SOMEDay ...

FLIGHT Path

2010-10-24T19:04:00.002-06:00

I could not find a video or music stream of this song. But it is one of those songs that seems to always come to mind. It seems to resonate with me. So here are the lyrics:

Flight Path: Mason Jennings

We were standing in the flight path as the airplanes landed
The engines grew louder and our conversation ended
You stood in front of me and leaned back into my chest
In the light, in the light, in the light i knew it was best

Cause you don't love me anymore
You don't love me anymore
You don't love me anymore
You don't love me...

We walked home through the darkness, we took through the woods
I saw little lights shining through the trees that i never though i would
I guess i need to learn to look
I guess i need to learn my place
I need to learn how to deal with
This new future that i suddenly have to face

Cause you don't love me anymore
You don't love me anymore
You don't love me anymore
You don't love me...

FOR You

2010-10-19T12:59:00.002-06:00

Here in your Arms, HelloGoodbye

I like where you sleep, when you sleep next to me. I like where you sleep ... here.

Our lips can touch, and our cheeks can brush. Our lips can touch ... here.

Well you are the one, the one that lies close to me, whisper's, "Hello, I've missed you quite terribly." I fell in love, in love with you suddenly. Now there's no place else I could be but here in your arms.

DEAR LITTLE Brother ...

2010-10-15T20:05:00.002-06:00

It is almost your hump day. One year down. Another to go. I am afraid you won't want come home in a year. But we will want you to come home. We miss you. I miss you taking care of me, even though you are seven years my younger. Remember when I had my wisdom teeth taken out and you made me all the snow cones I could ever want? You make the best hot chocolate. And your chocolate chip cookies were always delicious. You always made me laugh. And you always made me feel better when I was sad. Here's to one year down and one to go. Love you!

REASON No. 62

2010-10-15T16:41:00.003-06:00

WHY IT IS NECESSARY I Move Out: After six months, I am still not sure if I am supposed to eat their food uninvited. I kind of gave up after all of the food I ever put in the fridge got eaten by someone else. But I still feel weird helping myself to their food while they are sitting in the kitchen. So some days, I just don't eat.

REASON NO. 47

2010-10-12T09:26:00.002-06:00

WHY MOVING Out Is Necessary: Strange Visitors. They were babysitting a 16-year-old boy last night. He was scared of the China dolls in the basement room, so he slept in the room across from me. With the door open.

A couple of ladies came to visit for lunch. They politely shooed me out of the kitchen where I was working and watching TV. They were even so kind as to turn the TV off for me, even though I was watching it.

REASON NO. 23

2010-10-12T09:23:00.002-06:00

WHY MOVING Out Is Necessary: I interrupted. He was praying when I went downstairs to grab a roll of toilet paper.

PARIS Day One

2010-10-01T00:07:00.005-06:00

We left London after a big breakfast, hopping on the Eurostar for another breakfast and a little cross country travel. Besides some discomfort in our ears, we never even noticed when we went through the Chunnel. One minute we were in England and the next we were in France.

When we stepped off of the train, we were bombarded with French. All of the signs were in French. Everyone was speaking French. I immediately wanted to go back to London. But we powered through. Exchanged our money for Euros. Found the bathrooms, which we had to pay to use. Bought our metro passes, where we were warned several times about muggers who would be targeting us, naive, young, American girls.

The subway was extremely crowded, and we got more than a few glares from locals who were not pleased with our luggage taking up space. We were relieved when we finally made it to our stop and emerged from the underground tunnels into beautiful Paris. I no longer wanted to go back to London. It was beautiful.

Finding our hotel was a little difficult. Once we were above ground, we had no sense of direction and didn't know enough French to get good directions. But after some wandering, we found our hotel nestled in a block among Paris' more historic-looking buildings. We checked in and took a much needed rest in our little room.

Our first Paris sight-seeing was off the Arc de Triumph. It was HUGE. And amazing. We walked around the entire thing, then walked underneath it. We waited until our last night in Paris to climb the stairs to the top and watch the sun set over Paris.

After circling the Arc de Triumph, we walked down the Champs-Elysees, did some light shopping and stopped at a little cafe for dinner. A cute old man served us and was very considerate of our fear to speak what little French we knew. I had a delicious ham and cheese crepe.

We stopped at a little shop along the Champs Elysess to buy these famous cookies:

WHERE I Stood

2010-09-22T21:45:00.002-06:00

There were sounds in my head
little voices whispering
that I should go and this should end
oh and I found myself listening

Cuz I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should

DRESS Please ...

2010-09-20T21:53:00.002-06:00

I just found this dress on Shabby Apple. And I want it.

WINDSOR, STONEHENGE, BATH

2010-09-20T20:40:00.003-06:00

We had to fight the crowd to get decent seats on the bus. (By crowd I mean a father encouraging his son to cut as all off in line after we had been standing there for an hour.) Aside from some annoying passengers (father and son mentioned earlier) and some intense air conditioning, the ride was quite comfortable. Our first stop was Windsor Castle, where the queen usually spends her weekends.

I meant to spend my time awake on the bus because I wanted to see the London countryside. But it was so cold and I was so worn out from our previous day of sight seeing, that I couldn't keep my eyes open.

Our second stop was in Bath, where we took a tour of the Roman Baths. Apparently, the Romans discovered the naturally heated pools and built a city around them. They would come to this place to vacation or to recover from illness.

Our final stop was Stonehenge. I insisted we stop here. And although Stonehenge is slightly underwhelming, it was definitely worth going to see.

THREE SMALL Words

2010-08-17T00:04:00.002-06:00

"u single yet?"

