What do I know.

Things to know about my Grandpa Stone....

2011-09-10T22:53:00.001-06:00

He called me Anne Kay sometimes....I liked it.
He was on his way to the temple with family names in his pocket when he died.
He loved the temple, and loved serving there.
He did his home teaching the night before he passed away.
He helped me paint "my" cemetery fence, because he knew and cared about "our people." (and because he wasn't too old)
His voice is the voice I hear every time I read anything by Dr. Seuss.
My earliest memory of him is him holding me and reading Dr. Seuss with me, I think I memorized Hop on Pop just for him.
He made the yummiest waffles you ever ate.
He was the nicest babysitter I ever had.
He was always so very happy to be with family, it was visible and contagious.
He always remembered and asked about something going on in my life, it made me feel important.
He loves my silly, crazy Grandma.
He never turned down an opportunity to serve others or to help someone in need.
He was a Marine in World War II, but would never talk about what he did, or what it was like. Because he did it because it was the right thing to do, and he was no better than anyone else who did what they had to do to.
I never heard him say anything bad about anyone, ever.
He loves my mom, and he is a good dad to her. He gave her a happy life, and taught her what was important, and gave her lots of love. She shared those things with us so we could be happy too.
He tried lots of crazy things, like flying an airplane, and hiking scary mountains, because he was never too old to try new things.
He was a selfless, patient caregiver, to lots of people. His service to them impacted a lot of people's lives.
He liked to fish.
He is the best example of humility, sacrifice, and service that I could ever hope to have or follow.

Who Needs a List?

2011-05-26T22:31:00.001-06:00

My birthday has come and passed. I am 30 years old. It was a fine birthday, I rushed home from my ABPA Conference in San Antonio to have dinner with my brothers, sisters, sister-in-law and Ana. They brought my chocolates, flowers, a desk ornament of a man on a toilet, and a purse. It was lovely.

I enjoyed making a list of 30 things to do before I'm 30. It gave me something to work on that was challenging, and added that last bit of stress I was missing while trying to juggle everything else going on in my life.

I wasn't able to finish everything, but I don't regret the things I accomplished and I hope it doesn't diminish the things I did accomplish. To make myself feel better about my shortcomings, and utter failure, I compiled a list of everything else I did instead of everything I thought I wanted to do.......

Visited Mexico and ate lots of new things.
Went to Disneyland and didn't freak out...too bad.
Taught myself Joomla for website design
Watched Joey get married.
Made tamales, fruit and regular, from scratch without ever having eaten one
Learned some Spanish
Forgot some Spanish
Celebrated Cinco de Mayo by ~~singing~~ listening to Mexican Karaoke
Tried lots and lots of new recipes
Tricked Wendy into eating broccoli with vinegar
Read lots of books

Pride and Prejudice
The Secret Garden
Joomla! For Dummies
Fatal Voyage
Bossypants
True Grit (just as wonderful as the movie)
Something Borrowed (I hated it, sorry anyone who likes her books)
Leadership and Self-Deception
3/4 of the Book of Mormon
Revolution
Some other book I can't remember it's name working on: The Lincoln Lawyer, The Help, Count of Monte Cristo.

Attended Peter and the Wolf ballet and orchestra performance
Planted some strawberries in a little hanging basket in my yard.
Traveled to San Antonio (for the second time) for an ABPA Conference.
Tried lots of really really hot things to eat...I was not the sad monkey.
Was awarded my second ABPA Presidential Recognition Award.
Considered counting the many dinners and drinks vendors and other ABPA members bought me as completing my "Go on One Date" goal, but everyone else who was with us kind of made it not count.
Fixed my hair from list item #30.
Instituted a new financial plan, succeeded at it, failed at it, gave up on it, tried it again, and ignored it.
Finally taught my Sunday School class and didn't want to swear afterwards.
Learned that being 30 is probably the same as being 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, not 23 (everyone hates you when you're 23), 22, and 11.
Earned my highest score on http://play.typeracer.com/ 134 wpm.

30 for 30 - #11: Read the Book of Mormon.

2011-05-26T21:08:00.000-06:00

I didn't quite finish the Book of Mormon, I have no good excuse, there was plenty of time. By my birthday I had about 100 pages left, and meant to read it on the plane ride home from San Antonio, but instead I fell asleep.

I never get tired of reading this book. Every time I open it I find reason to hope, I feel the love of my Heavenly Father, and I'm able to continue forward with a more confidence and faith in the future and the blessings instore for me and everyone else.

Here are a few thoughts from my reading that I really enjoyed:

My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free.
Begin to be up doing.
...only let your sins trouble you.
..God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent.
...deal justly, judge righteously and do good continually
wickedness never was happiness
time only is measured to unto men.
some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this thing...
there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself.
...there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead.
..look to God and live.
by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and by small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
...mercy..overpowereth justice...
..whatsoever is light, is good..
...if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe..
God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in..
and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings.
if you believe all these things see that ye do them.
cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you
O be wise; what can I say more?
my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men.
wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
he denieth none that come unto him
his hand is stretched out still
cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free
let your soul delight in fatness
to be spiritually-minded is life eternal
spiritual death is hell
...for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves
we lived after the manner of happiness
I know in whom I have trusted.
if there be no righteousness there be no happiness
the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever....salvation is free. (just accept it)
it must needs be that there be opposition in all things
Have ye inquired of the Lord?
I did frankly forgive them
And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth.

If you haven't had the chance to read the Book of Mormon yet, you should give it a try. A second testament of the life, love, and mission of the Savior. Get your free copy here.

30 for 30 - #17: Go scuba diving.

2011-05-25T21:39:00.000-06:00

I went scuba diving just before Christmas. This was a special dive, my very first in the real, live ocean. Instead of sinking in some hot spring in the snowy mountains of Utah I swam with bright, colorful fish, slimy eels, fat turtles, and playful dolphins.

I got to see what a real life ocean shelf looks like, as I accidentally dove the deepest I've ever been, to the chagrin of my dive leader/instructor man. But as a result I did get to scuba dive while holding hands the whole rest of the time.

In the course of the adventure I became friends with a single older lady, and a (newly) single young Australian man who's ex-girlfriend missed out on the most amazing dive of all time. Nothing brings people together like a lively, languid, sea sport.

Joey and me snorkeling. The closest picture I have to scuba diving.

30 for 30 - #8: Write on my blog 30 times.

2011-05-25T21:36:00.001-06:00

Done and Done. Check it out, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the pitiful.

30 for 30 - #15: Make egg foo yong.

2011-05-25T01:15:00.000-06:00

The only lovely and delicious egg foo yong is at Utah Noodle. This recipe I found is the most common type of egg foo yong, I"m not a fan. I prefer a block of egg fo yong, not a pancake. Pancakes are for seniors.

30 for 30 - #14: Make fortune cookies.

2011-05-25T01:13:00.000-06:00

The successfulness of the task is self-explanatory, but I did try.

30 for 30 - #13: Make homemade cinnamon rolls.

2011-05-25T01:06:00.001-06:00

30 for 30 - #12: Write real letters to 30 friends or family members.

2011-05-25T01:06:00.000-06:00

My hope is to be able to write these on the plane home later today. But since I'm still awake I may have to just dream that I wrote them while I sleep the entire way home.....

Keep holding your breath on this one, it's do-able.

30 for 30 - #10: Start a public blog.

2011-05-25T00:59:00.000-06:00

FAIL!

**I'll try to unfail, but I don't know what the recovery time is at this point.

30 for 30 - #7: Transplant flowers from Cody's house to my house.

2011-05-25T00:57:00.000-06:00

The Irises in their second original home in Riverdale.

Irises in their new home in Draper.

The Irises origination is unknown, they became known at a home in Riverdale, Utah, built in the early 1900's. Much later a small portion of the Irises were transplanted by a Master Gardner to a new home in Riverdale, Utah built in the 70's. Thirdly, the Master Gardner taught her favorite niece how to transplant them and a small portion were moved about 600 ft to a new home in Riverdale, Utah. A little over a week ago the Irises were separated again, one group finding a new home in Riverdale, and the other group migrating south to Draper.

There is no flourish guarantee, I guess we'll see how much they really care for Draper climate....happy first birthday Draper Irises.

30 for 30 - #6: Fix my cemetery.

2011-05-25T00:34:00.000-06:00

I wish I had the pictures of my cemetery with me in San Antonio but I don't. Maybe I'll find them and post them when I get home.

