Holy Colee!

I went with my mom and Cannon to the Jazz/Spurs game on Monday night. We had a great time! And we won, which was, I must admit, kind of unexpected. (Notice how I say we, like I am part of the team ;) ) It was Cannon's first ball game as well as his first trip on Trax. We decided we have GOT to get him out of town more.

When we got home from the game we were pleasantly surprised with a barrage of hearts and confetti and treats on our doorstep. We were the "victims" of a heart attack. It was fun. I should probably take them down, but I like coming home to it, so I've left the hardier ones on the door ;)

Mom and Cannon have gone home now. It's pretty quiet around my home. They could have stayed a few more days and I wouldn't have felt too bad. Stupid school and work ;) Of course, I had to work both days they were here, so I probably wasn't much fun anyway.

Life is good.

So, I am a little slow, but if you haven't yet seen Enchanted - I recommend it with out reservation. It is cute. That's really all there is to it. You'll sing along with the songs you've never heard before, and then they will be stuck in your head. If it weren't such a cute movie on it's on, the cast is great. I love Susan Sarandon and McDreamy, well, enough said. It's well worth the night out. If you don't believe me, well, come on over when it comes out on video, it will shortly there after be a part of my collection :) Thanks Matt for the movie suggestion:)

This weekend my mom and Cannon are spending time with me in "the big city." We went to see the grandparents today and on Monday night we're going to the Jazz/Spurs game. Go Jazz!

Work is going well. I finally got my vacant positions filled and we're ready to get organized. I am excited!

Mmmmm, I think that's all. It's pretty quiet here :)

I am sitting here tonight, remembering vividly why I wasn't going to keep watching the auditions. It's seriously painful. However, I did appreciate it when Paula started to sign the Brother's Forever song.
On a MUCH happier note, I booked my flight to Hawaii yesterday- yes, really- I am going to Hawaii! I have been invited to go on the sales trip with work. I was hoping that someone from my team would be able to qualify, but it didn't really happen. I'm kind of disappointed, but it has definitely given me a new challenge for finding something that they will think is rewarding.

I'm open to ideas.

Incase you were wonderin' - American Idol starts TONIGHT!!!!

Ok, so I have decided it's not worth watching the auditions anymore, but regardless, I am excited for the new season.

Happy Watching!!!

So, I sent John's Christmas present on the 15th of December. It finally got to him on January 9th. Christmas overseas gift sending helps us understand the true meaning of "snail mail"
The happy part is that he got it :) It was just a cheesy box of random prizes, but it made him happy, and that was the point :)

Oh wait, they forgot to ask. For some reason I just got paper. I am curious as to the reason. The only good one I can think of is the store being out of plastic bags. Paper bags are hard to carry. So instead of taking one trip from my truck to the house, I have to take 2. Also, plastic is more likely to be reused in my house. Plastic bags make good garbage liners in bedrooms. Paperbags, not so much. Also, is there something that says because it's a paper bag you can put bread and milk in the same one?


Ok, other than the rant about paper bags - life is good. I got enough groceries today to last a couple of weeks, and everything was on sale, so I only spent $30. Not bad I say. I am back in my home for a while. I have only one trip on the business agenda and it is not until later in the month. And they are sick of me at home home, so they told me to stay away for a while. :) Anyway, so lucky ol' SLC will have to deal with me at least until I can change their minds ;)

I have decided that I probably should not be allowed to read. I get a little too wrapped up in a good story, I forget to sleep, and my mood is completely overtaken by what I am reading. I just finished reading a trilogy of books recommended by a friend. Each book took just less than a day, but I almost couldn't stand to put it down long enough to work or sleep. The books were a little intense, and my mom kept telling me I was moody - but honestly, I blame the books. People were dying or almost dying and they were always in some kind of danger and.... yeah, anyway. Now, I have been done with the books for 3 days and still I can't get the people out of my head. What happened after the books ended, did they get married, did anyone else get hurt, what happened with the Vulturi??? ugh
Anyway, if you want a good story, the books are called Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. They are written by Stephanie Meyer. They won't take you long to read, but if you pick up one, you may as well pick up all 3. The 2nd book was by far my least favorite, but only because it made me so sad I could physically feel the pain she was in.... I really am a geek. I freely admit it.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I have no resolutions to make - I am open to suggestions :)

For lack of originality, I am posting the letter that I sent with my Christmas cards this year.... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