Disrupted my whole day. Can't stop thinking about what those words really mean. I overanalyze. I'm sure.

TOP 25 MOST Played

2010-08-05T23:32:00.006-06:00

I take my iPod with me everywhere. It is my best companion and has been for four years. I am pretty sure I use it more than anything else I own. I always seem to go back to the same 25 songs. And for most of these I can remember the first time I heard the song and I immediately fell in love.

SONG Artist: Plays

CLOSER Travis: 240

GOODBYE MY LOVER James Blunt: 186

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL James Blunt: 181

COCOON Jack Johnson: 164

WHAT IF YOU Joshua Radin: 164

COME PICK ME UP Ryan Adams: 160

LONELILY Damien Rice: 159

YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL Martin Sexton: 155

BLUE EYES Cary Brothers: 144

YOU COULD BE HAPPY Snow Patrol: 143

LEAVING THE GROUND Peter Maclaggan: 141

AIN'T NO LOVE David Gray: 139

IN THE SUN Joseph Arthur: 139

COLLIDE Howie Day: 135

SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT Airborne Toxic Event: 133

EZ Pete Yorn: 132

LONELY Akon: 129

COME AWAY WITH ME Norah Jones: 129

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE The Fray: 128

THE ONE I LOVE David Gray: 127

WIRES Athlete: 125

BLOSSOM Ryan Adams: 122

ONE U2: 122

SLOW MOTION David Gray: 121

WHERE DOES THE GOOD GO Tegan & Sara: 119

(Funny that my all-time favorite song didn't make the top 25. But I had to list it anyway.)

WITH OR WITHOUT YOU U2: 115

LONDON IN A Day

2010-08-03T11:15:00.005-06:00

We woke up early. (I think it would have been about midnight in Utah.) We managed to get ready even though we hadn't found the blow dyer in the desk drawer yet. And our flat irons were making strange clicking noises despite the watt converter.

Breakfast at the Marriott Hotel Regents Park was quite the spread. Eggs, bacon, ham, hashbrowns, sandwiches, pastries, fruit, yogurt, cereal, coffee, tea, juice. Anything we could dream up for breakfast. We ate fast, then sat in the lobby waiting for our taxi driver.

He got in the wrong side of his van. Then he drove on the wrong side of the road. I got carsick. Every time he made a right-hand turn into the wrong lane I thought I was going to lose my breakfast. Somehow we made it to the bus station without that happening.

The best seats were in the back of the bus. They were ours. We saw all of London from those seats. Parliament. Big Ben. Westminster. Trafalgar Square. The London Eye. St. Paul's Cathedral. Buckingham Palace. Changing of the Guards. London Tower. The Tower Bridge. The Thames. Harrods.

In honor of our day full of London, we ate fish and chips at a little pub down the road from our hotel. I think it was called the Queen's Pub. A crowd was watching a World Cup game in the bar. We ate upstairs in the restaurant (where it was nice and hot) and listened to the cheers drift up the stairs. The fish and chips may have been the best meal we ate in Europe.

YOU COULD BE Happy

2010-08-03T10:58:00.005-06:00

You could be happy and I won't know

But you weren't happy the day I watched you go

And all the things that I wished I had not said

Are played in loops 'till it's madness in my head

Is it too late to remind you how we were

But not our last days of silence, screaming, blur

Most of what I remember makes me sure

I should have stopped you from walking out the door

You could be happy, I hope you are

You made me happier than I'd been by far

Somehow everything I own smells of you

And for the tiniest moment it's all not true

Do the things that you always wanted to

Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do

More than anything I want to see you, girl

Take a glorious bite out of the whole world

CLEAN Breaks

2010-07-21T14:50:00.001-06:00

With each new embrace, I have tied myself up more tightly into you.

Oh, but the more I fight then the deeper I'm trapped.
And I can't break free of this hold that you have.

And I crave you more under the heat of your touch.
And I need your skin to ruin me.

YOUNG LONDON

2010-07-20T18:47:00.007-06:00

It didn't feel real. Not even after I had been on a plane for eight hours. The man at customs told us not to see Phantom. I wished he had told us not to see Chicago because that is what we saw. And it was not comparable to Broadway.

He asked us if we were Mormon. And then followed up with a question about polygamy. We laughed and shook our heads. No. We don't have fellow wives. In fact, we aren't even wives ourselves.

The Tube was easy to ride once we exchanged or dollars for pounds and figured out how to purchase our tickets with the help of a very nice and attractive Englishman. Our hotel was nice but no one there could understand our American English. It took us a while before we could find the blow dryer. It was in a drawer. We were scared our hair straightener was going to catch on fire with the clicking noise it was making. (We should have been more worried about the converter which we ruined later in the trip.)

Lancaster Square was like Times Square: Lots of people, lots of advertisements, lots of color. We bought our tickets to Chicago there. Probably about $40. Trafalgar Square was nearby with Nelson's Column and the National Gallery.

First dinner in London: Pizza. Salad. Luke warm tap water. Language barrier.

WELCOME TO THE World

2010-07-14T15:25:00.001-06:00

Cute little nephew ...