Here's the explanation. We have some relatives in the Uintah Cemetery, which dates back to 1855. The Firth Family Plot is a landmark in the cemetery. The perimeter of the family plot is bordered with a knee-high wrought-iron fence. My parents must have made me go there with them for a Memorial Day at some point. But I loved going there, not on Memorial Day, to sit in the quiet and think and stare and listen.

There is an empty spot in there, so I signed up with the sexton so he would know it was my spot. The trouble is now the lovely fence is damaged and since my name is the name he has, I'm the one who needs to fix it.

Unfortunately I have no idea how to fix 100+ year old wrought-iron, but I drilled, and dug, and kicked it to bits until I got the broken piece to a guy at work who does know how. But he is not on the same time table as me.....so for now this one is in progress, i've sweat over it, and toiled, and now I'm waiting....I'll let you know.

30 for 30 - #5: Learn to Salsa.

2011-05-25T00:07:00.000-06:00

Ana and my compadre, Jhonathan, already know how to Salsa. They Salsad all over the place at her mom's house while I sat a foot or two away and watched. It was all very exciting, I learned a lot...about how to salsa, about how to handle awkward situations, about how to make up excuses to leave awkward situations......

Really though, my favorite compadre, did make me dance with him for at least 2 full minutes. We held hands he pushed me around, my feet moved, there was loud music. So consider this one done, and done.

30 for 30 - #4: Get Sunny out of my head.

2011-05-25T00:04:00.000-06:00

A lot of you want to know what this means.....is it the actual sunshine? Is it my positive attitude? Is it some miscellaneous person you don't know?

You may never know....but someday you might find out. It will be a surprise either way.

30 for 30 - #2: Run a 10 minute mile

2011-05-25T00:02:00.000-06:00

January 7, 2010
I have yet to begin working on this goal. After mentioning it to some co-workers I quickly adjusted my original goal of an 8 minute mile to a 10 minute mile.

Step 1: Learn how to turn on my treadmill.

I'll keep you posted.

Ok, the treadmill works.....I heard Wendy running on it the other day.

This one will have to be on my "during" 30 list, the only time for running I've had is to run from work to everywhere else and back again.

Stay tuned.

30 for 30 - #1: Write a song for the guitar and perform it.

2011-05-25T00:01:00.000-06:00

Ok, here's the truth. I've really struggled writing the lyrics for my one hit birthday goal wonder. There are definitely words out there, but they are not here. Well there are a couple words like....

Ox
somewhere
here
someone
you
oooh ja booo

etc.etc. can you imagine it....when its finished you'll never forget it, I can promise you that.

30 for 30 - #16: Sew a levi quilt.

2011-05-22T21:39:00.000-06:00

Multiple times in my life I have saved up a ridiculous amount of old levis with the intention of making a quilt with them. I'm not sure why I feel like I need to make a levi quilt, but I do. Strangely, I think my sisters at different times have also felt this need, as far as I know none of us has done it. (well maybe Joey because she does everything).

My guess is we were all implanted with the idea from our mom. She made a spectacular levi quilt at some point in her life. It's been in existence as long as I can remember, much longer than me. For a long time it lived on our rock fireplace, making time-outs semi-tolerable. The rest of the time it was stowed in the trunk of the car for use on the grass, its the perfect blanket for laying around on the grass.

So I have actually cut up a number of my old pants into squares, and all of my old work shirts have been chopped up too. All that really needs to be done is the actual sewing, my guess is that will be the easy part.

I hope to someday loan you my special levi quilt, for your grass sitting enjoyment...check back.

30 for 30 - #28: Patronize the Hill Aerospace Museum.

2011-05-15T21:42:00.000-06:00

We did it! One more off the list. On Saturday, May 14, 2011 I visited, for the first time, the Hill Air Force Base Aerospace Museum. My helpers were: Jeremy, Amber, Marlie, James, and Jack.

It was a of fun, especially with a crowd. I was surprised at how many planes and other stuff there is to see. I almost got tired walking through the big indoor hanger. My sister-in-law told me that once a year they open up some of the planes so you can go inside. That sounds like the day to go, although I'll bet it's really busy.

There were quite a few people there. They have picnic tables around outside, I think someone was having a birthday party there. Kind of a good idea. The museum is free, outside is free, sign in at the desk if you go inside and donate a dollar or two if you're feeling generous. Well worth the trip, especially with kids.

James really really loved it.

Jack really only likes Jeremy. It's nice to hear someone other than Joey boss him.

My camera makes people look scary.

I hope no one from the city sees this and wants to upgrade.

Don't forget to donate!

James' first comment was about all the heads being cut off. It was my first thought too, kind of creepy to be in a room full of heads.

30 for 30 - #25: Retake the GMAT (Score over 500)

2011-05-11T22:12:00.000-06:00

This item was added to my list as an easy cross-off. I had rescheduled to take the GMAT just before Joey's wedding in May. Luckily, before I failed miserably a second time, I decided to reschedule it due to lack of study time. I'm hoping the extra $50 rescheduling fee was worth it, and I hope to never hear anyone try to tell me if I can't study for the GMAT an hour a day I won't be able to handle graduate school.

Starting the new countdown to the end of June....wish me luck. I might really need it.

30 for 30 - #18: Tour the copper mine.

2011-04-28T22:55:00.002-06:00

Kennecott Copper Mine

Finally! Kennecott opened their tour up at the mine. Its closed during the off season so people don't crash and die in the canyon. Considerate.

There was no one to go with me, so I made the trip all alone. Luckily some friendly man took my picture so I could prove that I was actually there.

April 28, 2011

Here are some things I learned:
   1. It costs a min of $5.00 to visit the mine and its lovely visitor's center and Lion's sponsored store.
   b. you should get gas long before you get to the mine, its kind of a long drive.
   III. There's a super old fire hydrant on display in the courtyard near the giant 12 foot tire.   Guess which one I noticed first.....
   4. The visitor's center video is a -must see-, mainly because you'll never get your $5.00 worth paying .25 cents to watch trucks drive in circles up and down the mine.
   Finally, and maybe most importantly, the bathrooms are clean.

In other news it costs $100,000 a year for each dump truck to have new tires, which they must. I'm guessing they'll never let me drive one. That's when I left, to avoid the severe disappointment.

30 for 30 - #27: Go on an American Roadtrip - to the Redwood Trees.

2011-04-22T13:26:00.000-06:00

Let's be honest, I'm not a super fan of driving in the car. Mostly because I sleep all the time, so I can't drive. But I had a great road trip to California to see the Redwood Trees with my brother, Cody, and his Wife, Tiffani, and my little niece, Elizabeth.

As much as no one thinks they'll be like their parents, my brothers seem to turn more and more into my dad every time they have a new baby. One thing Cody apparently learned was eating at McDonald's while on vacation.

My dad used to make us eat there for every meal while on vacation. Luckily, Cody only made us eat there twice, and even luckier, his baby, Elizabeth, loved the chicken nuggets dipped in caramel sauce.

We traveled to the south Redwoods, I can't say where they are exactly but we saw plenty of real trees and fake trees and people frolicking in the woods. We decided not to frolic ourselves, but we did race down some nearby slides.

Cody and Tiffani enjoying nature.

Me hiding in a "tree", and no that probably isn't California Screamer in the background.

I hope it counts as a road trip if you only ride one direction, because I flew back with Wendy, we spent some lovely bonding time at the John Wayne Airport for several hours.

This isn't us at the airport, its Elizabeth having her first swim.

All in all, it was a great time. I'm satisfied that the redwood trees exist, and that I don't need to visit them anymore.

30 for 30 - #22: Learn a new song on the piano.

2011-04-15T21:41:00.001-06:00

At one point in the last 3 months I did sit down at an actually piano. I played all the songs I know, 5 minutes later I gave up. My idea is to play something other than what I can play, the one-handed church hymns. Should it be a classical piece, oldies song to go along with Blue Moon, or a two-handed church hymn I haven't been able to master yet?

I don't know, if you know please let me know.

30 for 30 - #26: Hike part or all of Timpanogos.

2011-04-05T21:43:00.000-06:00

Although I looked loftily up at Mount Timpanogos since setting this goal on almost a daily basis, I did not ever set foot on the path to the top. Actually I don't think I ever even made it across the border to Utah County. If anyone is interested in a hike, check with me at the end of the Summer, I may have found my way by then.

