Holy Colee!

So, my roommates' sisters are in town. We took them to an Ugly Sweater Party. There are some SWEET sweaters floating around my ward. Saturday I spent the morning visiting my grandparents and meeting my cousins Sharon and Doug. My grandma is home from the hospital and is recouperating at home. Sharon and Doug are helping my grandpa take care of her. I've heard stories about them all my life, but had never met them. I had a great morning. I was way good with being related to this couple. Not only were they here giving selfless service, but they were so fun to talk to, and they invited me to come stay with them in Arizona :)
Saturday evening we went to a birthday party - it was fun, but the odds were terrible and my head was throbbing so we bailed pretty early.
Today I made cookies after church, but my oven sucks, officially. It's always been off, but it used to be consistently off and that is no longer the case. So, I think I am done baking until the landlord fixes it. He'd better hurry, for those of you that know me, you know it's an abnormally big deal.

So, I had a visit from one of my favorite people to do nothing with :) I like it when we do something, too, but doing nothing is all right. This time we actually did something. We went to visit his family in Park City and we went to dinner down town and we went to the new Joseph Smith movie playing at the Legacy Theatre. I don't know, I had fun.

We went to dinner at "Lamb's Cafe" which boasts being Utah's oldest and most famous restaurant. I would believe oldest, but most famous is stretchin' it. I'vve lived within a 150 miles of here my whole life and I've never heard of it before. The food was meh, but we lit stuff on fire while we listened to the piano dude, so we were pretty entertained. As an FYI, yes you can order lamb and Lamb's Cafe... we didn't. There are also random sheep in the decorations, which, I don't know about you, but for me at least, would make it harder to order lamb, even if that IS what I wanted to eat.

Katherine - what a pretty girl she is. I appreciated that she changed it so I didn't feel the need to compare her to Whitney. Stellar performance. I am going to have to disagree wiith the judges this time.

Elliott - Not my favorite song, I probably would change the station if it came on the radio. He did a good job of delivering the song he loves, it's just a boring song.

Kellie - I need her to go home. Arrangement was bad. Hair was bad. Singing was not great. She is way to cute for all that makeup.

Paris - The jazz twang was not working for me tonight. I wish shw would sing teenage songs instead of Barbara.

Taylor - My least favorite from him to date, which is too bad because I really like him.

Chris - HMMMM....

Tonight we went to a fireside. I wasn't all that enthused, but I should have been if I'd have thought about it more. It was given by the SLC temple president and his wife. Their talk was interesting and not really what I expected. She has her dad's lips... I am not sure why, I just love President Hinckley's lips. He is such a cute little man. Afterwards we sat and chatted with some folks in our ward.

Nothing exciting, but a pretty fun day.

So, institute activities are more fun with roommates... It's too bad I like them so much or I would have to be sad that all the boys are hitting on them, but hey- it makes me cuter by association, right? I'll take what I can get right now ;)

Besides, the boys they picked up last night have invited us for dinner next week, which is something I haven't been able to get my friends to do all year;)

http://www.geocities.com/rgpassey/pages/jordanriver/pics.htm
Right now the groundskeepers have tulips everywhere and a beautiful purple groundcover in the flower beds... I love temples in the spring.

So, American Idol is much more pleasant to watch with out Bucky. Tonight the crew did very well. I am tired of people voting for Pickler because she is cute and Ace's hair was terrible, but other than that- a pleasant evening.

Today was pretty uneventful. Which is ok, because the events that did take place were not on the top of my enjoyable list. My grandpa called to tell me that my grandma's been in the hospital for a week with pneumonia and has taken a turn for the not so good. I am going down tomorrow... I can't really do anything, but she shouldn't have to be there alone, and I am really good at sitting in the hospital.

So, for a Monday, today was pretty decent. Work was busy, but good busy. We're working thru some actual valid issues instead of mini fire drills. I like making a difference, or at least feeling like I do.

Tonight I went to FHE with my newest roommate. Normally I would have ditched game night, but I got to play Settlers - which I love. Plus- there are way cute boys in my ward, who also like to play Settlers ;) Overall, I count today as a win :)

Oh yes, new roommate, her name is Bethany. I have a feeling she is going to be a lot of fun.

Happy Easter! I spent the weekend at home in the land of internet so slow it's not even worth logging onto. It was great!
Thursday night we saw Ice Age 2. Great flick. I giggled a lot.
Friday I chilled with my fam and stuff. Saturday we had our easter egg hunt/hotdog roast. 2 of my sisters came- so that was fun. The weather was a little iffy, but nice overall. Then I took the girls home and got to visit with my other family. My dad never did show up, but it was good to talk to Alice. That night I went bowling with my mom and my aunt and uncle and the kids. I sucked it up, but I am used to loosing to the kids with the bumper pads.
Today I got roped into being in the ward choir. It was ok. The music was pretty and I like watching people from the stand so that was amusing :)

Now I am home and avoiding putting stuff away. Woo Hoo weekend!