17 FOREVER

2010-05-01T00:17:00.002-06:00

I had to sneak out of my house last night. You would think that at my age I wouldn't have to do this. But apparently I am making up for all those years in high school when I never snuck out of the house. (Yes Parents, I was your angel child.) I was ready to go out for the night at 10:30 p.m. Thursday (in high school my curfew was 10 p.m. on weekdays) when the owners of the home I live in started to put the house to bed. Lights were turned off and doors were locked. And they said goodnight to me as I headed up the stairs to my bedroom. I guess I could have just told them I was about to leave, but I felt like I couldn't. Like I was supposed to be going to bed with the 60-something-year-olds. So I waited in my room until I heard their bedroom door close, grabbed my stuff and tiptoed down the hallway. I sidled down the stairs and the kitchen (all to my own theme music, of course). I carefully opened the creaking back door, locked the deadbolt and hurried to my car. I backed out of the driveway with my lights off and was on my way. As I was driving away I couldn't help but wonder to myself why after nearly 10 years since high school I am finally doing those things that most people do when they are 17. I have no explanation, except that it adds a little to the excitement and makes me feel like I could be 17 forever.

SWINGING Bed

2010-04-23T11:01:00.003-06:00

Aside from all of its impracticalities, I have decided I want a swinging bed when I grow up.

PUBLISHED

2010-04-15T10:21:00.003-06:00

Being published is not really a new thing for me, but I always get a little excited when I see my name in a new publication. Just one of the perks of being a journalist I guess.

Just recently, I did some freelance work for Arizona Buildings Magazine. I should have some more articles in later issues of the same magazine as well as in Oregon Buildings and Utah Buildings. So check it out.

FIND A Guy

2010-03-18T09:47:00.003-06:00

"Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep ... Wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you ... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'That's her.'"

Thinkexist.com

And I would add ... "One who really looks at you when you are with him."

BREAKEven

2010-03-10T20:28:00.002-07:00

I can't help but relate to this song.

Her best days will be some of my worst
She finally met a man that's gonna put her first
While I'm wide awake she's no trouble sleeping
Cause when a heart breaks no it don't breakeven ...

What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you,
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up that you're ok

SHOULDER Bag

2010-03-10T20:16:00.003-07:00

I love this shoulder bag. It looks like the perfect size for the few items I like to carry with me. And I love that it is gray. That means I can wear it with everything! But why do I always find things on Etsy that are out of my justifiable spending limit?

BABY Shower

2010-03-03T22:05:00.003-07:00

I decided to make my life easy and purchase personalized invites for Sister's baby shower instead of making them. Thank you VistaPrint.com.

Can't wait for them to arrive! I think they are adorable. I might be more excited for the cards than I am for the little guy. (Just kidding Sister.)

IN THE Chair

2010-03-03T22:00:00.004-07:00

I just spent 15 minutes searching the recliner for my roomie's cell phone. We could hear it ringing inside the chair, but we couldn't see it. We looked all over. We tipped the chair upside down. But we couldn't find it. The phone seemed to be ringing from inside the cushions of the chair. We were baffled. It took us tilting the chair on its side for us to finally see the phone and retrieve it.

COME AND FIND Me: Josh Ritter

2010-02-24T11:17:00.001-07:00

(The video isn't the greatest. But I think the song is pretty sweet.)

Though I'm here in this far off place
My air is not this time and space
I draw you close with every breath
you don't know it's right until it's wrong
You don't know it's yours until it's gone
I didn't know that it was home ‘til you up and left

Come and find me now

I keep you in a flower vase
With your fatalism and your crooked face
With the daisies and the violet brocades
And I keep me in a vacant lot
In the ivy and forget-me-nots
Hoping you will come and untangle me one of these days

Come and find me now

THE HOURGlass

2010-02-16T11:50:00.003-07:00

My Boss keeps an hourglass on his desk. I have never seen him use it. But I use it. Whenever I have a meeting with him and we are interrupted by another person or a phone call and he gets distracted I turn the hourglass. I watch to see how long I am sitting in his office waiting. I usually turn the glass a couple of times before he gets back to me. And sometimes I get distracted and forget to watch it. So I don't really know how much time I spend waiting. But every time I am in his office and see the hourglass I know that I will be waiting and watching time go by.

WALMart

2010-02-03T20:54:00.003-07:00

Sometimes I wish I was brave enough to take pictures of the people I see at my local WalMart. But since I am not, and in honor of my trip to WalMart tonight and the many interesting people I saw there, take a look at this site: PeopleofWalMart.com ... Here is one I found on there from Utah:

Whenever I look at this site, I can't stop. It is like a train wreck that is too horrific to look away.

CAT'S Cradle

2010-01-30T23:38:00.002-07:00

I didn't really understand this book while I was reading it. And I am not sure if I understand it now. But as I was thinking today about how some people are brought into our lives for certain reasons Cat's Cradle started to make a little more sense to me. I was thinking about how we don't always get to be with people we love, the role they play in our lives, no matter how long or how short, is very important to our eternal progression. Kurt Vonnegut Jr., who wrote Cat's Cradle, refers to the people who leave a lasting impression on our lives as a karass, or a group of people who work together to do God's will. It seems to me that we are all pieces of a puzzle somehow.

On the other hand, some people seem to play no important role in our lives. They are gone as quickly as they came. Vonnegut doesn't address this situation directly, but he does talk about a granfalloon, or a false karass in which people think they have a connection which does not really exist.

But what I believe to be the most important type of person in Cat's Cradle is one's significant other, one's better half or one's duprass. A duprass is two people whose lives are so intricately entwined, that according to Vonnegut, they always die within a week of each other. But this leaves me wondering. Do we all have a duprass? Is there exactly one person out there for each of us? Or are there many people who can make up the other half of one's duprass?

SOMEDAY IN Europe

2010-01-26T19:43:00.006-07:00

It hardly seems real. But in just more than five months I will be in Europe! That means I have five months to figure out what I will be seeing while I am in London, Paris and Rome. It will for sure include the following:

BOB Dylan

2010-01-21T08:37:00.002-07:00

Sometimes I feel like he knows exactly how I am feeling. Like today when "Not Dark Yet" shuffled on on my iPod:

"Behind every beautiful thing there's been some kind of pain ..."

