Holy Colee!

Happy Halloween!!!!

Ok, that's out of the way.

Have you ever needed a hug so much that your body actually hurt? I think it is a shame that we live in a world where physical contact is so taboo. I grew up in a home full of hugs and squeezes and holding hands. All of them very proper and clean. It is how I knew my mommy loved me and that my friends would always be there. I miss it.
I now live in a world where a hug will get you sent to HR and holding hands is too big of a committment. I can not honestly think of the last time I came into contact with another human being for more than a handshake. My soul hurts.
It feels like my whole world is falling apart and nothing can fix it. I am angry at people I shouldn't be angry at. I am pushing people away for no reason. I want to go to bed and not wake up til sometime next Saturday.
I really really just want a hug.

Due to a recent conversation full of questions I could not answer, I have decided to pose a few to the general public- or the readers of my blog... PLEASE leave your answers in the comments. Feel free to leave them anonymously, but please leave them.

#1 - What makes a girl (boy) turn into a friend instead of a girl(boy) friend?
#2 - What are the top 3 reasons a girl (boy) is unkissable? (Please put a star next to the answer that applies to me- I can't fix it if I don't know what's wrong- remember this is anonymous. And I know one of them has to apply, because apparently I am)
#3 - What is your biggest turn off?
#4 - Besides looks- what is the first thing you notice about the people (yes, both genders) you meet?

Ok, for today that is all.... more to come

Did you know Chicken Curry does not have curry in it at all? I do now.... It does have EVERY other spice you've ever heard of, and a few that you haven't. We made 2 versions last night. One with tomatoe, one with out. I don't know... it was ok. The rice was tasty.

Wow... you know your life is boring when you spend your blog time chatting about chicken curry.... HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!!

Have I mentioned how much I am enjoying my cooking class? Tonight we learned about presentation. About the only thing I learned about that was beauty is in the eye of the beholder.... everyone liked my sexy lemon flowers except the teacher :P

But besides that we made Salmon Oscar. We flambe'd the salmon, cooked the "k"rab, made the bernaise sauce - with Hiro's "special" ingredients, and steamed the asparagus - apparently to perfection, I have never had asparagus before, so I have nothing to compare it to. I am pretty sure it was the sauce's "special" ingredients, but the words I would like to use to describe this meal would probably make my page go against the Convergys Acceptable Use policy. Let's just say, if you ever come over for dinner and this is the meal I am cooking, be prepared for the best you've ever had. "The best what?" you ask.... "Just the best" I respond slyly, "really.... the best."

This is my Shahnee. If you could see my hair better, you would know that she did a FANTASTIC job on her first color weave. She has some fascination with my hair being straight - so she did that, too.

I am spending the weekend with my cousin Shahna. She is in Rexburg going to beauty college. I decided I was tired of my hair color, so I am letting her change it. I am enjoying just being with her and her roommate. To be 18 again.....

Anyway, we went into Idaho Falls to shop for shampoo, yes, shampoo. I was super excited to find the brand I have been looking for for 3 years - and not only that, Shahna get's 50% off :) It's a super duper day...
Ok, the purpose of this entry is really to tell you about the cute little restaurant we stopped at. It's called "Wrangler." I get a little nervous about mom'n' pop places, but it was busy, so we figured that was a good sign. Anyway, the food was fine, but as we were enjoying our chicken sandwiches, we were treated to a harmonica concert :) This table was full of cute little old ladies. One of them just broke out her harmonica and started playing. Shortly after, her friend was walking around the room backwards trick or treating. She had a witch that when you pushed on her head, she spat out candy corns... When I get old- I am going to be cool like that :) I am giving serious thought to picking up a harmonica and a how to play book. Anyway, it was a truly enjoyable dining experience.

7:00PM AST

I am sitting on a model airplane with a 12 year old pilot after a 3 hour delay on my way from Halifax to Newark and HOPEFULLY on to SLC. Apparently there have been some wind delays in Newark. I'm taking bets on whether or not anyone on this flight gets thru Customs in time for their connections.
On the bright side, I do have a window seat. I love flying above the clouds. It is easy to forget that beneath they are dark and heavy when from the top they are so pure and soft.


10:00 EST
Heaven is smiling on me today. We got to Newark, cleared customs, claimed and transferred baggage, and got back thru security to find that my connecting flight had been delayed 1.5 hours. Instead of leaving the same time my Halifax flight landed, I now had time to get some dinner, call home, quit freaking out about being stuck in NJ overnight...
Speaking of food - I think I like Continental's snacks the best. They are... what is the word.... interactive. Sure it's just cheese and crackers, but at least I get to spread the right amount of cheese and make a choice as to whether or not to add the meat. Of course, I always choose the meat, but that is another conversation.
Also speaking of food- what is up Pepsi-Co?! How did we let Coca-Cola be the only supplier of every airport and plane???