30 for 30 - #19: Score over 300 points of family history indexing.

2011-03-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

I did it!!

Done! I finished this one last Sunday morning, sometime around 1:00am. So here's what it is. There are thousands upon thousands of records floating around the world about people who were once alive. These records can be Census Records, Draft Notices, Death Certificates, Birth Certificates, it goes on and on.

To help people track down and account for their ancestors different organizations have been working to make these records easily accessible by computerizing the data. Because of the incredible number of records out there....they need help.

I happen to love, love, love typing, sometimes just for a good time (check out TyperShark on Yahoo, you'll get hooked). After watching Wendy, my sister, do some "data extraction" or "indexing", I decided I might give it a try. Inadvertently, I came up with this as my goal. And last Saturday night once I started I couldn't stop, the typing is so fun, and trying to figure out who people are and where they are from is exciting. I'm excited for who ever belongs to those people.

If you're interested in helping out with it, it's really easy and they teach you how first on the website, go to www.FamilySearch.org. On this site you can do some browsing for your own family, or if you click the Help Out link on the right hand side of the page, you'll be typing away in no time.

This is what a Census document looks like, you just fill in the columns in the bottom window.

30 for 30 - #21: Lose 30 lbs.

2011-03-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

I think instead of losing 30 lbs, I gained 30 lbs...I would like to thank:

1. Work
2. Delicious Mexican Food
3. Addictive television programming
4. Fatty Fat, Texan food that makes everything finger lick'in good.
5. Work
6. Stress
7. Laziness
8. Delicious ice cream
9. Lack of $$
10. A never ending list of excuses.

30 for 30 - #29: Prepare a Rosca de Reyes/Groundhog Day Feast!

2011-02-25T07:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Groundhog Day!!

In celebration of Groundhog Day and Rosca de Reyes we had a wonderful feast. In Mexico they used to? still do celebrate Christmas differently. Instead of Santa bringing gifts on Christmas Eve the Three Wisemen bring gifts on January 6 and put them in the children's shoes.

As part of the festivities they have a delicious bread in the shape of a beautiful wreath. A little baby Jesus is baked inside of the bread and who ever is served the piece with the baby Jesus is said to be blessed. In return for the wonderful blessing they are expected to have a feast for their friends/family on February 2nd.

Beautiful Bread

In honor of our Christmas guest, Ana Maria, my mom tried to have this wonderful tradition. Although it was her first try.

My mom's beautiful bread.

It tasted delicious, and I lucked out by being blessed with the Baby Jesus in my piece. So I planned an amazing Rosca de Reyes - Groundhog Day Feast, to celebrate the traditions of both our lovely cultures.

To keep with Mexican tradition I made my first ever home-made tamales (i had actually never eaten a tamale until I made them, which ended up being unfortunate for everyone who did want to eat them). They were slightly over-cooked but, I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself, the inside filling part was delicioso.

We also had hamburgers, hotdogs, red jello with bananas, pasta salad, potato chips, lemonade and yummy yummy cake that Ana brought for the occasion.

Mmmmmmm. Cake.

I forgot to take pictures of everyone who came to celebrate. I'm afraid the majority of the guests were guilted into coming. Thanks Joey (and friend) and Wendy and Brian, Ana and I were glad you wanted to come watch us celebrate.

The grand finale was supposed to be my Groundhog cake, which I posted extensively about for help on Facebook. Thanks to everyone's really great idea, for a second I honestly thought I could produce a real live groundhog cake (well not live). But instead we ended up with the most creative thing I could produce.......

Groundhog Cakes

30 for 30 - #24: Wear high heel to work for 1 full week.

2011-02-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

I can't say I feel comfortable with marking this one off, but I"m going to anyway. For one full week I left my house for work with or wearing high heels. How long they stayed on, and where they ended up by the end of the day I can't say. But I can say, it is incredibly, horribly, painful. The level of cuteness, and girlieness did not surpass the pain.

Where my high heels ended up by the end of the week.

so painful

so cute

30 for 30 - #9: Go to the temple 30 times.

2011-02-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Sadly, I didn't achieve this goal by my birthday, but I was able to attend the temple a number of times before my birthday, and am confident I'll reach this one in the near future. There is nothing more peaceful than the spirit of the temple.

10% of the way there!

(who knew the temple was so busy at 6am)

1/4/11          #1 - Dossia O'Quinn, AR
1/8/11          #2 - Eveleen May Bodrell, Australia
1/11/11        #3 - Marie Augustine Plocque
1/18/11        #4 - Maria Luicia Ramirez Guerrero, Venezuela
2/16/11 #5 -
2/22/11 #6 - Initiatories
3/1/11 #7 - Initiatories

30 for 30 - #23: Go to a party.

2011-01-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I made it to a party! The most awesome party I have ever gone to. I can't tell you how much I missed Mexico after we got back, from the food to the good time of my Mexican friends.

Lucky for me some of my local latino friends decided to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I didn't know any of them but Ana, but we went and partied the night away. Delicious food, a wild spanish kareoke loving crowd, and little to no English. Just my kind of a party.

Can't wait until Mexican Independence day.

30 for 30 - #30: Do something to my hair I've always wanted to do but never dared.

2011-01-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you Jaquelin Stallings for suggesting this as my #30. It is affordable, and it just so happens that for the last 8 years I talked about changing my hair every winter, but never did it. I am not prejudice of people with brown hair, but when the weather changes, and things get cold and grey I always feel like coloring my hair brown because it makes me sad.

I really like my blonde hair, and even more since my sister-in-law started taking care of it for me. She is the best. And luckily! She said she can fix it by my birthday so I was less afraid to take this one on. I did it!!

Before

Blonde me.

After

Brown hair me (with a strange look on my face)

It turned out a little "warmer" than I anticipated, but it might fade out a little. Guess we'll find out. What do you think? Brown or blonde?

30 for 30 - #3: Teach Hurley a circus trick.

2011-01-08T20:54:00.015-07:00

Day 1 (January 6) - I decided to teach Hurley to jump through a hoop.

Problem #1: I have no hoop.
Problem #2: Hurley is scared of the cardboard rectangle I tried to use as a hoop.
Problem #3: The vet thinks Hurley is a couple of pounds overweight, if I feed him treats to get him to jump through the hoop he may lose the ability to jump completely.
Accomplishments: Hurley hesitantly jumped through the hoop several times, always for a treat. I learned that I can use the hoop as a way to get him to run away from places and things that are bad.
Next time: I think I might try getting a bike tube to use for a more gentle less intimidating hoop. Stay tuned.

Misc. hoops for jumping.

Day 2 (January 7) - He hates the cardboard hoop.

Success! He pretends not to know what I"m teaching him to do, but the second I told him we would go on a car ride if he jumped the hoop, he jumped right through it and ran to the door.
I bought a new hoop, that is softer, and a little bigger, for more comfortable jumping.

Day 3 (January 8) - He likes the new hoop better.

We tried the new hoop and he likes it better, although he still really is impartial to doing it, unless there is a delicious treat in plain sight.
The goal will be accomplished when he runs and jumps at least a foot to go through the hoop, today we got up to about 4 inches.

Day Lost Count( January 23) - Hoop Jumping Champion

I've lost track of the work we've done on hoop jumping.
Hurley jumps every day for practice and has made significant practice. (See dress rehearsal videos below)
I feel like for modesty he needs some performing pants and for showmanship he needs some kind of hat or bowtie. What do you think?

** Note how he likes to stand up and approach the hoop before jumping, he also stopped to lick my hand at one point

Practice #2

The Final Countdown....

2011-01-07T09:04:00.001-07:00

Well, it's official, I'm going to turn 30 this year. I don't think I'm worried about it, really I didn't want to do anything special at all, but I decided to make a list of 30 things to do before I'm 30, like my friend Ana did. It was kind of fun, and hopefully will serve as a distraction.