LOVE This

2010-01-12T12:09:00.001-07:00

I am not sure why. But I do.

Found it on Etsy, of course.

MY CHRISTMAS List FULFILLED

2009-12-22T16:02:00.007-07:00

Since I plan to do some traveling this year, I thought I would buy myself a carry-on bag. Happy Christmas to me. :) The one a bought isn't red. But it does have polka dots! Should be easy to spot in the airport.

The Wii was on my I-really-want-this-but-know-I-will-never-get-it Christmas list. So I was more than thrilled when I unwrapped this package. Yay for the Wii!!!
Another Happy Christmas to Me was a bed frame. I bought one, and then took it back because it was the wrong color. I think I will be using the refund to by myself a Wii Fit to go with my Wii!

... Oh, and I can't forget the typewriter necklace and earrings (which I posted about previously) given to me by Mother and Sister. I love them (the gifts ... and Mom and Sister)!

INVersion

2009-12-22T15:58:00.003-07:00

I thought (and was hoping) I left this behind in Cache Valley.

(Photo from the Deseret News)

Hopefully the snow will clear things up a little.

REASONS WHY I Like What I Do

2009-11-10T09:50:00.003-07:00

Sometimes journalism can be a thankless job. And then sometimes you get emails like these:

"Congratulations! Just read the article and it's a really great read!! It's extremely comprehensive and well-written, full of interesting and colorful content,, and provides a palpable sense of the strong bond between Randy and his grandfather. Thanks so much for your interest in doing the article and for producing such a fine story. We're just delighted with it." Sharon Peters, PR manager for the Institute of Real Estate Management

"Well………..it looks like you’ve got the gift, girl!! You are a talented writer and I am very pleased with the article. Plus, it was also very enjoyable learning about you, your publication, and the challenges facing the world of print media. You should also be very proud of the genuine compliments from Sharon Peters at IREM HQ about your writing. She is a pro, has had a long career swinging in the “big circles” and is still very well connected in New York and with major media outlets like WSJ and others." Randy Woodbury, VP property management for Woodbury Corporation

Read the story they are referring to at www.RealEstateNewsUtah.com: Woodbury VP Elected President of International Real Estate Organization

ME and LITTLE Brother

2009-10-31T19:18:00.002-06:00

I got to spend some time with Little Brother before he left for his mission. He invited me to the Real game with him. (Someone very nice gave him tickets for his birthday.) Before the game started, my neighbor nudged me to tell us that we were on the big screen. The "Kiss Her" big screen! We didn't know what to do. We just sat there shaking our heads. Way awkward. I couldn't kiss my brother!

MAYFIELD Off Road

2009-10-04T13:11:00.006-06:00

I was disappointed I wouldn't see the autumn colors in Sardine Canyon this year until I saw this ...

... in Mayfield Canyon near Manti, Utah. The ride was beautiful.

We even chanced a black bear sighting!

TYPEWRITER Keys

2009-10-03T10:40:00.003-06:00

I saw bracelets like this one at the farmer's market in downtown Salt Lake City and fell in love.

BABY ANIMALS at the Zoo

2009-09-28T17:57:00.006-06:00

I got off of work a little early and spent the afternoon at the Hogle Zoo with BF. The weather was perfect. And we got to see all of the baby animals.

The much anticipated Baby Elephant.

The baby Giraffe.

And the baby Tigers.

PUMPKIN

2009-09-28T17:47:00.005-06:00

Turns out I was growing pumpkins, not zucchini or squash.
Giant pumpkins.

There is one more growing on the vine. I am hoping it turns orange sometime soon.

FOR SALE

2009-09-12T11:33:00.005-06:00

I made a recipe book for my mom last Christmas. I typed all of her old, worn-out, food-covered recipes (Sorry Mom) onto new recipe cards and put them in this little photo book covered in cute paper. She loved it! (Well, at least that is what she told me.)

I was so proud of my idea and how well it turned out that I decided to see if any one else might like this handy little recipe books and posted one on Etsy.com. I plan on making a couple more to sell too.

From EDITOR to MARKETING Director

2009-08-28T16:48:00.003-06:00

My first big project as marketing director. See it at 230 E. Broadway, Salt Lake City.

Who knew that in eight short months I would start a new job, create a new Web site and then become director of marketing?

MY BIRTHDAY With My Roomies

2009-08-25T00:10:00.004-06:00

Since I was in Vernal on my birthday, my rooomies decided to take me out for dinner a couple of days later. I decided we should eat sushi at Happy Sumo since they convinced me to start eating sushi in the first place. We tried a bunch of different rolls, Sweet Pea, Sunshine, Playboy. (I don't really know all of the names, those are just guesses.)

After dinner, we went home for strawberry cake with cheesecake frosting. Yummy! Roomies even sang 'Happy Birthday' to me!

PHOTOGRAPHER Wanted

2009-08-18T23:28:00.003-06:00

I am not sure why, but from the moment the man entered our office something about him felt off. He seemed nice enough. And his product was impressive. So we kept him around. And we paid him, even when he demanded immediate payment. We usually appeased him. But this time we could not. Our accountant was out on military leave for two weeks. So we told him he would have to wait. I guess he got tired of waiting. Ten days after we received his invoice and after many requests for his money, he showed up in the office expecting a check. When I told him he would have to wait a few more days, he became angry. He said that wasn't good enough and demanded to talk to the owner. The owner was unavailable. I gave him an accountant. He yelled. Called our accountant and me a liar. And then threw the publishing company under the bus. Our accountant agreed to get him his check – His last check from us. Now we need a new photographer.

