Leaving Utah

Somehow, they always know...






... in CA for Thanksgiving. Minus the pups.

Look What I Did

This morning's run -

It's blurry, but it's showing I went uphill. A lot. And I ran the whole way.

Woo hoo.

Social Marketing

I Love Dilbert

A Risky Post...

Last night I saw 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' musical play. I have seen and loved (and kind of fallen in love with the lead actor of) the movie, but never seen the play or heard the music (even though I put the soundtrack on my ipod a month ago in preparation for seeing the play). I really enjoyed it, and really liked two songs especially. Now this is why the post is risky, I'm putting this together while sitting in a health lecture (not a class, don't worry, though I have posted during class before), and so I haven't actually heard these versions that I'm posting. I'll listen to them when I can and maybe change them if I need to. I hope they're wonderful.

One of the first songs in the play -

I've had a chance to watch them now, and this may be a better version. The setting is definitely cooler.

Rex Smith is in 'The Pirates of Penzance' and has a wonderful voice, so I'm hopeful that this is a good one (I kind of like this song. Enough that I've listened to it on my ipod 1, 2, or maybe 10+ times since last night) -

Fun

I love dancing in water. I think it looks really cool.

Sweet

I saw this on my brother's facebook page and loved it -

It's (almost) Christmastime!

I listen to Christmas music whenever I feel like it. Including middle of the summer sometimes. I just love it. A lot. Here are a couple of my favorites:

I know I've put this one on my blog before, but it's going to go up every year.
I don't even really like the song 'Little Drummer Boy' that much
(though it is growing on me).
But I love this version.
And I love that Bing Crosby sings with David Bowie.
It just seems like such an odd pairing to me.
But they sound so good together.


and click here for some other fun Christmas songs.

Yay for Movies!

Every time I see this billboard:


I get excited.

Really, really, excited.

Guess where I'm going to be on - or shortly after - 10 December? (:

My Happy Birthday - 2010 Version

My 29th (*gasp!*) birthday began by driving home at midnight from Provo after being on a bus for almost 12 hours coming back from Denver (we got caught in a snowstorm for part of the way, but a midnight arrival time was a lot better than the ETA of 3 or 4 am the driver gave us at one point) - more on Denver later.

So, this is kind of how my day went:

1 am: After arriving home, the dogs moved into position for the first time since I left on Saturday morning (Max's position isn't normally my bed. He never sleeps on it, but he will climb up on it occasionally. He hasn't done it for a really long time, so I'm guessing this was his way of telling me he missed me. :).

7 am: Woken up by my dad who was leaving for work and wanted to say 'welcome home' and 'happy birthday.' Not a bad way to be woken up. (:


8 am: When I woke up, they kept me company until I was ready to start moving.

8:15: I enjoyed the changing leaves outside my window.
Had mixed feelings about the light snow fall all morning.

10:00 am: Attended a session @ the temple.

12:30: Met my mom, sister, & sister-in-law for lunch at Olive Garden.
Who wouldn't enjoy lunch sitting across from a face like this?

2:30 - 4:50 - Homework (still not done with everything that needs to be done for tomorrow)

5:00 pm: Went running with both dogs. In my winter running getup.

Notice the candy-striped gloves.
A gift from a friend some years ago.
I'm so glad I have them!

not picture above - Ear warmers. I got them for free at the conference. LOVE them. I've never paid for ear warmers, but I've gotten a couple through different events. Totally worth it if you run outside in the winter.

6:00 pm: Got a haircut. Yup.
Not really sure why, but I really wanted a change. Call it backlash if you will. Call it that, because it's quite possible that's what it was.
See the evidence:

(have I mentioned lately how much I dislike having my picture taken? Also, please ignore the lines and bags under my eyes. Remember Denver...)


8:30 pm: Attended a fireside with the associate director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir speaking.

Beautiful flowers from my nephew Guy (and his mom), and my mom.