On a more random note, we flew over Manhattan tonight. I can not think of an angle where that is not just an amazing city......

who's grand idea was it to serve a ball of shredded cabbage with your meal instead of finding some kind of actual vegetable? Is cabbage really that much cheaper than corn or beans or even lettuce? I think someone should figure ot just how much cole slaw is thrown away every year, heck, every day and see how many starving children could be fed if they could just find a way to make it palatable....

Ok, I just needed to get that out of my system...
Today I woke up in Nova Scotia... I am not actually sure what town I was in, but it was a hotel, and right near the Halifax Airport. My alarm clock said 6, when it went off, but my body was in rebellion and screaming that it was only 3. So.... I drove to Digby. I missed my exit, but I was only lost for about 20 minutes, which is not too shabby for me. The drive is BEAUTIFUL. The fall colors are just starting to show and it was just a nice morning. I spent the day in the center not quite as focused as I had hoped, but I think we had some good discussions. It was nice to put some faces with names and voices.

I went to a cute little place for dinner called the Shoreline Restaurant. They are about 3 days away from closing for the season. In the lobster tank I saw something that is supposedly a 1 in 20,000,000 thing - a BLUE lobster. He was stunning! If I think about it tomorrow I am going back with a camera. Anyway, they are going to set him free on Sunday when they close. He deserves to grow old.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank network television for the idea of rerunning the current season's shows on a different day of the week. I love LOST!!!

Today was kind of an odd day. It started out as one of those days where cheesy 80's love songs don't seem quite so cheesy and you catch yourself singing along to them on the radio.... then I got to work and my computer could not start Windows (blasted Bill Gates). There is no mood spoiler I know like being at work an hour before the computer guys are thinking about waking up and not being able to log in.

It is crazy how much we have come to depend on computers. I vaguely remember having a job that did not require a computer to do the smallest task, like provide the times and numbers needed to be on your required calls. I have also decided I am in the wrong business. I want a job where I get to tell people I will do something when I have the time. I'm thinking of taking computer programming classes and applying for an IT job.

I did have a lovely day of sitting on my boss' desk and just chatting about stuff. Work stuff, home stuff, stuff stuff. Poor guy, like he doesn't get enough of that being a bishop. I'm gonna miss him. It makes work a lot easier when you feel like your boss actually cares about you.

Needless to say, at the end of the day, I still do not have a computer to work on tomorrow. I'm going in late.

Oooooooooooooh my! I am feeling better and better about taking this cooking class. Tonight we made "Chicken Jerusalem." But don't let the name fool you- there is nothing kosher about this meal. Included in this meal are the best sautee'd mushrooms I have ever been privy to. As well as artichoke hearts and a cream sauce. We paired it with a rice pilaf. Oh, really, I know I am getting too excited about something as simple as chicken, but there is little else going on right now ;) Today I miss having people to cook for more than I have since leaving Logan.

I need a boy- just to have someone to cook for... I ask for very little else, just someone willing to make pleasant sounds while he eats my food. For the many of you that have played that role in the past, I miss you. Come visit, eh?

Next week, while I am gone, they are making Italian food (yes, he is taking a tour around the world) When I get back we get to bring a friend to class and show off our new skillz :) Any volunteers????

Next week I going to a couple of centers to facilitate some trainings... does it worry anyone else that I am training something I haven't done for over a year???? Shhh- don't tell anyone, maybe they'll never guess. The best part is I actually get to meet some of my team- woo hoo! yea! for meeting people you talk to everyday!!!

Oh yeah, for any of you that may have my work cell phone number - it's been disconnected. I am not avoiding you. If you want to talk to me, I am now only using my personal phone. If you don't have that number and think you should- send me a note :)

Tonight I learned to Square Dance. I was a little skeptical at first, but once I got started, I rather enjoyed it. According to Matt I caught on relatively quickly. I think he may be a little dillusional. None the less- it was entertaining. I even managed not to twist the ankle until almost the end (a small miracle for me since I am a clutz with a capital K).