While it seems like a billion things have changed this year, I must admit I am struggling to think about what to put in this letter. I am still working with Convergys and I am still in Salt Lake. I have been a home owner for a year now. That has been a little bit crazy. Last January when it was SOOOO cold, my kitchen pipes burst. I learned a couple of very valuable lessons, like where the water shut off valve is, AND that family and friends are awesome. I made a couple of tear filled phone calls and in a few hours, Jeff and his boys were here to rescue my carpets. Another couple of calls and I found out how to use my home warranty to get a plumber here – on a Sunday afternoon emergency. The end result was a new kitchen remodel with the majority of the cost being paid by the insurance. Talk about a blessing in disguise. I also had my bathroom remodeled – that one I had planned ;) If you are ever hanging around in Salt Lake, come on over. It’s been almost a year, but I still like showing it off :)
Cannon turned 8 this year. Can you believe it? He was baptized in May. He asked yours truly to give a talk on baptism, and Aunt Janet to speak on the Holy Ghost. It was a very special day and now a very special memory. In July Mom had surgery and came down to my house to recover (or at least hang out with me until she could go back to work.) It turned out to be the most perfect thing that could have happened. A couple of days into her recuperation, she ended up taking me to the emergency room where I was diagnosed with kidney stones, which resulted in me having surgery 2 days later. If mom had not been around, I would have been alone. And you know me, I am stubborn. I would have never actually gone to the emergency room on my own.
Work let me travel again this year. I got to visit our sites in Cincinnati, Houston, Laredo, and Baton Rouge. The Baton Rouge trip was great because it coincided with Mardi Gras, and we managed to take a night trip down to New Orleans. Eric, our friend/ tour guide, tried to tell us what it was like before Katrina. It was interesting to see the after effects and to see the city trying to come back to life. I also got to spend 10 days in Jacksonville, FL. I was there over a weekend so I got to visit St Augustine (the countries oldest continuously inhabited settlement) and The Kennedy Space Center. The best part of Jacksonville was actually getting to spend time with my coworker/friend Curtis and his super cute wife Amy and getting to meet my friend Brian and his wife Liz and adorable daughter, who I had heard so much about for 3 years now :)
I had 2 favorite parts of the year. One was 3 weeks right in the middle when the guy I’ve been talking to online came to Salt Lake. His name is John. He is from Manchester England. We had a fabulous time. I made sure he saw all the typical Salt Lake attractions, and then we spent a week in Dingle as well. It must have gone well; he thinks he wants to come back and stay on a little more permanent basis. We’re working on that.
The other favorite part was my trip to Cancun. It was freaking fabulous! Mom and I got to leave the country, spend some time in the sun and just enjoy an all expenses paid trip paid for NOT by us :) Thanks Convergys! It was really great; and spending a week away from a cell phone or internet connection and spending it WITH the person I would have wanted to call and tell all about everything anyway – what could be better?
The year has been far from smooth, but it has been filled with blessings and even more with learning to recognize them. I think the greatest thing I have learned this year is just how much my Heavenly Father loves me. While this year has seen more than its share of difficulties, it has also seen more than its share of joys. The trials and sorrows that have been experienced this year have been life altering, but I have never even had time to doubt that He is aware of me, before I turn and He has blessed me again.

Merry Christmas, Loved ones!

So, last night I met the lady I want to be when I am middleold. Her name is Kathryn. She is a coworker of my roommate. She doesn't know me from Eve, but we went to a Christmas party at her house last night and it was just... comfortable. She was so happy to see us, even though she'd never even met me before. She was happy, laid back, excited about what was going on all at the same time. Plus she made some pretty stellar fudge. Even though we were only there for a short time, I have no reason to think she didn't mean it when she said she would love for us to come back... Anyway, there is your random thought for today.

Ok, so I have been so bogged down in work the last week, I haven't even had time to think, let alone type something that didn't have to do with staffing, so when I came across this email, I had an epiphany. I will post it for you to read - then I don't have to type or think, and I can still blog:D

Summary of My Year on the Computer!


I must send my thanks to whoever sent me the email about rat poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet towel with every envelope that needs sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000.00 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special email program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking a man along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr. Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put, 'Under God' on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face... disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore and Uzbekistan

I no longer have any sneakers - but that will change once I receive my free replacement pair from Nike.

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

Thank you too for all the endless advice Andy Rooney has given us. I can live a better life now because he's told us how to fix everything.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

Oh, and don't forget this one either!

I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!

If you don't send this email to at least 47,000 people in the next 47 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:47 p.m. this afternoon and the fleas from 47 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's Cousin's beautician.

Have a wonderful day... AND a scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain and sexual activity read their email with their hand on the mouse.

Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.

So, I am posting this before the results show so I can't change my mind. I really think Mel B should win dancing with the stars. Now you know. I might be a reality show junkie... I like Dancing With the Stars almost as much as American Idol, I just don't know enough about dancing technicalities to pretend to critique it. I just like what I like.