So as the final countdown begins. (138 days to go), I'll introduce you to my list:

30 for 30

Write a song for the guitar and perform it.
Run a 10 minute mile.
Teach Hurley a circus trick.
Get Sunny out of my head.
Learn to Salsa.
Fix my cemetery.
Transplant flowers from Cody's house to my house.
Write on my blog 30 times.
Go to the temple 30 times.
Start a public blog. (should i write about water or sleep disorders?)
Read the Book of Mormon.
Write real letters to 30 friends or family. (if you want one, let me know).
Make homemade cinnamon rolls.
Make fortune cookies.
Make egg foo yong.
Sew a levi quilt.
Go scuba diving.
Tour the copper mine.
Score over 300 points on family history extraction.
Go on 1 date.
Lose 30 lbs.
Learn a new song on the piano.
Go to a party.
Wear high heels to work for 1 full week.
Retake the GMAT and score over 500.
Hike part or all of Timpanogos.
Go on an American Roadtrip to see the Redwood Trees.
Patronize the Hill Aerospace Museum.
Host a Rosca de Reyes/Groundhog Day Feast. (you're invited)
------ (no #30, any ideas?)

I'll be posting updates on each of my list items as I progress and/or accomplish them. It could really end in disaster. Oh, well.

See you in 138 days, 30, until then depress someone else!.

30 for 30 - #20: Go on 1 date.

2011-01-05T21:41:00.008-07:00

I thought this was a good idea to force myself to do. I quickly changed my mind. Dating is for dummies.

Summer Project #1 - The Hydrant Sprinkler

2010-07-18T21:32:00.000-06:00

So, I recently took after my sisters and made a lengthy list. Mine is of house projects I would like to do, or save up for (is more realistic). My first project was to move my birthday present from Jeremy, a Pacific State fire hydrant, from my patio so we wouldn't be the junk yard neighbors.

Birthday Present 2010

Pre Make Over

Although it was a good looking hydrant before I started working on it, our patio is only 10' and it was a little out of place, and in the way.

A little TLC is understatement. I took the entire hydrant apart (hydrant anatomy lesson post forthcoming), drilled new holes in different pieces, greased it up, repainted it, designed and implemented a new plumbing system and........

VOILA!!!

I had a brand new sprinkler for our flower bed/veggie garden.

Note: there are three sprinklers built into the hydrant, which I might have connected to our landscape sprinkler system without permission from the HOA. Also note: the sprinkler on the top of the hydrant doesn't always look like that. When the water isn't running it just looks like the operating nut.

It was a lot harder than I expected it would be, but so far I"m pretty pleased. If it breaks, it's over for the sprinklers I"ll invest in a plug.

Some thanks are in order:

Jeremy, for giving me the hydrant for my birthday.

Mom, for helping him surprise me.

Wendy, for allowing it to come to our house, for her heavy lifting skills, and for not letting me give up.

Tom & Danny, for figuring out how to drill a straight 3/4" hole through cast iron.

Brandon, for helping me figure out how Tom and Danny did the first hole.

Raymond, for helping bust the bolts out of the bonnet.

Joey, for helping me figure out I could afford to do it.

And finally, to Hurley, who sat next to me providing emotional support along the way.

New Blog - Kind Of

2010-06-16T21:25:00.001-06:00

There are plenty of things I should have blogged about. But let's face it....I'm not much for correspondence.

And really no one reads my blog so I guess no one's missing out.

Here's a quick update.

I graduated from college with a bachelors degree in business (and a slight emphasis in entrepreneurship). I'm not an entrepreneur.

I got a promotion at work. It officially starts July 1. I'll be a manager in the public works department at the city I work for. It's exciting, and sad, and exciting. Water will always have my heart.

That's probably enough for updates really.

I turned my business class blog into a blog to dump some of my old writing onto...and any new stuff....if there is ever any new stuff. But I'm not a writer, so don't get too excited. But I do wonder what someone might think, morbid curiosity I guess.

http://iwroteiwrite.blogspot.com

See you in 4 months.

akh

Love Month (2.28) ~The Finale~

2010-02-28T08:01:00.001-07:00

We've reached the end of Love Month, and probably my daily blogging...don't be so relieved. =P But I'll try and put a couple up each week...if I can. I heard that next month is Green Month, I like that. I'll check into it. So here is my last Love Month post until 2011.

I Love....

Myself....I guess

Is that conceited? I mean, I know I'm not the center of anyone's universe or anything, but I think I'm pretty great. I'd probably be friends with myself.

There's definitely things about myself I"m not super fond of but, since it's love month here's what I like:

1. My interesting past experiences. (I'm not super ashamed about them, I think they make me interesting, even now when I feel like I've lost most of my strange personality to being a grownup)

- My old dress habits (Loved that UTA shirt)

- Misc. criminal mischief and subsequent dealings with the justice system (I don't think I"ll list those.)

- Different schools I've been too (ATC, Weber, SLCC, USU, and community ed classes)

- The people I've met (school, work, mission, strangers on the street in random cities.)

2. That I can make friends with people. (I really like the people I"ve met, and I really like that I feel like making friends with people or making them feel comfortable is something I can do, even when I'm giving them a citation)

3. My reading (I love my books, and reading, and I like that I like it)

4. My knowledge and faith in the gospel.

5. That I can help people. (physically, financially, or even at work. I love solving problems and making things better for people)

6. That I'm secretly such a sentimental sap. (well maybe not secretly to some people. I get attached so easy, and I love to sit and think about the good and the bad moments in my life, and about the people I've been able to meet and the times we spent together)

7. My love for work (that no matter what job I have, I love it, and I become it)

8. My family (i'm pretty lucky to have such a great family)

9. My name is Anne Kay (what a great name)

10. I still have blonde hair, it makes me feel happy.

11. I have blue eyes, not like a monkey (and I don't need glasses....)

12. I can be me, and be happy with myself most days, that I know anything about myself I don't like I have the power to change it or be happy about it.

13. That I'm my own bestfriend. (good thing, since I spend so much time with myself)

Well that's basically it. What a silly list. Love Month was exciting, and fun. Who knew I had so much to love....I guess I did.

Love Month (2.27)

2010-02-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

I Love....

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love the knowledge I have that I have a Heavenly Father who not only loves me but knows me and is aware of me every day.

I love talking about the principles of the gospel with people.

I love that the gospel is so simple, and so powerful.

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my trength and my song; he also has become my salvation. - 2 Nephi 22:2 / Isaiah 12:2

Love Month (2.26)

2010-02-26T08:00:00.001-07:00

I really really love....Books!

Really if you know me at all, you probably already knew that. Of all the inanimate objects in the world, I love books the most. Maybe even over some dogs, or people too.

There was a time in my life I remember that reading and books weren't something I was interested in. Kindergarten, I had to be forced to try reading. First grade, I feel like I was pretty indifferent. But after that, it clicked. Aside from my mom making us love books, my second grade teacher, Mrs. Scalise, was prettty good influence too. She would read to us, and make it exciting and fun. She would even let me borrow her books. (I might even still have one on my bookshelf)

I became obsessed. I don't know how many nights I've stayed away with my lamp on until I've finished a book, or even how much water I wasted sitting in the bathtub until I got to the last page. I think my second grade teacher regretted it later, I had her in fifth grade too, and she couldn't ever get me to pay attention or do any work because I always had a book hidden under my desk.

So this is what I love:

- Children's Books - especially, specifically Newberry Award Winners (almost all of them actually)

- Young Adult Fiction - they are such a quick, fun read. Books like Flush, Holes, Scat, Hoot...etc. I have a ton of them.

- Classics - Anything by Alexander Dumas is my favorite, but I love Frankenstein, Edgar Allen Poe, The Scarlet Pimpernel...on and on.

- Fiction - I'm pretty picky about adult fiction, I'm not a big love story kind of person, basically I hate smut, so it's hard to find one that's safe. A big favorite right now is The Hunger Games, I highly recommned it.

- Non-Fiction - for some reason I've been really into autobiographies lately (some good ones are Julia Child's My Life in Paris, Terri Erwin's book she wrote about Steve - The Crocodile Hunter, and I think I read one about Mother Theresa I really liked.

I could confess that I sometimes sneak books to work, if I really really feel like I need to finish it, or read in the car while I'm driving if I'm at a super great part in the story, but I won't, instead all I have to say is....I love to read and I love books!

Love Month (2.25)

2010-02-25T08:00:00.001-07:00

I Love....Being Semi-Debt Free!

I get a lot of anxiety when I have a balance on a credit card, or a loan balance. Since I got my tax refund, which was extra fat this year thanks to my tuition credit and mortgage interest, I was able to pay off my student loan.

A huge relief! Now I can officially say, I am only house poor, not school poor and house poor and car poor and credit card poor. Hurray! Progress.

