" party till I got this pic. Christine and I made a cranberry apple pie with pecans and shredded gruyere on top. Don't forget the happy drops we added for a boost of spirits (not alcohol even though it sounds like it). It was realllly good. After all that time I am saddened to say that Pushing Daisies is dead - not even a good dead. Nope, our darling show is dead with three episodes to air and no closure. And I am sad to say goodbye to my show.

I am even more sad to say I do not have anything else more worthy to occupy my time.

My Inner Emerson

2009-02-10T00:02:00.000-08:00

I wrote a poem (I don't do prose...too much babbling or something). Yep. It's been ten whole years since I have written a poem. I hadn't even realized it had been so long until I was reading my journal from my mission. That was the last time I wrote anything consistently. I thought, "Hmmm. I really should start jotting down some ideas again." I had stopped after high school because I was hurt by a discouraging comment from an admired teacher. Writing for me before that was quite cathartic and I am beginning to remember the feeling.

Poetry tastes better than the most delicious chocolate ice cream I've ever made. Makes you want to taste my ice cream doesn't it? It makes ME want my ice cream! :)

It all came to me like a messenger in the night. It was a full moon, I couldn't sleep and I was mulling over my life's experiences and observations. A puddle of thoughts pooled in the basement of my mind and I sat up in bed, wrote it in my moleskine, forgot about it and found it two months later. After three editing sessions, the junk is out of it and now my poem is done. It's short, it doesn't rhyme, it is metaphorical and I love it. I'm so happy I was able to get past my doubt and blocked inspiration and trust myself to put my feelings down on paper. It really exposes my soul. Does anyone else feel that way?

I jotted down some more thoughts on a separate theme and I'll let it rest on my mind. Seems that's my method. (Quite manic, I'm afraid!) I'm not ready to share them yet, but one day I'll publish my work and I hope someone will be able to connect with the thoughts of my heart and the feelings of my mind!

Calico or Bust.

2009-02-04T23:02:00.000-08:00

So, this is in my favorite ghost town off the I-15 called Calico. (Here kitty kitty...) It's a medium-sized town that boomed while some were in transit to the Golden State looking for the "Mother Lode". Obviously they didn't find it here! When we found it, we were on our way home from Dad's funeral and all the kids were getting restless and just as manna from heaven, this fun place came into view. Obviously this was a this is really a great object lesson... Those who live in glass-bottled houses shouldn't throw rocks!

Usually when I visit a ghost town or a historic home in disrepair, I feel sad; it physically affects me. But with a vista like this, it also reminds me that we live in a beautiful world and can make the best out of our piece of history. Amazing, isn't it? Go visit if you can. It's a great short trip and there's a cave to look around in as well.

Here's to Thursday!

2009-01-24T12:40:00.000-08:00

Isn't it maddening when nothing goes your way one day? Just one entire day of mishaps and flubs makes you feel - inept? :) Man, those days make for some fun stories! So here's my most recent: This Thursday was a long day of stuttering and almost falling off my chair several times. I ran into a door, hit my face, spilled, etc. All I wanted was to go home and lay down. I walk out the door towards my car when I realize, "Oh yeah I parked on the OTHER side of the building." I walk calmly there, avoid the grass in my heeled boots (I was trying to prevent another mishap)and open my car door to put my foot in...aaand WHAM! My awesome patent-leather-pointy-toed-boots snag on my killer gaucho pants and for some horrible reason I cannot unhook them. So, to help you feel my pain I have slammed up against the top frame of the door of the car with my shoulder and I feel like my shoulder has been stabbed. Meanwhile, in the same instant have my ankle crushed against the bottom of said frame in one fell swoop. I lean down to unhook my pants and hit my head. I will spare you the rest of the details other than there was a lot of laughter and "COME ON!"'s. Just thought I'd let you know Thursdays are still my second favorite day.

Gulp

2009-01-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

Sunday was a fun day... Our new (6 year-olds gonna be 7 year-olds) class consists of 11 new faces. I hope whomever is reading this entry in the space-time continuum can appreciate my terror. You know, there are just some people meant to have kids. They have an endless supply of games and entertainment, never seem to lose their temper and the kids love them! I am NOT that person. I am, however, glad that I am TEAM teaching. Perhaps I won't choke on my spit as much and blush as I have flashbacks to my mission giving a talk (on a topic of my choice!) with 5 minutes' notice after the planned speaker had not shown up. Why so much anxiety, you may ask? I don't know! I have neices and nephews. I like kids. This just is SOOOOOO much my weakness. Is the Lord trying to make me a better person? I probably just need to lighten up and try to be more like them (in a reverent/teacher sort of way?).

On a lighter note, I love these kids and I LOVED my previous class, too. They are so innocent and are God's precious ones. They forgive me when I cry in front of them (which isn't as rare for them as it is for me, I'm sure) and they make me laugh SO hard sometimes that I have to physically stop myself because if I lose it, all of us lose it and chaos rules in the classroom. Like I said, Sunday was a fun day. They were able to test me out and I was able to figure them out a bit. I hope that you people who are good at being with children really appreciate it because it's a gift.

Sparkles and ME!

2008-08-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, sparkly and shiny things how do I love thee? I was in Sur La Table yesterday using up my gift card and I must say I should NOT go into that store. It's been four years that I have needed a blade guard and as I make a full circle of deliberate browsing the store, I find I am standing right in front of the great wall of knives. Cleavers, paring knives, boning knives, scissors sharper than a samuri sword...and plenty of them to what purpose they serve I do not know but I want them ALL. It's like the paella pan I have been eyeing for the past couple of years. I know that I would use the pan because paella rocks my world but would I use it enough to justify a $70 purchase when that would be the only pan to my name? Doubtful. Yet that does not deter me from imagining a Happiness Running of the Bulls party full of paella and sangria and bougainvilla and haciendas as I am staring because...IT'S SHINY! Pretty pretty things. *sigh*

I love the ALT key.

2008-08-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

I'm not a good typer. I never have claimed to be. I do type with my fingers on the correct keys as I manage a sloppy 42 wpm. What I have learned to love at my job is the alt & ctrl keys. I have a green screen computer (reminicent of MS DOS) and I have learned some of the fun key combinations that exist. As I flash back and forth between screens I heart the alt + tab function. HELLO? I feel like I am the only person in this world that didn't know about it. Oh well. Now I know and can share with others. Be leary of alt +F4...make sure you save your work if you do! ;) Just a little nugget of info.

I finally am publishing my work!!

2008-08-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a long journey getting to online publishing, but I have arrived. Blogging is so great because it's so non-threatening. I look at some of these blogs and think, "Oh no. THAT'S what this is all about? Super scrapbooking?" I can say that is not so. Well, I refuse to let it be in my realm of conciousness anyhow. I applaud those crafters who have the patience for it...but I digress.

I meant to talk about something different. Something existential. Something called being uninspired. I think uninspiration comes from a lack of interesting conversation or companionship. I suffer from neither. I welcome you and invite you to keep coming back to laugh and combat uninspiration.