Thanksgiving was great. We had 36 people at our dinner. Even better, we had it at Kelly's. Dinner was tasty; the company was great. After the dishes we played games and snacked ourselves stupid. The scale is not my friend this week.

Friday we chose to do our "psycho shopping" in Montpelier. We sat in our car until they waved us in at 6:00. We got our phones/radios/jump drive and then went for hot cocoa and breakfast while we waited for the other stores to open. The funny part is that when we got into the second store, I walked over to the electronics department to pick up the 3 DVD/VCR combos that the ladies I was with were shopping for. Turns out they were the only 3 in the store. The women who were shopping behind me were LESS than impressed. I just kind of shrugged and walked away. I won. Seriously, in Bear Lake???
Anyway we went to a 3rd store and then went home. We were home by 8:30. Friday afternoon we went to the Montpelier craft fair. They hold it at the Oregon Trail Center Museum. It is WAY to crowded and it makes it not very fun to shop at. Friday night I spent being sick.

Saturday - feeling MUCH better - we went to the craft fair in Paris. Much better layout, I still didn't buy anything, but at least I wasn't being smashed into. After this we went back to the Montpelier craft fair - it's a 2 day event ;) As we were leaving I got reminded that Santa was there, so we took Cannon and Heather in to get their requests in. I asked him for a visa... I figured it couldn't hurt to put my request in, too. He might have connections with the US government, who knows really - he IS Santa....When we got home, we put the tree up. There are a few more ornaments within Cannon's reach than at the top, but that's why it's fun.

I ended up not going home on Sunday. Bear Lake High is putting on "My Fair Lady" this week, and Angelia is in the cast. I figure if I am going to be a good sister, being there is more important than whatever was waiting in Salt Lake.

Ok, so... I am really working on finding something more interesting to tell you folks about than my living log, but so far I am struggling... I am open to suggestions

I am pretty sure that tomorrow is my 3rd favorite holiday of the year. The 4th of July is my fav, and Christmas is second, so 3rd either has to be Thanksgiving or Easter. It might actually be a tie. The food is better on Thanksgiving (we've never really been Easter Ham makers) but the premise of Easter makes it pretty darn important.... ANYWAY....
Today I am home with the kids. I have a few more days of PTO to burn before the end of the year, so I figured I could stay home today and bake the rolls for tomorrow. Notice the "b"ake not "m"ake. I actually do make an ok roll, but we're lazy, and I am not really in the mood to make enough rolls to feed the 40ish people we're expecting tomorrow - so Mrs Rhodes is our friend. We did the same thing last year, so I figure they must know what they are in for if they keep assigning us the same part of the meal.
I just dropped Tylyn and Cannon at Kyla's birthday party. Heather decided to get sick this morning, so she is sitting at home with me watching PBS. Anywho, it's pretty quiet around here now. I was going to hang the rest of mom's Christmas lights on the garage, but it's bitter nasty cold out side, so I am putting it off. It's these bitter nasty days that remind me why I don't mind so much living a few hours south of here. We still get the cold, but not nearly as much, and not nearly as long.

OK, well I should probably take advantage of the down time and get something accomplished. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! (And if it's not Thanksgiving where you are - give thanks anyway. I don't think there is a day where we can possibly do too much of that)

Last night was quite traumatic. I actually had a pretty decent couple of games, but about half way through my second game my ball got stuck. This is not all that uncommon, when we bowl on lane 3 we have a lot of balls that forget to come back. However, when you see all the other balls come back and yours is not one of them - you should get nervous. So, the back room guy brought my ball up... it was scratched ALL over, and not just external scratches, and not just a couple... The bowling alley kept my ball. They are going to "make it right." Should I be nervous? My poor sweet ball was less than a year old and now it is in for repairs. I can't help but feel a little nervous...

Is it just me, or does all the good stuff in a salad always end up on the bottom? Last night as I was putting away leftovers from dinner, I realized, all the effort I went to to add my favorite vegetables to my bagged green salad had gone to waste. The tasty little treats had managed to settle to the bottom of the bowl in the tossing process. And they had been left behind, neglected... What is the point of tossing a salad if the good stuff is just going to settle anyway?

Ok, so I could probably go on for a while drawing similes to life that would continue until the explanation that I ended up having them for breakfast, but I think I will spare you the drama.

Life is good. It is Friday eve. Which is the next best thing to Weekend eve. This weekend I am starting my Christmas shopping. I do NOT love Christmas shopping, but I DO love having it done. Unfortunately they tend to go hand in hand. So, start I must.

After a fun day of wandering around store after store trying to think what trinket or gadget my loved ones don't already have and MIGHT be able to find a use for I get to go to Dingle :) If I can finagle it, I will only have to work 2 days next week... fingers crossed. Then it's a week of random Thanksgiving traditions, but really - aren't random traditions what make life worth living?