Anyway... that's about it. Work was a long day, but pretty productive I think. I am doing interviews for a position in Baton Rouge. Interviews are interesting. I think it almost absurd that we are supposed to make a decision on who can best do a job after talking to them for only about 20 minutes. Also, after 7 1/2 years with this company, I am FINALLY getting sent to a site other than the one I live at. Woo Hoo :D

I love going home. I can't think of a better place to hide out and deal with a cold. My mom let's me sleep all day if I want (which I did a pretty good job of today)

There was a new addition to my home when I went home this weekend. The cat my nephew called about last week. Her name is Stripes. She is hyper active and extremely playful, and her favorite place to sleep is ON MY HEAD. Anyway... it was an interesting weekend.

Friday I took 3 of my cousins to the Bear Lake High School Homecoming Parade and JV Football game. We totally kicked Declo's trash. Our Varsity team, not so much. Saturday we worked in the yard to get it ready for Winter. Today I slept in, watched General Conference and my mom made a prelude to Thanksgiving Dinner and my aunt and uncle and their kids came up for lunch.

I warned you on the first log that my life is boring.... now you know, I wasn't lying. I never lie.

Today we learned how to make Thai Soup and a new version of Chicken Noodle. Ok, so maybe it is not the most humble thing for me to say, but I like my Chicken Noodle better than his; but the other soup- TASTY! It was full of stuff I'd never used before (ie. lemon grass, straw mushrooms, lime leaves) and some stuff I have just never thought of putting in soup (ie. ginger root and lime juice.) I'm enjoying this class, not because I can't cook, but because it is giving me new ideas about how to use things. Next week we are cooking food from Jerusalem. Should be interesting....

Soup is one of my favorite parts of autumn. I don't think you can beat sitting at home with a bowl of warm soup watching the rain outside while reading a good book. mmmmm I am trying to psych myself up for the change of season that is becoming more and more inevitable :)

So... I got a phonecall this morning from a very excited 6 year old. Apparently my mother got a new kitten this weekend and my nephew couldn't wait until after church to call and tell me about it. Normally calling me at 7:30 in the morning is ok, but not on Sunday. Dude, I have 1:00 church. Sleeping... SLEEPING.

Ok, really, it's ok. I love that he gets excited and wants to tell me things... I miss him.

So, I am taking this class with James and Heather called "Cooking for Singles and Couples" yeah, whatever. It's supposed to be helping us learn the art of spices. Tonight we made the best hashbrowns I have ever had. OH MY GOODNESS. Also we learned how to make omelettes... nothing new there, really. But I am excited about the class; it's gonna be fun. The teacher's name is Hiro. He is this cute little Indian man who cracks jokes and then tells you he is joking, just in case you missed it.

Anyway, next time you are coming over, give me a heads up and I will share with you the tastiest potatoes ever.

So... I went to my ward activity tonight cuz, well, let's face it, there's this boy (who DOES know I exist, he just doesn't care much) .... but also because it is time I get to know more people. It was actually a pretty good time. While we were chatting with some other girls I realized how silly girls really are. These girls are beautiful, fun, smart, and all in all fabulous and they are sitting there chatting about how all these boys are out of their league. WHAT?!?!?! was all I could think. Honestly- fabulous girls. I know what I am hiding behind, but these girls got nothin.

Girls! You are FABULOUS, FANTASTIC, AND GREAT. Don't let anyone tell you are not, cuz you are. If you need me to write you a list - just say the word. No boy is out of your league, infact, if anything, you are out of theirs.

So, last Saturday I bought a new DVD player, my old one had given up the ghost. When I went to put a movie in it, I noticed there was already a disc in the machine. My first thought was "who's great idea was it to give you a dvd with set up instructions for your dvd player?" but then I looked at the label "art" on the disc.... yeah, it wasn't a set up dvd. It was porn. WHAT THE H? I'm pretty sure it is illegal to distribute porn to minors... and I am pretty sure it is not illegal for minors to buy dvd players.
I destroyed the disc before the thought of marching back to the store came to mind, so Wal-Mart got a stern letter. I am pretty sure I will never hear back.

Oh the trauma.

PS- We're going to the Utah State Fair tonight- woo hoo!

I think my favorite food in the world is toast. There are a few reasons.
1- It's easy. Unless you don't have a toaster, then it becomes a little less convenient, but still possible.
2- It's versatile. You can eat it plain, as a sandwich, with butter and/or jam. It goes under my mom's turkey stew. It's good dipped in hot chocolate. AND you can have many different kinds of toast, depending on the type of bread.
3-It's cheap. Let's face it. Bread is about the only thing you can still buy for less than a dollar. Cuz, even boring bread makes good toast.

Yup. Toast.

"And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I can build a ship" (1 Ne 17:51)

or manage a team, or make new friends, or try new things, or find a new job, or figure out this spreadsheet, or keep my sanity.

I can't do it alone. But if it the desire is honorable and good - I can get help.