(I thought I left angry people when I left the newspaper. Turns out they turn up everywhere.)

RUN BABY Run

2009-08-06T21:29:00.005-06:00

I am not a runner. Nor have I ever been. But I am trying to become one. I run sometimes. It seems to be extra hard for me. To run. It always has been. But it is nice to have someone along side me. Encouraging and pushing. It helps. A lot. And no matter how hard it is, or how sick I feel while I am pounding the pavement, I always feel better after. I feel healthier, more awake and proud of myself.

I decided to run today. I wanted to try to push myself. I picked a 2 mile route and started my jog/walk. When I was about halfway to my destination a car full of guys drove past and yelled at me, startling me. Immediately after, another car full of guys drove past the other direction and yelled, "Run B*&%# Run."

I wanted to cry. How can boys be so mean? Why are they so mean?

THE Call

2009-08-05T23:07:00.002-06:00

The excited chatter turned into a quiet, pregnant pause as he tore into the envelope. His hands were shaking as he pulled the letter out. He read each word in anticipation of this:

Osorno Chile LDS Mission

Two years. In a foreign country. Speaking a foreign language. Living a foreign culture. Teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

He enters the MTC Oct. 28.

USU PIZZA Lady

2009-07-31T09:53:00.002-06:00

Lunch was always a dilemma when I worked at The Herald Journal in Logan. Usually it would take us an hour before we could agree on a place to go. Although Logan is pretty small, we had plenty of options: Old Grist, Great Harvest, Fredricos, Firehouse, Juniper Takeout ... Sometimes, we would go to the Hub at the University. Then we had options. I usually went for a Marv 'N' Joe (tomato and cheese on toast) from Hazel's because it was cheap and tasty. But this lady, the USU Pizza Lady, was always there, promoting her pizza. To be honest, she scared me a little. But at least she was entertaining.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

PUMPKIN or SQUASH?

2009-07-17T17:21:00.010-06:00

All three of the seeds my Mom gave me back in April are full-fledge plants now. They are growing in my backyard garden. And I have been harvesting zucchini from them (well two of them) for a few weeks now.

It turns out, one of those seeds was not a zucchini. It is something completely different. I'm just not sure what it is. At first I thought it was a pumpkin because it started growing little round fruits from its vines. Then I remembered pumpkins start out green then turn orange. Then I thought maybe it was a spaghetti squash. But those are more elongated and a little more orange. Maybe it is a mix. I'm really not sure. But other than the color, it really looks like a pumpkin.

Also, one of my zucchini plants isn't looking so healthy. The leaves look like someone spilled milk on them, and half of its fruits turn yellow and die before they have time to mature. I'm not sure what is wrong with it. Something is eating both of my zucchini plants, but they aren't squash bugs, which is way good. I guess I don't mind too much as long as I still have zucchini to eat.

I also acquired a tomato plant to add to my little vegetable garden. It seems to be healthy. It has little green tomatoes all over it. I can't wait until they are ready to eat!

HIGH STREET Classic

2009-07-17T15:17:00.002-06:00

... My interior design personality according to the ISCD quiz.

I collect key pieces over time.
Rich and luxurious objects appeal to me.
My home is a temple to all I love.
Beloved memories fill my home.
I balance function with excess.
I enjoy the finer things in life.
Trends are integrated into my home.

I think it describes me pretty well.

SILVERWARE Jewelry

2009-07-17T13:42:00.005-06:00

A friend bought me a silver spoon bracelet a while ago (I can't remember where she got it) and I love it! I thought these spoon earrings found on Etsy would go well with them. But I think 3" might be a little too long.

I also really like this necklace by the same Etsy seller. I have a new found love for all things green. (Well maybe not all things. But most things.)

And I've been eyeing these flower rings, which are all over on Etsy. I just can't decide what color I want. I really like the black ones. But the pink ones are cute too. Maybe a white one ...

PUBLIC Drunkenness

2009-07-13T10:39:00.003-06:00

A man was lying face down on the pavement of the Arby's parking lot which kitty-corners my work parking lot. It was about 9 a.m. He looked dead. We watched his body. It appeared lifeless even as the hot sun beat down on him. He was all dressed in black. And he wasn't moving. We called dispatch. Then someone got brave and hopped the fence to get a closer look. He was breathing. He woke up, groggy. Then the cops showed up, with an ambulance and a firetruck. They searched and handcuffed the man and chatted with him for a while. Then they let him go. I think he may have been cited, probably for public intoxication. I only wish I had taken a photo of him face down on the ground.

SUNSHINE

2009-07-08T09:01:00.002-06:00

Just had this song in my head this morning. Makes me think of sunny, summer days much like today.

FREE JEEP, Wife

2009-06-30T11:18:00.001-06:00

I had to share this KSL ad. Although I am guessing it isn't for real.

Free '92 Jeep Wrangler...

Midvale, UT 84047 - Jun 30, 2009

...with proposal and wedding ring.

That's right! Act now on this one-time offer. All you have to do is date and marry me and you can be the proud owner of a 1992 Jeep Wrangler (along with a 1970 woman). Jeep has a lift, safari top for the summer/hard top for the winter, rear locker, 33" tires and (new this year) an 8000 lb winch.

Not only do you get the Jeep, but you get me. And boys, I don't come stock. I am FULLY LOADED! My add-ons include: a great sense of humor, an affection for "garage nights" (that means working on stuff in the garage), an amazing work ethic, temple-worthiness, an appreciation for sports, the ability to live well within my means, logical reasoning skills, a "work hard so you can play hard" mentality, and I'm great with kids, too!