Beautiful flowers from my sweet friend Bethany who had them delivered to my home this afternoon. I don't believe that's ever happened to me before. I feel so grown up! (:

Throughout the day: Heard from a lot of people - family and friends - wishing me a happy birthday. Got sung to by my dad, my friend, my sister and her family, and my other friend. Good times.

It was a good day.

Here's to another good year.

funny - check out how similar this
was to my birthday last year...

'Have a Margarita for Me'

Saturday I drove into Denver for a conference (more on that later). Last night, when looking for a place to eat (yes, it was Sunday, and I don't ever eat out on Sundays, but we have no kitchen in our hotel room, and the conference - with 12,000+ attendees - doesn't provide any meals), this lady saw us talking and called out, 'Can I help you find something? I'm from here.' We asked her if she had any restaurant suggestions and she said, 'Since you're all young and attractive, I think you might like...' and named a few options. We decided not to inform her that three of the four of us were married. Then she went on to suggest a bar for after dinner where 'the margaritas are amazing. They limit you to three because they use everclear.' We again decided not to burst her bubble (she was really nice, excited for us, and handicapped) and inform her that the four of us being members of the LDS church, didn't drink either (besides that, we're all in the public health field, and alcohol does some horrible things to your body). As we headed off toward a restaurant she gave us directions to, she called out, 'When you go to the bar, have a margarita for me!' I almost felt like ordering one to let it sit on the table in her honor. Almost.

A Good Month

On 1 October I went on a date with a guy in my ward. I enjoyed it and it seemed that he did too, but I had never been on a second date before, and didn't really plan on being asked out by him again.

That weekend (2-3 October) I emotionally ate all weekend - leading to the only weight watchers weigh-in I had where my weight went up.

On 4 October, he called - and asked me out again for the upcoming weekend. I was thrilled.

On 10 October he called me after church and we went to feed the ducks. While feeding the ducks he asked me out for the upcoming Wednesday and Saturday. That Wednesday he held my hand (a first for me). On Friday I invited him to a fireside my parents were giving on that Sunday. That Sunday, after the fireside, he kissed me (another first).

I saw him at least three times a week for the two weeks following. On 26 October, while driving home from having dinner with him and some married friends of mine, he said there were some things we needed to talk about...

On 30 October we talked about them.

He didn't think we should date anymore.

I took it pretty hard, and the next day (Sunday) felt like an emotional wreck. Sunday night I wrote in my journal until almost 2 am. I felt a lot better after writing. I included an entire paragraph with almost all the sentences beginning with 'I'm mad because...' It was very healing.

I saw him tonight at a fireside and didn't get emotional. But I did want to talk to him.

I didn't.

He was a big part of my life for all of October. Sometimes things come up that I immediately think of sharing with him. And then remember that we don't have that kind of relationship anymore.

It kind of stinks.

Tonight when I got in my car and plugged in my ipod, the song 'Unanswered Prayers' by Garth Brooks came on. I hadn't really been praying about things with this guy. It seemed too early to want things to go a certain way. However, I do think I prayed a few times that things would keep going well. I was really enjoying being in a dating relationship - and he's a really good guy. But hearing this song reminded me that there's a reason behind things that we may never figure out. Or not figure out for a very long time. As painful as it was, I'm thinking that somehow, it was for the better. And maybe someday I'll know why.

this was the only version of the song that I could find.

The reason I can still look at October and call it a good month is because I feel like I can appreciate the experience for what it was.

- for the first time ever, a guy was actually interested in me at the same time I was interested in him (unfortunately my interest outlasted his)
- I held a guy's hand multiple times (and it was thrilling every time it happened)
- he's a good guy. sadly, things ended, but he's a good guy. it was a good first-time-relationship experience. he wasn't a jerk, or a creeper, but a really nice guy.
- coming out of it, I find myself wanting to be more social because I want to experience that again. I haven't felt a need / desire to be social for a really long time, so this is definitely a good thing.

A Keeper?

It's November!

(the first fallen leaf I saw this year - back in September I believe)

And it looks like it'll be a good month!

Good Quote

Life is so much sometimes.

- Katie Wagley

-- I agree. Sometimes it is just so much. --