I love Easter - now let me tell you why. Not only do I get to dye 12 dozen eggs and watch 40 kids roam around the field looking for them, and get to spend the weekend with my family, and enjoy spring that is finally here- but what a glorious time to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. So much time is spent celebrating His birth and commemorating his death, but the truly marvelous fact that he rose again on the 3rd day, giving us all the promise of freedom from the bonds of physical death. WOW. What love and trust has he shown to and in us to give us this gift, to make it possible for everyone to return to the beautiful Heaven we all came from.

As we move into this amazing Easter season, please know that I know that my Savior love me. I know that He came to this earth in accordance to the Father's plan. That He took everyone one of my sorrows and sins, my cares and my tears so that He could provide the peace I need in everyone of my individual trials. He gave up His life so that we could go home and so that we can be with Them forever. He loves each of us individually and personally. He died for me. He lives for me. I know He did it for me and I know he did it for you. May we strive to live worthy of this gift and be ready when He returns.

SO..I am a geek, but I am pretty sure I am a member of just about every on line match service (non paying, of course). The funny thing is that almost every one of them has matched me up with a guy that used to live with my friends. I think it's amusing... maybe he should ask me out and see if any of them are right ;)

Ok so, these are the poor little crawfish that died purely for my amusement. Tasty little guys that they are, there were just too many of them. So we had a little fun with them instead :)




These are 2 of my Baton Rouge friends, Lisa and Nita. Aren't they cute? I had such a good time :)I can't wait to go back.

Today is better. I've only been awake for an hour and a half, but it is already better. Work is work, boys are dumb, and my family loves me :) everything is back to normal:)

Happy Monday!

So today is a weird day. It started out from a weird night. I did go to the movie party last night. It was fine. The movie was long and boring but the company was good. I was just having an off day. Those girls are cute.

Today we went for a stroll around the neighborhood. It is SUCH a beautiful day here. Spring is finally here. There are storms in the plans for the rest of the week, but at least it should be rain. Rain I can do.

I'm having a slight twig about getting stuff done this week. I am sure it will be fine, but it just feels a little overwhelming.

Wow- sorry friends. I told you, today is a weird day.

That's right. This is my one hundred and first post. Wow- you haven't quit reading yet!
So today is a fat cow day. You know what I mean if you have ever had one, and if you haven't I am slightly envious. I didn't really do much but recover from the last week. 8 planes in 6 days is too many. I am all unpacked and my laundry is done. The unfortunate part about it being a fat cow day is that I have to go be social tonight. I wish I didn't like these girls, it would make it easier to just hide out on the couch.

Wish me luck.

Today I got to work in the Baton Rouge center. It was fun. I forget sometimes, what it is like to actually have people around you when you work. I am not sure I did anything super productive, but it was a good day.
After work I went to a place called Ralph and Kacoos. It was the only place I could find with gator other than fried. I ordered the blackened gator. I have to be honest, it was not my favorite. I am sure the gator itself was fine, but there was so much seasoning you could have put bubble gum in the middle and I couldn't have told the difference. Anyway - so I have had alligator.
After dinner I went shopping. I was way good. I did buy new flip flops though- they're Tinkerbell and super cute ;) I also found my favorite treat in the world- Dippin Dots. Why do I love them? No one knows really. I just do. The chocolate mint are my favorite.
Now I am chillin at the hotel. I fly out at the butt-crack of dawn, so I think I will pass out soon. I am not looking forward to the trip home, or what I will find when I get there. If I am super lucky maybe the snow will be gone.

queso, here's my week so far in a pretty long nutshell.

We flew out of SLC on Sunday afternoon, I was pretty bummed because it meant I had to miss President Hinckley's address. But, the flight was good, layover in Houston was fine, got to Baton Rouge. The very nice lady at the rental car company hands me a sheet of directions on how to get to our hotel. I put them in my pocket. Somewhere between the desk and the car, I lost them. Instead of just going back in for new directions, Jeremy decides we can find it on our own. We couldn't.

We took the wrong direction on the freeway. We make a U-ie and get going the other direction, but we second guess ourselves this was the right direction, by the way and we were within 2 exits of our hotel.) So we call for directions. She tells us to take 253, well, we were at 260 - hiding out under an overpass in the ghetto, so we turn around. Exit 253 is the exit for Port Allan. We crossed the bridge and decided we were still wrong. We called her back. This time it is exit 263. Did I mention we were sooooo close the first time? So, we got turned around, took the right exit, missed the second half of the exit and end up on the wrong side of the median, but finally got to the hotel. Steph met us at the hotel and took us to The Cheesecake Bistro where I had my first Jambalya. OH MY YUMMY. It was, wow. Clark- you have got to hook me up with a recipe for that. Stephanie also showed us how to get to the center so we wouldn't get lost with our client. Good call, eh?