Terms and Conditions:
1. Marriage must last a minimum of 5 years.

2. Jeep cannot feel neglected - trips to Moab required - but it's a package deal. You take the Jeep, you take me!

3. Honda 400EX included in lifetime package.

4. Honeymoon required.

Contact me at wedding.jeep@hotmail.com

CUPCAKE Calamity

2009-06-30T10:46:00.003-06:00

I decided to make these Lemon-Cream Cheese Cupcakes for a dinner party with my brother and his family. Everything was going smoothly until the oven accidently got turned off mid-bake. We didn't realize this until five minutes after the timer had gone off and the little yellow cakes still weren't rising or solidifying. We turned the oven back on, hoping to save our dessert. Unfortunately, we let them cook for a little too long. So we ended up with have-risen, not-quite-burnt-bottom cupcakes. Once the cupcakes had cooled, my niece helped me frost them. And they ended up being really tasty. How can you go wrong with lemon and cream cheese? I think I will have to make these again. But next time we will try baking them at 350 degrees for the full 21 minutes.

NEWSPAPER Basket

2009-06-09T13:24:00.002-06:00

I'm not sure why, but I am intrigued by things made out of newspaper. I have to admit, when I saw this newspaper basket, my first thought was, "Who would want a flimsy basket made out of newspaper?" I am still thinking this. But I thought the general idea was good. And if I really, truly liked the sort-of-recycled look for home decor, maybe I would give it a try.

DP

2009-06-04T13:55:00.002-06:00

I thought I had gotten over my Dr Pepper cravings ... until today. I do still drink it occasionally, but it has been a while. I can't even remember the last time I had the drink. (I swear I was never addicted.) But all I really want is the Berries & Cream Dr Pepper and it has been discontinued. Guess I won't be breaking my Dr Pepper-less streak.

CAN YOU Read?

2009-06-01T09:39:00.002-06:00

A coworker forwarded this email to me. I found it quite mind-boggling. And yes, I can read it. Can you?

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

HIGH SCHOOL Graduation

2009-05-31T19:35:00.002-06:00

Here is a shout out to my Little Brother. He graduated from Lone Peak High School this last week, and I couldn't be more proud of him. Congratulations Little Brother!

THE GRAND Canyon

2009-05-31T19:12:00.004-06:00

The Grand Canyon is a place I think everyone should try to see at least once in their lives. The vista is breathtaking and takes only a few minutes to see. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, the average visitor spends 17 minutes actually looking at the canyon. We spent a little bit longer, walking a trail along the South Rim. I think if I get a chance to go again, I will either be hiking down into the canyon (I hear Havasupai is gorgeous) or taking the Grand Canyon Railway for a different experience.

(My Mom took this pic of me at the South Rim. I think she was trying to be artistic, hence the blurry canyon and in-focus evergreen. My blue lips are from a Raspberry Ring Pop. A man who sounded like he was British was really confused by my blue lips and mouth when he asked me to take his picture.)

ONE Sentence

2009-05-21T10:11:00.003-06:00

Even though the author of this One Sentence is no poet, I thought what he said in 20 words was beautiful. And if I am ever self-conscious and overweight from having children, I hope my husband feels the same way about me.

PLUMBER'S Crack?

2009-05-19T11:49:00.004-06:00

I saw this article in The Salt Lake Tribune and wanted to share.

Got Plumber's Crack?
Get in on the coverup

Let's be honest: We've all had a case of unsightly plumber's crack. Ever since low-rise jeans became a fashion staple, unsuspecting passersby have seen more than they may have wanted when a fashionista simply needed to tie her shoes, pick up something she dropped or even sit in a chair.

But several boutiques in the Salt Lake Valley now stock accessories to prevent unwanted exposure: The Hip-T -- created by Christine Meeks and Kelley DeSerpa, of California -- and the Texas-based JAK's by Miss Oops!, are basically tube tops for your waist that make shirts look longer without the bulk of layering.

Really? We can't just buy shirts that are long enough or pants that are high enough to cover said cracks? I think a tube top around my waist would drive me crazy. Maybe that's just me though.

So, out of pure curiosity, I checked out the Web sites, www.myhip-T.com and www.missoops.com. Well, Miss Oops had a few more fun fashion solutions, like popper stoppers, nundies and mishap tape, that I felt were worth mentioning.

'HAPPY RED SHOE Day'

2009-04-22T17:42:00.003-06:00

That's what the cashier told me when I purchased these shoes at DSW the other day. I think he was more excited about my purchase than I was. Don't get me wrong, I am excited for my new Madeline Morgan Platform Slingbacks (which I got at about half price), but for the first time in my life I feel like I need a pedicure before I can wear them. Then I have to see if I can find anything in my closet that goes with red shoes.

GROWING Pains

2009-04-16T19:18:00.003-06:00

My Mom gave me three zucchini seeds (at least I think they were all zucchini, one was bigger than the others, but she assured me they were all the same) to plant in my garden. I planted them a little more than a week ago in a little pot I decoupaged, and they are starting to come up (at least the two that looked legit). Now if it will only stop snowing so I can plant them outside soon.

NEED TO GET Closer

2009-04-16T18:35:00.007-06:00

Closer.
Lean on me now, lean on me now.
Keep waking up without you here.
Another day, Another year.
I seek the truth, We set apart,
Second glance, A second chance.