Love Month (2.24)

2010-02-24T08:00:00.001-07:00

I Love.....and maybe hate a little....Computers

We definitely have a rocky relationship. Some of the things I love include:
1. Shopping Online (I love not having to go into a store)
2. Typing (this could be anything really, even just for fun. I'll post some great typing games next love month..stay tuned)
3. A Central Hub (one place I can dump everything in my life and no that if I look hard enough I can always find it later.)
4. People I've Met (I'm not an avid chatroomer or big supporter of meeting people online, but I have incidently met some great people over the last 14+ years)
5. The Answer To Most Of My Questions (just a google search away)

Things I hate about computers:
1. That people try to make me fix them.
2. People try to make me teach them stuff.
3. That I know enough to help people, but not enough to be smart about it.
4. Mainly anything where computers is 100% my job, not a fan.

My work computer w/a new ginormous monitor...it's great

Love Month (2.23)

2010-02-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

I Love...Wandering...

Mainly in strange cities. I think it's a great time, there are so many things to see and people to meet. It's even better when I have car so I can go everywhere and anywhere.

Some of my favorite places I've wandered around are:

1. Seattle (sooooo great for wandering)
2. Indianapolis (who knew there was so much to see?)
3. Chicago, the city (I didn't get enough last time, it was too cold)
4. Chicago, the suburbs (so, so, so beautiful!)
5. Colorado Springs (who doesn't love strange tourist spots)
6. California (anywhere in California really.)
7. Dubuque, IA (very pretty, and old, and! the first time I saw the Mississippi River)
8. Salt Lake (if you've never wandered around downtown with no real purpose, you're really missing out)
9. Utah Canyons/Mountains (no better place to wander for no reason)

10. My house (well, it's not really wandering, more sitting, maybe that should be it's own love post)

Love Month (2.22)

2010-02-22T08:06:00.003-07:00

I love....all things Hurley

1. Hurley is my favorite character on the tv show LOST.

2. Hurley's, from LOST, blog is my absolute -favorite-.
Go check it out.

3. Hurley the dog is pretty great, most days, too. Although I really really hate dog hair. What month is hate month?

Love Month (2.21)

2010-02-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

I Love....My House!

It has been 1 year since we bought and moved into our house. Time goes fast. I'm still so glad that we don't live in that apartment anymore, our house is wonderful. Even if the paint has peeled off the front door in some spots, and my bedroom is an icelocker. Love it!

Love Month (2.20)

2010-02-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love...

My misc. aluminum water bottles. I think it makes the water taste better. Mmmmmm....metal water.

Love Month (2.19)

2010-02-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

I Love....

Being the only girl in the water department. It's pretty great......most days.

Love Month (2.18)

2010-02-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

I Love to Test Things with My Teeth

No, I don't love biting stuff, it's completely different. I have been known to try testing some random things out with my teeth, just to see. These items include:

- Rootballs (you know on flowers when they come in a carton before you plant them)
- Fish Bellies (but only one, and only because it was the whitest, most enticing fish belly I ever saw)
- Wet Concrete (I haven't actually had a chance to try this yet, but I'm interested)

There's just some things you can only learn by trying it out on your teeth to see how they crunch or how hard they are or soft. It gives you a good feel for something if you bite it a little.

Love Month (2.17)

2010-02-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

I Love.....Listening to Water Pipes Sing.

Singing Sound File

The water lines sing when they are filling up, and sometimes when they leak, depending on how big of a leak it is. Sometimes it's loud enough you can hear it just standing there, other times you have to put your ear to you valve key, or hydrant wrench to pick it up.

Sometimes it fills so fast or the line is so big that you can feel it rumble under your feet, that's the best really.

Ok, so maybe the sound clip wasn't a singing water line, but whales like water too.

Love Month (2.16)

2010-02-16T08:52:00.003-07:00

I love....Delicious Corndogs!

The corny dog, pogo, dagwood dog, wobo, pluto pup, mercury mutt or corn dog is a hot dog coated in cornbread batter and deep fried in hot oil, although some are baked. Almost all corn dogs are served on wooden sticks, though some early versions were stickless. - Wikipedia

Vegetarian or mystery meat, these are a favorite treat!

Love month (2.15)

2010-02-15T08:39:00.003-07:00

I Love....Little Baby Reindeer

Love Month (2.14)

2010-02-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

I love the boys in my life.

There the best examples, friends, and a super good time.

Love Month (2.13)

2010-02-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

I love being a sister

Love Month (2.12)

2010-02-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

I really really love learning new things!

Like learning to drive the dump trucks and snow plowing. Anything random is pretty great really.

Love Month (2.11)

2010-02-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

I -love- iTunes!

I don't know how I would make it through the work day without my iTunes.

Love Month (2.10)

2010-02-10T08:00:00.001-07:00

I really really love.....

My remote cart starter that Wendy got me for Christmas. It's the best thing that ever happened to me.....pretty close anyway.

Now I don't have to drive around like this anymore.....

Love Month (2.9)

2010-02-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

I love......

Scuba Diving!

Love Month (2.8)

2010-02-08T10:11:00.001-07:00

I love Monkeys!

Monkeys with blue eyes, and hazel eyes, and monkeys that jump, and monkeys that ride horses. They're just so cute!

Love Month (2.7)

2010-02-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

I love going on random trips with my sisters...

Even when it ends in tears.

Love Month (2.6)

2010-02-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

I love Stephen Colbert.....the tv personality, ice cream, musician, and former presidential candidate.

Love Month (2.5)

2010-02-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

I love Riverdale!

It makes it ok to be from Weber County if you're from Riverdale. Who doesn't love their hometown? Especially if it's better than every other city?

Some memories I'm especially fond of include: Old Glory Days, small town politics, championship rec teams, roadrunners, and Youth City Council, although the list could go on and on.

Love Month (2.4)

2010-02-04T10:00:00.001-07:00

This stands for many different things I love.

1. Gummy Bears
2. Glass Jars
3. Expensive hotel mini bar items
4. Colorful Sugar

Love Month (2.3)

2010-02-03T10:07:00.003-07:00

I love this kitty, and her weird little faces, and her hair styling tips.

Love Month (2.2)

2010-02-02T11:15:00.004-07:00

Joey is posting something she loves every day this month. Let's be honest, I'm not going to post something every day. But I will post something as often as I remember to and have a minute.

I love Mueller Fire Hydrants

They're the most perfect fire hydrant I have ever seen. Can you think of a cuter fire hydrant? I love them so much I occasionally hug them and even drink out of them if it's super hot outside and I'm thirsty. I don't know if I recommend trying to drink out of them unless you're after a face full of water, plus some.

Dear San Antonio.....

2010-01-18T22:39:00.003-07:00

Dear San Antonio,

Saint of lost and forgotten things. I had a great time visiting the beautiful Texas city named after you. The Riverwalk was full of water, the boats were full of people, and my stomach was full of food.

I took lots of pictures that I will send you later of my sisters and me having a super great time. Thanks for the good weather, interesting architecture, and free breakfast/popcorn.

I thought you would want to know that we made it home safely.

San Antonio, please look after my suitcase full of dirty clothes, precious jeans I need for work, my favorite green coat, and especially my computer and cellphone. Please protect them from security peoplel who like to search luggage, and hungery conveyor belts.

If you happen to find them, don't call my cellphone....you'll have it with you. Just direct a helpful Delta employee to them so they will drop it off at my house.

Thank you!

Sincerely, A Big Fan,

Anne H

Chicken Dish Dilemma

2009-12-29T13:02:00.005-07:00

This is the situation. Several years ago when I was a senior in high school and thought I was going to get married as soon as I graduated, even though I wasn't dating anyone, I bought a large collection of chicken dishes.

I thought, at the time, that these were the cutest dishes I had ever seen, and as new independent adult, how could I not want them. Some have chickens, some are green, some are blue, and some are checkered, they're perfect, right.

So here I am, ten years later, and these dishes have been dumped in my garage from my parents old house, since they are currently homeless. This is the dilemma, what should I do with the chicken dishes.

There are dinner plates and bowls, small plates and soup mugs, a pitcher and mugs, serving platter, serving bowl, giant bowl, small, med and large canisters, and even a spoon rest and fancy tile for hot things. It is a massive, massive collection.

Who would have guessed that something you picked out ten years ago might not be something you want now. Hmmm.