Monday we took the client to our center. The client visit was very positive. But, the fun part of the visit for me was FINALLY meeting the Baton Rouge team. I love these people. Many of whom I have worked with for years and never met or seen or done anything face to face. I am usually pretty good at putting faces with voices. Not so much here. I think I was wrong, completely on 100% of the people. Doesn't matter. Now I know them, and they are stuck in my head forever :) I really do enjoy this team. They care about the center and they care about what they can do to make it successful; plus, they are the nicest people ever ;)

Monday night we went to the Fox and the Hound to watch the NCAA mens finals. LSU was not in them, so it was not as much fun as it could have been. We played pool. I sucked it up, a lot. But still had a lot of fun. Then we ended up going to the casino where they tried to show me how to play blackjack. I think I get it. I am still not going to play for money. Dude, I'm poor. Dan was freaking hillarious. He was on one for sure and we all laughed so hard. I was sad I had had so much water. We got back to the hotel about 1 AM. We had to be up by 4:30 and out the door of the hotel by 5:40 to be on a flight at 7:00. I was butt tired, but at least not hung over. Not all of the party can make that claim.

Tuesday we all made our flight :) We flew till Noon when we got to FtWorth- at two different airports. We got to the center about 1:00 and I got to meet Joe Bob. Anyone with the name Joe Bob is worth meeting. We actually had another excellent site visit. I enjoy the information sharing. It actually feels like we are really working together on things. Tuesday night we went for mexican food- come on, we were in Texas. After dinner we ended up at a pool hall. I lost a lot- again. But about 11 there was a DJ and most of the party was pretty inebriated, and I was high on life (and 3 hours of sleep) so at least it was fairly amusing. We actually went dancing for a bit - I am pretty sure I was laughing too hard to keep any kind of rythm. We got back to the hotel about midnight thirty. I had some work to do, so I did that a bit and got to bed about 2. Now, y'all know I am a sleeper, so although these times don't seem to be an issue for some of you- please know that they make me struggle.

Wednesday, since the people we were out with were the same ones we were supposed to be meeting we got a little later start. I was still up at 7, but at least it wasn't 5. We went back to the FtWorth center and I spent the morning having flashbacks. If any of you know what a WOB or a WOX or an SIU are - or know which you pronounce as as words, not initials - please take a moment of silence. It was deja vu.

So we left around 1 for me to make my 3 o'clock flight. We took the wrong exit, because I can not read directions, apparently. But we were totally fine. I finshed my book, hung out and watched the news.... yeah, plane was delayed. Not too long though, so it was fine. I got to BTR and found my hotel- all by myself, with a little help from mapquest... Ironically, it is the hotel that connects to the casino we were at on Monday. The rooms are nice, so it's ok ;) There is not an empty room in the town, so it really isn't an option.

Nita and I were going to go to New Orleans tonight so I could see it- and eat gator. It didn't happen. We did end up going to a place called Drusilla Seafood. I had my first crawfish and oyster and soft shelled crab and hush puppy and lots of other stuff. It was kind of a pass the plate around the table deal. MMMMMmmmmmmm... She was disappointed they had no gator, so she's gonna do some digging for me for tomorrow. I spent the evening with Nita and some of her family. It was really pleasant.

Well, there it is. Tomorrow I get to go to work with Lisa and hopefully I can be useful.

You have no idea how much i want to tell you about the trip i am on... i promise, if i ever get back to the hotel before 1 am, i will write the story :)

So I woke up this morning at 6. Yes, on a Saturday. My friend called last night and said she had an extra ticket for General Conference. Sweet, says I. I get to be in the same room as the Prophet- always cool. Got ready, even did my hair- yes, on a saturday ;) Well, friend called back. Turns out her brother decided to invite the girl he broke up with anyway so- no ticket for Colee. Anyway, it's 6:50 in the morning and I am way too awake.

Last night Matt came over. I attempted to make steak and potatoes for dinner... I have never really mastered the art of a good steak- and I submit to you, it IS an art. They tasted ok, flavor wise, but they were a little over done. Oh, and the potatoes were way too big. Anyway, not one of more shining moments. We also watched Chicken Little. It's one of my new favorites. Partly because you get to root for the underdog, partly because it's Zach Braff, and partly because Abbie Mallard (Ugly Duckling) gets to hook it up with the hero :) Anyway, watch it. If you want to come over, I'll watch it with you. I'll even make treats.