Closer, Travis, The Boy With No Name

That is my favorite Travis song, and I got to hear it live! I went with My Roomies to the Travis concert at The Depot the other night. We had so much fun. The venue was sweet. And the band sounded awesome. The lead singer, Fran Healey, even came down off of the stage and danced with a girl. I guess it was what you would call an intimate concert.

AND IT Starts

2009-04-12T23:17:00.008-06:00

I was wandering around Barnes & Noble looking for the Alchemist (I will be putting Uncle Tom's Cabin on the shelf again. I will read it Someday.) when I heard this great song playing in the store. I listened intently while I flipped the pages of a coffee table book of Italy (I will go there Someday). Then I scribbled down part of the lyrics so I could go home and find the song on YouTube. The song: Sometime Around Midnight by The Airborne Toxic Event. I love it! I gave in and bought the Joseph Arthur album last week. I may have to do the same with this band.

FRESH Fish

2009-04-09T09:52:00.007-06:00

The other day, my Roomies decided it was time for me to try Sushi. So after much discussion on where the best Sushi restaurant was for a first-timer, they decided on Mikado in Cottonwood. Since the menu looked to me like it was in a foreign language, the Roomies ordered a couple of different rolls for us to share, including the Connect, the Vegas, the Playboy and the California.

I am not sure what has made me avoid Sushi for so many years. I think it was just the thought of raw fish. But when our server brought out the plate of food, I was actually excited to try this delicacy. And I was pleasantly surprised. It was quite tasty. Next time (I guess My Roomies eat Sushi a lot) I will have to take some of my own pics to share.

Photo Courtesy Nevada Magazine.

PARTIAL to Puppies

2009-04-03T20:11:00.004-06:00

I think someday when I can have a puppy of my own I want a golden retriever. But I am a partial to shelties since I grew up with them. Plus look at this guy's cute little face. And his name is Romie! I want him.

MORE Tunes

2009-04-02T18:02:00.003-06:00

I heard a song, You Are the Dark, from this album, Redemption's Son by Joseph Arthur, today, and now I really want to buy the album. I'm sitting here trying to come up with reasons why I shouldn't make the purchase. The only one I can think of is that I really shouldn't spend the money. I have no will power. I think I am going to have to get it. I just love this kind of music. (Oh, and the YouTube link doesn't really do it justice.)

QUILTING Quanundrum

2009-04-02T17:36:00.003-06:00

A few months ago I bought seven yards of white fleece with the intention of making a cute, really big blanket. I found some really fun fabric by Amy Butler that I want to use for the top side of the quilt, but I am having a hard time justifying the cost of the fabric. Then I went out and bought a new duvet for my bed anyway. So now I will probably have to wait another couple of months before I feel like I can spend $60 on fabric.

LAUNCHED

2009-04-02T17:29:00.003-06:00

This is what I have been working on for the past two and a half months: Real Estate News Utah. We finally got it online today. So check it out, and let me know what you think.

HOW ABOUT Orange

2009-04-01T22:42:00.002-06:00

So I found this blog and absolutely fell in love with it. I couldn't stop looking at it. There were so many cute, crafty ideas. Now if only I can find the time to do all of them! I am for sure making time to decoupage some pots. I figured it would be a good way to use all of my newspaper clippings that are just laying around not doing anyone a bit of good.

NEWSPAPER Jewelry

2009-03-18T13:08:00.004-06:00

As a fan of newspapers and a fan of jewelry, I can't tell you how excited I was when I found this Web site. Newspaper and jewelry combined! My personal favorites are the sudoku bracelets and the loser lottery tickets necklace (although lottery tickets aren't technically newspaper). Too bad I am too cheap to spend $80 or more on recycled newspaper.

VIRGINIA FOOD Tour

2009-03-13T00:00:00.005-06:00

We began a quick, five-day food tour of Virginia shortly after arriving in Washington D.C. My aunt and her fiancee were our tour guides. (I think finding tasty — often obscure — eateries is their thing.)

Peking Gourmet Inn was our first stop. We ate delicious Chinese (the Szechuan Beef) surrounded by walls of photos of famous (mostly political) people who had eaten there too. It was a little surprising on the inside, considering the restaurant is housed in a strip mall.

The next day we tried Willard's Real Pit BBQ. I love barbecue — especially shredded pork. And I loved this place. (Also located in a strip mall.)

Saturday for lunch we had a little E-Cow — short for Epicurious Cow. This was a curious little restaurant/grocery store in the middle of the Virginian countryside. The burgers were quite tasty. And the staff was quite surprised when my little brother ate an entire burger — one of their special burgers topped and bottomed with grilled cheese sandwiches.

For brunch one morning we ate at the Rail Stop Restaurant. The menu was quaint, the French toast was delicious and the staff was friendly.

Uncle Julio's was our dinner stop. Once we had food on our table the conversation was put on hold while we stuffed ourselves with chicken and steak fajitas.

Backstreet Cafe in Middleburg, Va., a little restaurant located off the main street in this little tourist town, was our last diner in Virginia. I had pasta drenched with a creamy sauce and topped with chicken and vegetables. The portions were huge, and I wished I could have brought the leftovers home with me.

Although our food tour was over, I decided I needed to try a Chicago-style hot dog during our four-hour layover in the Chicago airport. It was pretty good for a hot dog. But nothing can beat the hot dogs sold on the streets of New York.

FLESH Wound

2009-03-12T22:17:00.003-06:00

The aforementioned caution found on my new curling iron didn't say anything about burning flesh. I found out the hard way when I accidently brushed the hot iron against my arm.

(The photo doesn't do the burn justice. It looks pretty bad in real life.)

SHE WILL Be ...