What should I do with them? Send them with Joey the D.I. collector, put them on KSL for some stranger to haul off but maybe make a couple of bucks, or keep them and force Wendy to love chickens for the rest of our time together?

I need some serious advice, for this very serious matter.

Seattle!

2009-12-27T20:45:00.013-07:00

I LOVE Seattle!!

My work sent me there just before Thanksgiving for a Water Quality Conference. I almost crashed on the way into the city because the skyline was so beautiful at night. The rain made me homesick for Oregon, I walked around in it for hours and hours. It was very very hard to come home.

The conference was kind of blah. So I have lots of pictures of the other places I went. =) Thanks, South Jordan!

Pike's Place Market was awesome. I could have sat there all day watching people. If only the pig out front had a cushioned seat on top.

I saw the World Famous Pike's Place Fish Market, with the World Famous fish mongers who love their job. I even bought one of their books, they threw it around to each other like it was a fat salmon and signed it for me. It was awesome!....the book is actually pretty good too.

My hotel was only a few blocks from the market, so it was basically walking distance to every where. I saw all kinds of neat little tourist things and even some not so well known tourist things, like the "Gum Wall".

It is this wall that is in an alley beneath the market by a couple of clubs that is about 50 feet long and is completely covered in gum. Sooo much gum in some places you can't see the wall. Apparently the city even cleans it off once in a while but people just keep putting their gum on it.

Some other places I wondered to were the aquarium, the art museum (where an artist had cars suspended from the ceiling and lit up with a million lights), and a water treatment plant (secret business).

I did attend some of the conference too. =) There were a few good presentations, but mainly I learned I'm not a super fan of French Canadian Female Doctorate students. They were super mean to me and wouldn't speak in English. Although I did meet some really great people. Like Laure, from France who is living in Denmark working on her doctorate degree, and Mehdi who is from Iran but is living in Canada and working on a masters degree. The pictures are from a social at the aquarium but turned out terrible because my battery was dying.

Our group even won the Young Water Professional "Scavenger Hunt". We walked about 10 miles to find everything but the trophy was really worth it.

I was the only maintenance worker in the group, so I won extra points for knowing what parts the trophy was made out of. =P

That was basically my trip. Wandering around Seattle. I could have stayed for weeks. I saved the best part for last. My hotel was kind of fancy, and in the room there was a fully stocked basket of very expensive snacks. I couldn't help but take the most expensive thing, which was $8.00.

Delicious Gummy Bears! So worth it. I've refilled the jar twice since I've been home....mmmmmmmm.

Aurora for a Wedding

2009-07-12T20:52:00.007-06:00

So to escape Wendy's incredibly contagious and deadly swine illness (refer to wendy's June blog post for details) I went to Aurora, Illinois for a wedding. Aurora, by the way, is just outside of Chicago (one of my very favorite big cities).

Before I get into the wedding details, a fun blonde moment on my part. The Cubs are my favorite baseball team, I dream of the day I can go and watch a game at Wrigley Field. So knowing when the wedding was I looked up their schedule and was very, very disappointed to see they were out of town that week. Once I got there and we were enjoying the rehearsal dinner with the tv on, I found out that if I had just looked closer I would have seen that they were "away" playing the White Sox across town. I am very special.

I digress. My trip was wonderful. I had a super great time. My friends Jeremy and Kate were getting married where she grew up, in Aurora, although she's currently teaching in NC. (Technical sidenote for Jeremy's benefit.....I was his friend first.)

I flew in the Friday before the wedding just in time to meet our other friend, Kim, at the airport. We rented a car together and drove in to Aurora, thankfully, missing the bridal shower just getting there in time for the Girls Night Out at an italian restaurant in Geneva.

The incredible thing I discovered is that just outside of Chicago there are normal little cities/towns, and incredible amounts of gorgeous green open space. Each little town has a historic street with the old buildings, and the businesses in them are still very much in business. It was so fun.

In between two of the towns we found this windmill that was just beautiful.

Long story short, with some more pictures to come. We had a great night, and at my hotel Kate and Jeremy left me a special package with maps, and itinerary and some snacks for my room. It was so sweet.

Saturday we spent all morning at the Swedish Days, which for some reason was in the town Geneva (not Swedish), and instead of any Swedish food there was bratwursts (not swedish) and pickle pops. Apparently pickle pops are quite popular in some parts of the country, so much so you can actually buy them at the grocery store. I hope to dedicate a blog to the subject in the near future.

Saturday night we went to her parents house for the rehearsal dinner and then on to the church for the wedding rehearsal. Both of their family and friends were incredibly friendly and nice, I really liked them. At the Lutheran church the pastor went through the entire ceremony, word for word. Basically they were married the night before, we tried to use that as a reason for Kate not to be nervous. =) I've never heard anyone make them go through the entire ceremony word for word before hand.

Sunday, the big day. I was not really part of the wedding party, so I got to hang around my hotel room all morning reading, and doing nothing. I got myself all dressed up, and my heels on....that's right heels. I should have taken a picture of them. I practiced for two weeks ahead of time to make sure that I: A: Could walk more than two steps without falling over. B: So my feet would learn to enjoy the excruciating pain and C: So I wouldn't look like a man in a dress and heels.

I didn't fall over all night, I did lose my balance once or twice, got stuck in between boards on the deck once, and by the time we left the reception I had to take them off to walk to the car. All in all, i feel like it was a success.

Back to the wedding, Kate was beautiful, so beautiful. The ceremony was nice, and the reception was just a fantastic time. Somehow she sat me at the most perfect table in the world. She put me with her middle aged cousins. On one side her cousin John, a landscaper, on my other side her cousing Jeff, an underground utilities installer, including water lines. Needless to say, I had a great night.

I even got to dance with the groom's brother, Justin. If Kate ever sends me the pictures I might post them. But instead here are pictures of all of us friends, one of the bride and groom, a horrible one of me with the bride and groom, and some pictures of the incredible views from the reception.

**Another post to come: While driving my friend Kim around all weekend, she learned a lot about fire hydrants, how to identify them, which brands are ugly and which is the cutest, etc. She has since spread the doctrine of fire hydrants to her children, husband and mother. So what can I do but post something and spread it on to you...although I guess most of you who read this already know. =)

Sentimental Sunday? Maybe next week.

2009-04-05T22:10:00.007-06:00

So my intention is to post a sentimental sunday post every sunday. Just for me really, so I can write down some of my thoughts, and memories and stuff. But here is what happened today.

My work radio went off at 6am (the good part about this is that I had been folding laundry in my sleep and so I was partially awake already). So even though I'm not on call, I was the lead worker on call, the on call worker lives in Morgan which defaults any emergency responses to me.

He said that dispatch told him a fire hydrant had been hit by a car and it wasn't very bad, but it was bubbling up a little water.

I'm not sure where she get's her definition of bad. I drove into work and picked up my truck and went to the address and that's what I found. A 30+ ft geiser of water. It was more fantastic than Old Faithful in Yellowstone, especially because it keeps going and going and going.

Educational Sidenote: Fire hydrants in Utah are generally "dry barrels", which means there isn't water in the fire hydrant, the valve is deep below ground so they don't freeze and break. This means that when a car hits them there is rarely ever water. They just break off and tip over and destroy the car.

Here I am at 6:15 in the morning, on a Sunday, just staring at this wonderful wall of water and my only thought was, "Shoot! I wish I had my camera." In the mean time thousands of gallons of water are filling the storm drain and an adjacent field, the fire department is trying to keep the car, which is hanging halfway off the road, from falling into the giant hole and the police department is taking the female driver away in handcuffs as her semi-adult daughter is yelling for her not to worry that everything is ok.

Everything wasn't ok. I really wasn't interested in getting wet. And I really really didn't want to repair a water main all day. As I was running around a three block radius shutting off every valve I could find I watched the father pull up and I"m pretty sure from his expression that he didn't think it was ok either.

Needless to say, we stopped the water, dumped a pile of dirt on it and went home. Somethings can wait until tomorrow. This, I decided, was one of those things. The best part really is, if the damages to their car, her criminal record and going to jail weren't enough, I think she's going to be a little sick inside when she get's our bill.

Important Lesson: There are two very expensive things in South Jordan.....Water, and fire hydrants.

ps. I made it home right at 10am....perfect timing.