This week we rediscovered skype. Thanks Dav. Free international phone calls - well, skype calls. It's great to be able to hear a voice and NOT have to worry about how much it is costing. YAY! That's all I have to say about that.

It's been a busy busy week, and actually I have another one lined up. The end of the week is what keeps me going - I am starting my Christmas shopping on Saturday :D Unless that is Mom's friend changes her mind.

I officially love November. The turkey dinners started this weekend. My ward cooked and served dinner for the older singles in our stake. We also got to eat it, and take leftovers home AND we had it for dinner after church today. Seriously, I LOVE turkey and cranberry sauce. My weigh in this week is NOT going to love it.

So, last night my aunt Kelly hosted a murder mystery dinner. It was super fun. For those of you who, like me until last night, do not know how this works, here's the run down.

You choose 8-10 guests and assign them characters. They will come dressed to be in the "play."
As the host you prepare the scene. Prepare the table with assigned seats and props. Prepare the meal (or assign guests to bring part of the meal.)
The night of the dinner guests arrive and are given scripts. Part of the skit is on CD, just the part that sets the scenario and helps move from act to act.
We chose to do dinner in courses with the scene changes. Dinner was great, playing the part was great, watching everyone else was great. Honestly a good good night. I am putting some pictures up - if you're wondering, yes my family is completely crazy - but it is the VERY best kind.

My fam :)


Billy the Kid and Poker Alice


Jack Daniels - the Bartender


Cattle Kate - Wyatt Earp's wife


Blaize West - the Saloon singer


Jack again :)


Calamity Jane - Kate's daughter


Billy the Kid - Belle's son


Belle Star- Jesse James' girlfriend (Jesse is the one who was murdered)


Doc Holliday - the mayor


Poker Alice - she owns the Crystal Palace Saloon

There's not really a WHOLE lot going on, but I thought I'd take a minute and wish everyone a happy holiday :) I am spending this Halloween at my mom's house. My home ward is putting on a trick or treat Community Dinner. So, at least we get a treat while we pass out treats to the kids ;) Should be fun. It's kind of random, since we don't actually have any kids to take, but that's alright, too :)

I am actually taking some time off the rest of the week. Maybe I can get over this nasty cold... lots of sleep and chicken soup. Isn't that the rule?

Ok, so really that's about it from the exciting land of Dingle. I am going to a murder mystery party on Saturday, as well as the annual Dingle Turkey Shoot. Tomorrow we're getting family photos taken and Friday is an insurance banquet. You know you're jealous :P

So, my friend Robin teaches school. Twice a year they take the kids out to this amazing place called La Caille, for dinner. La Caille is located near Emigration Canyon which is where some of the ski resorts are... ANYWAY, it's usually very expensive, but for the kids they have a deal where they serve them outside of normal business hours, and it's only $28 a plate. the point... the point is that Robin invited a couple of us to come with them. I got there a little early so I took some pictures to show you what it was like :)



This is the restaurant.


There are cottages all around the grounds. This one is close to the main building. I imagine that in the spring and summer it is even more lovely.


The grounds are so very pretty. Again, with I can see even more promise in a different season ;)

LaCaille is also a winery. I liked this picture with the grapevines and the mountains... that's all. I just liked it.

One of the things we got to try is escargo - yes really, I ATE a SNAIL!!!!! It tasted like butter and garlic. It was actually really good. I would eat it again, but I don't think I would really order it.


And for dessert we had Bananas Foster en Flambe. They served the icecream and then they came around with a gravy boat full of caramel and bananas that they had put a bit of rum on top and started on fire. It was hard to see because the atrium was so bright, but it was still cool to eat icecream that was on fire. Looking at dessert was cool. Eating dessert was actually my least favorite part. The caramel was good, the icecream was tasty, but the bananas tasted like burned alcohol. I ate about half of it before I gave up.

Anyway - it was a great night! My friends are cool :)

Look how cute we are. Okay so we kind of look a bit scary with the sunglasses, but they were a life saver ;)

So it was a lovely Saturday. I had a lie in til work started paging at 7:30... evil I tell you, evil. I managed to stay in bed until 9 :) I got my walk in, ran to wal-mart for some stuff for my fam, and then came home watched more episodes of Gilmore Girls, talked to John, and then went to our ward's Pinewood Derby. I borrowed Robin's car. It totally won.

Last night, I think I officially became old. We went and got pizza, came home and watched Gilmore Girls that Monica borrowed from the library. After a couple of episodes I was wondering if it was getting to late to just sit in the tub for a while.... I was pretty sure it was 9:30 ish... yeah, checked the clock. 7:33...
How old do you have to be to think it is almost bed time at 7:33???????????

Yeah, I am officially an old maid.