2009-02-24T21:58:00.004-07:00

... Missed. Goodbye to my loving aunt who was an angel on earth.
Someday we will meet again.

"This moment keeps on moving. We were never meant to hold on."

Adrift, Jack Johnson

EYE BURNING Caution

2009-02-17T22:42:00.003-07:00

Really. Curling irons can burn eyes. Who would have thought?

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE Bliss

2009-02-17T22:28:00.003-07:00

I made this Triple Chocolate Bliss Cake for a birthday. It tasted just as sweet and blissful as it looks.

I used strawberries instead of raspberries just because of the price difference. For the same reason, I substituted the BAKER's semi-sweet chocolate squares with semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Needless to say, we all enjoyed this birthday treat.

GOODBYE Red Air

2009-02-04T20:59:00.012-07:00

I can't help but be glad I no longer live in Cache Valley when I hear weather reports that call for single digit temperatures and continued inversion. In fact, Cache County was the only county in the state this morning that was still under a Red Air alert.

As for here, the high was 45 degrees. (It doesn't feel like much, but after a couple of months of winter, especially winter in Cache Valley, it feels quite pleasant.)

For more information on Red Air alerts, visit this site. Or watch The Herald Journal for stories on air quality in Cache Valley and what officials are going to do about it.

CALZONE Made Easy

2009-02-03T18:42:00.006-07:00

"I'm like a drug dealer. I got the guy hooked. I'm having lunch at his desk every day this week… just him and me. He doesn't make a move without me."

Seinfeld: The Calzone

Yummy, easy-to-make calzones made by Sister. The Secret Recipe: Rhodes Rolls (squished together and rolled flat) and pepperoni, bacon, chicken and/or pineapple (really any toppings you like placed on half of the dough). Fold the dough over the toppings, seal the edges and bake until golden brown. We dipped ours in spaghetti sauce. Makes a mean calzone.

BACK to the Future

2009-01-29T22:59:00.016-07:00

A fellow journalist directed me to this YouTube video. I found the clip a little ironic considering the current state of the newspaper industry. At the time of the report, eight newspaper systems in the United States had joined a "computer network" much like what we now call the Internet.

David Cole of the San Francisco Examiner made an interesting observation about the network.

"This is an experiment. We are trying to figure out what it is going to mean to us as editors and reporters and what it means to the home users," Cole said. "And we are not in it to make money. We are probably not going to lose a lot, but we are not going to make much either." (If only that were true.)

Steve Newman, the science editor for Newscenter 4, must have unknowingly foreshadowed what the industry would face due to this new system.

"Engineers predict a day will come when we get all our newspapers and magazines by home computers," Newman said. "But that's a few years off. So, for the moment at least, this fellow (a man at a news stand) isn't worried about being out of a job."

Also of note: I loved the caption for Richard Halloran. "Owns Home Computer"

BREAKUP Text

2009-01-23T08:07:00.007-07:00

Apparently the roomie interview did not go well. I received the following text message about a week after I had told the girl I wanted the room:

'Im so sorry i havent responded yet, Ive been waiting on my roommates, at we decided on a girl that is better fit for our apt. But u were so cute. If ud like i can give ur name to someone who is looking. Sorry and good luck'

I didn't bother to respond. But I am a little curious why I didn't make the cut.

WHERE WE CAN Shine

2009-01-20T20:34:00.006-07:00

David Gray: Shine
Don't be hiding in sorrow
or clinging to the past
with your beauty so precious
and the season so fast
and hey, no matter how cold the horizon appears
or how far the first night
when I held you near
we're gonna rise from these ashes
like a bird aflame
take my hand
we're gonna go where we can shine

AND THAT was ....

2009-01-20T20:03:00.007-07:00

The Herald Journal.

More than five years and five different positions: customer service representative, editorial intern, agate editor, Franklin County/Preston, Idaho reporter, assistant features editor. (Photo courtesy The Herald Journal. Page layout courtesy Me.)

INNOCENT Traitor

2009-01-17T09:20:00.007-07:00

From Goodreads.com:

"Historical expertise marries page-turning fiction in Alison Weir’s enthralling debut novel, breathing new life into one of the most significant and tumultuous periods of the English monarchy. It is the story of Lady Jane Grey–“the Nine Days’ Queen”–a fifteen-year-old girl who unwittingly finds herself at the center of the religious and civil unrest that nearly toppled the fabled House of Tudor during the sixteenth century."

A ROUGH going

2009-01-07T14:40:00.004-07:00

Three Cups of Tea: I gave it a valiant effort. Nearly three months. I just couldn't finish.

THAT GOOD

2009-01-05T20:32:00.006-07:00

IN-N-OUT Burger: The line, although quick, was nearly out the door. The tables were full. And the food (cheeseburger, fries and a strawberry shake) was as good as they say.
Maybe someday we can eat at one of these in Salt Lake City.

CHRISTMAS Morning Goodness

2009-01-05T20:25:00.004-07:00

Eggs Benedict: An English muffin. Leftover ham from Christmas Eve dinner. A poached egg. And some Velveeta cheese sauce.

ADIEU Cache Valley

2009-01-05T12:43:00.007-07:00

Goodbye the good, the bad and the beautiful. It has been quite a ride.
Photo courtesy former Herald Journal photo editor.

Hello adventure.

SOMEDAY

2008-12-27T18:10:00.002-07:00

: At sometime in the future.

Someday we gonna rise up on that wind you know
Someday we gonna dance with those lions
Someday we gonna break free from these chains and keep on flyin'

:Flipsyde

Here is to all of your somedays, to all of my somedays, and to all of OUR somedays.