20 Things About Me

2009-01-08T20:55:00.005-07:00

Joey, my sister, loves to fill out all of the random questionaires that come through email, or on blogs, and she likes everyone else to fill them out too. I normally don't participate, unless I just send it to her. But she tried to convince me that this is different and everyone should do it. So here are 20 random things about me that I thought about while ignoring my marketing teacher drone on about people with lots of money. You should fill it out too, its interesting to see what people think of to write.

1. I am not a little person.

2. Blonde hair makes me not sad and depressed. In the winter I always want brown hair because its dark and sad outside.

3. Sometimes I wish I could swim in a giant pile of books like Uncle McScrooge and his money.

4. Staring at nothing for extensive periods of time is one of my favorite past-times.

5. Computers try to make me love them, but I refuse to let them win.

6. I love water, just about everything about it. Drinking it, swimming in it, being clean, making jello, flushing fire hydrants, testing for chlorine and bacteria, listening to it sing in pipes. There's nothing like a singing pipe.

7. Sometimes I worry that I'll forget people that I've met. Random people mainly, like the homeless man I hugged downtown, the biker we stopped in Oregon, Wilson the retired Hostess worker I shared a desk with at the IRS, Mr. Rogers, Steve Erwin, etc.

8. When I think about my mission I pray that I'll never forget. Never forget one person, one face, one feeling or moment. That I'll be able to remember it forever. (This stems partially from #7, #9 and a dream I had in Corvallis that mad me sad and then happy when I woke up and saw it wasn't true)

9. I love people, 99.9% of all people. I love to figure out what makes them special and unique from all of the other people, the things that most people never take the time to learn or never see. I always find something. People are great.

10. Sometimes I sleep good at night.

11. Sometimes sleep makes me feel like I've lost my mind and that I need professional mental help. I've come to terms with what kind of dementia patient I will be as I get older.

12. If I get lost in large body of water, lake, ocean, pond, river, Niagra Falls, I don't want anyone to come looking for my body. That's not a fun time for anyone.

13. Rides that drop straight down make me stop breathing, but the thought of letting someone date me or like me as more than just the best friend they've ever had terrifies me.

14. Money can't buy me.

15. I have a couple of friends I met online over ten years ago, and still have never met in person, and may never meet in person.

16. My humidifier is a fat blue plastic penguin.

17. Driving in the snow is my favorite winter sport.

18. Joey is my security blanket.

19. Wendy is my ego booster.

20. Sometimes I feel like there is something different about me from other people. Like I have some special purpose or gift, that I haven't quite figured out yet. But that there are people I've never met who know me and are looking for and waiting for me to find them.

More than you ever wanted to know about me I'm sure. Anyway, the penguin humidifiers are available at Super Target, winter driving should be attempted by professionals only, and everyone should wear a lifevest when traveling over the water to avoid bodies being lost.

Outsider

2008-12-17T07:43:00.001-07:00

My cousin Lynsie sent me this on Facebook. My first version was incredibly intuitive and matched up to every question and right before I finished my laptop died. So here is version number too, which is much more risque if you ask me. =)

1. Put your iPod on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing the meme as well as the person you got the meme from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Basket Case – Green Day

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Bring the People Together - Live

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Bend and Not Break – Dashboard Confessional

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
I’m on my way – The proclaimers

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Duet from the Dead - Anadivine

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Questions – Jack Johnson

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Unsaveable – faith hill

WHAT IS 2+2?
Your Smile – Toby Keith

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND(S)?
Me & You – Kenny Chesney

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Blue Clear Sky – George Strait

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Swinging – Rachael Portman

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Theme from Flood – They might be giants

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Windy – the Association

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Too Bad - Nickelback

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Unchained Melodies – Righteous Brothers

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
The Sharing Song – Jack Johnson

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Travelin’ Soldier – Dixie Chicks (I hate the dixie chicks why are they on my ipod?)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Love Her Madly – Doors (wow, that’s just….something)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Never Let Go – Josh Groban

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Dangerous Mixed With - Anadivine

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Minority – Green day

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Come on Closer - Jem

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
She Ain’t Hooked on Me No More – Toby Keith

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Joy Will be My reward – Felicia Sorenson

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Vent – Collective Soul

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Cath…. – Death Cab for Cutie

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Autobiography – Ashlee Simpson

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
I will possess your heart – Death cab for Cutie

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
JALS - Colors

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Outsider – The Ramones

My Trip to Indy

2008-08-01T14:01:00.010-06:00

Ok, these next few posts are completely out of order, but I feel ok about that.

In May I went on a trip to Indianapolis, IN for the Annual American Backflow Prevention Conference. Exciting, I know. You're super intersted in hearing all about the advances in laws and regulations and everything but you'll have to ask me about it later.

Although I have plenty of pictures of not at the conference, these were all on one day when I finally had a break from some meetings. No one even knew I was gone....

Ok so, first here is the view from my hotel room, there was a great little lake/pond behind the hotel. We walked around it later that week and there were a million little turtles in it, I had no idea. It was great.

On my, "day off" from meetings and conference sessions I decided to go see everything I could find. Luckily I found it, even if it wasn't intentional. First I went to the Indianapolis Speedway. It was awesome, it was the Sunday before the Indy 500 so they were doing qualification and practice runs, it was awesome. I didn't mean to actually go watch them but I followed some cars in and ended up there. In a skirt, on a very windy day, but it was worth it.

This is me at the track with the leader board in the background.

Here is the Pagoda.

And the famous Yard of Bricks....(the finish line)

And of course, my favorite. The giant water tank a mile or so away from the track. We don't have enough above ground tanks in Utah.

So that was the track. I bought a ginormous sweatshirt to tie around my waist to keep my skirt down, and a shot glass, but as soon as I got home they were snatched up by other people.

After the track I went to the art museum, it was really good.

After that I went to a movie and met someone I think I must have already known, but thats probably more of a sentimental sunday post. Maybe my next one.

I got back to the conference just in time for the welcoming party and everyone was super jealous of my day while they had to sit through a board meeting. =) It pays not to be too involved. =) Anyway it was a really really good trip, I loved Indy, it can go on my list with water, hotdogs, and chicago, but not sugar, because thats a whole other level. ;)

Wendy's Birthday

2008-08-01T13:12:00.003-06:00

Ok, so even though all three of us hate having our picure taken, and hate even more to touch each other, Wendy decided for her birthday we should have a sister picture. So we went downtown with our friend Emilie, who is an awesome photographer, and she took our picture to commemorate our fun "big city" trips that we like to take.

Here is our favorite so far.

Bonneville Seabase (7/19/08)

2008-07-22T09:51:00.005-06:00

Ok, so I've been hording posts. I've been putting the pictures on and saving them thinking I will go back later and post something but I havent. So all of these posts are old.

Emily and I went scuba diving on our own, it was very adventurous, our first dive after certifying last winter up at the Crater. We went to the Bonneville Seabase out in Grantsville. It is a natural hotspring, but because its out by the salt flats the water picks up a lot of salt, so they are able to have ocean fish and sharks in the pools.

We had a good time, but Emily, as it turns out, is scared of fish. I had no idea, so it was a short dive, and we didn't get to find the sharks. Next time, for sure.

Here I am all geared up, super cute. =)

Underwater picture. My new mask is super fancy, and super giant. But it's great, if only it wouldn't get caught in my braids. Hmmm..

Here's Emily, the water was really really murky in the first pool we were in. I was literally right in her fact to take this picture. You couldn't see your feet it was such bad visibility.

To try and get Emily used to the fish we hung our feet into one of the pools after and the baby fish came up to suck on our feet. It sounds super disgusting, I know. It kind of was and it tickled beyond belief. But I did pretty good at not screaming too much, I didn't want her to think it was hurting. They said that people pay a lot of money to do that in spas in other countries. My feet did look nice and clean after.....except for the horrible swamp smell from the water. =)

Sugar.

2008-04-30T13:03:00.004-06:00

I felt like making a special tribute to Sugar, my long time friend. From a very young age I began a relationship with this delightful substance. My mother would add Karo syrup to my formula, and we haven't been parted since. I think to say that I love sugar is an understatement. I love water, I love hotdogs, but Sugar?...I can't survive without it.

Although avoiding diabetes could be impossible, I can't resist. Whether it's a brownie for breakfast, a little sugar packet while waiting for food at the restaurant, or what ever misc. sugar laced deliciousness I eat in my sleep I just can't let go.

I can't say that I've never tried to stop, to break the connection that we have. It was a terrible experience, that left people wondering if I was really a coke addict (not the beverage). So our relationship will be life long, its either all or none of us, we'll go down together. Here's to you sugar, and your secret powers to brighten every day.

A Serious Sunday Post

2008-04-27T18:45:00.002-06:00

I should be writing one of my many philosophy papers but instead I'm distracting myself with this. A more serious note than usual. We had Stake Conference today, and I've decided to set a goal for myself. If I ever am asked to speak in a church setting in the future, I'm going to focus whatever topic I'm given on Jesus. It seems like people don't take the opportunity to reflect on their personal testimony of the Savior or incorporate His teachings and blessings into their talk as much as they could (or at all). And since the scriptures teach us that we are forgiven of sin every time we bear testimony of the Savior, I might even start slipping it into my presentations for work.

Although people seem to find other topics to talk about I'm not complaining, they make some interesting points, or at least inspire further reflection. Today one of the speakers talked about how much he loves to run. He's ran in over 14 marathons, but he said it wasn't for the race but just because he loves running. He quoted someone who talking about flying said something to the effect that after a person has flown they will never be able to look up at the sky with longing to be there. I guess that's how he feels about running.

I appreciated his comparison, it made me wonder what makes me feel that way. It was easy to identify. My mission. Nothing in my life has made a stronger, more lasting impression than the spiritual strength, peace and security of serving as a representative of the Savior. I am in no means claiming that I was the quintessential missionary that should be revered. But I long for it. I long for it like nothing else in this life. It was there that I saw and felt the reality of divine potential. It was there that I felt the Savior at my side every day, and that the Spirit became a strength and power that I had never known. I long for it.

From that time to the present, every time I feel the spirit strongly, or have opportunity to reflect on the incredible people that I met (and that I will love for ever), I long for it. I long to be there. It's not actually in Oregon that I long to be, but in a place, in a time where I can again feel surrounded, maybe even engulfed by the love, work and spirit of the Savior. Where I can be who I am really meant to be, a daughter of God. Without the distractions of the world, just simply a daughter of God learning, striving and doing His work. I long for it, more than anything else.

For now, I guess I'll continue on, trying to maintain as much as I can of the spirit in my life. Hopefully working my way back to that point, then maybe I'll long to run too, but I doubt it.

There is something much greater within each of us that exists beyond what this world would believe. A potential and being that can bring that pure sense of contentment, happiness, and joy. And maybe as long as we -long- for it, we can stay in the race, and not get lost along the way.

The Deleted Comment

2008-04-09T10:31:00.005-06:00

There has been a lot of question about an alleged "deleted comment" from the 'I Hate Disneyland' post. I know that most of you assume some unsuspecting Disneyland loving person happened upon my blog and blasted me for being the spawn of satan, and questioning my moral values, sense of humor, shoe size, and childhood upbringing; because Disney is in fact wonderful.

The truth is that someone posted an obscene watermark of a Duck and a Mouse that were more than friends. Someone followed up that post with this comment.

Dwight: I grew up on a farm. [blocked for adult/farm content]
... couple of pigs watching. Whoever drew this got it exactly right.

I know that holding an immediate press conference would have allowed me to maintain control of the situation but I thought if I let it go no one else would have to be subjected to such plain, factual, abrupt, quoted, brain burning unforgetable comments.

In the future I will refrain from deleting comments and instead focus on a helpful response.

I Hate Disneyland

2008-04-03T13:35:00.002-06:00

It's true. Although this, my third time, was much more successful than preceding visits. Honestly, the first day was almost a success until I was tricked into riding the elevator to hell. Straight to hell.

I know that you can't wait to read how I really feel about it. Here are my thoughts on the "Magical Kingdom".

A. Its full of people, thousands and thousands

of people. Let's face it I can't even go to

Target on a Saturday without getting a little

angry.

2. Germs. You can't have thousands of

people without billions of germs crawling on

things from unwashed hands, sneezing,

coughing, throwing up, etc.

III. Walking. I appreciate a nice brisk walk

now and then, but 20 miles later the

appreciation start to wane, just slightly.

Q. Strollers. I hate strollers, it makes me

shiver just to think about it. Although, I

might change my opinion on strollers if

next time someone pushes me in one.

In conclusion, I love Space Mountain, I want to ride it every day 15 times. My vote for expanding Utah's public transportation system would definately include some kind of unlit tunnels with stars. I love Space Mountain. I hate the tower of terror. I love observing, from a germ safe distance, the incredibly strange behavior that comes out of normally sane people. Disneyland is like the twilight zone of happy cartoon goodness.

My recommendation can only be that you go, at least once, have a corndog, drink several gallons of water and enjoy. I'll see you when you get home.

ps. I stole this picture from Katherine's blog, which I can only assume is legal since she's giving it away for free on the internet...its on computers now.

Doogie Howser Groupie?

2008-04-03T09:16:00.006-06:00

I'm not. But you are, weird bloggers.

All you need to do is read your blog out loud while you type it and you might as well put on the white dr. coat and a pair of reeboks.

Congratulations Dr. Howser on spreading your obsessive habits of documenting lifes quirks and wonders on a computer to a whole new generation. We owe you.

My Philosophy

2008-02-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

So, per standard education requirements, I am forced to take a humanities class. For some wonderful reason my new school doesn't accept my credit earned at my old school. So here I am stuck in philosophy. Now no offense to those who live and thrive on philosophy, but I really feel like it is for the most part pointless.

I understand that they want people to take into consideration other people's view points, to be able to see issues, and beliefs from more than their own side. I understand that it should encourage people to seriously reflect on what they truly believe to either strengthen it or question it to the point of ridicule.

Maybe it is just me but I find that most people, though I acknowledge those special few we all seem to meet, naturally in the course of their lives accomplish these things without force, or boredom.

Incredibly this time around I have found some things to be intersted in, that has me now wanting to piece together my philosophy. What I have found is that each of the philosphers that we have discussed to this point seem to have varying beliefs of a core principle. It seems to me that within each of their "doctrine", though I know some vehemently fight the relation to religion, each of their doctrinal viewpoints seem to have bits of truth.

This is something that I have thought about previously in relation to religion specifically. Serving a mission for my church I met with many different people, who belonged to more churches than I can remember, and even before and after the people that have come in and out of my life have shared in some respects their beliefs. And what I have found is that each of them are inherently the same. Obvious, you might say, all christian religions bare the same central belief, but I'm not talking about just christian religion, I'm talking about all religion. The same as the philosophers had different names for their ideas so do the different religions.

Since it is supposed to be one of the goals of my philosophy class anyway, I am going to piece together -my- philosophy. And I think that each of the philosophers and every religion that I have ever learned about will be able to relate.

The beginning point is this thought, and first point in my philosphy. Eternal truths exist. They are unchanging, unwavering and unbiased. These truths are available to everyone, no restrictions.

Eternal truth exists and man has found it in different ways, different times, different places and interpreted it in different ways. But the core principle never changes, and that is where the connections are found.

What do you think?

Thoughts on Human Nature

2007-06-09T16:14:00.000-06:00

A while ago (5/2006) I had to read some book for work, which I"m afraid I don't remember off hand. But it spurred on these thoughts....

-------------------------------------------------------
Thought #1

The soul is the body and the spirit combining the human (animal) with the Godly(celestial).

Within every person two natures exist, with their own instincts and desires. How does one grow stronger than the other?? Is this what accounts for the vast spectrum of human behavior? The moments of pure animalistic passion opposed to those of quiet, introspection or selfless compassion.

For example, fasting. The animal hungers, the automatic response is to feed the hungar, stop the feeling. By denying the animal desire, the second half is strengthened, a feeling becomes slightly more evident that there is a second nature within us, that is sometimes hidden, unheard above the animal. A strength and potential exists beyond the physical.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thought #2

Rationalizing emotion, pain as a way to protect one's self.

Disconnection feelings from events, disregarding emotion as physical/human repsonses not connected to the mind/soul.

Why? Is it the fear that if it's not rationalized the years of emotional/traumatic events, or one major episode would render us useless, weak, unable to recover and continue on?

It's desensitation, a refusal to learn, feel, be weakend to again grow stronger as a result. But overtime does it effect compassion, the ability to empathize/sympathize or even care for others?? Does it force the soul into submission, the nature of the being into a sociopathic mindset?

---------------------------------------------------------

Interesting thoughts, I'll come back to them later.

ah 5/2007