soap box

Okay, here is the thing....

I am tired of hearing about Jon and Kate plus 8. Seriously. We know that Jon is a jerk. We know that he is just..... ew. I don't think I can finish that sentence.

But truly, Kate- take some self esteem classes or something. All of this... waaa waaa, I married the wrong guy and now after 8 kids, I know the truth. (not that you aren't to blame, sistah! We all saw you bellowing at him for 5 season on tv!)

But when I am watching coverage of last nights People Choice awards, and YOU are the subject of most of the stories because you decided to "grow your hair out". *cough*... It means that I am tired of seeing your dumb face. Go home, raise your kids. All 8 of them....

Things that I learned in 2009

1. Moving back "home" is a lot harder than it looks.

2. Training with a personal trainer is one of the best things I've ever done. (thanks, Brooke)

3. I can run a 5k.

4. Going brunette is the best hair decision I've made to date.

5. I still love Gilmore Girls

6. Switching to Diet Coke was a huge decision. But the right one.

7. I don't like contacts. And now need to wear glasses while reading and using the computer.

8. Getting a tattoo in Vegas not smart but a lot of fun. Getting it re-inked in SLC=painful.

9. Sometimes it is great to have my dad act like a dad.

10. Still in love with Edward after all these years.

11. I'm ready to go back to school and finish my degree.

12. Using a flat iron isn't as scary as I thought it would be. (I am usually strictly a curling iron gal)

13. 2010 has a lot of promise. Let's go.

it's elementary

Gotta tell ya- really looking forward to this movie!!

ambush

I thought it would be fun to take my friend Lisa and her husband Tyler to Afternoon Tea at the Grand America, on Saturday. What a cheerful and charming time we had. I have been before, but I think it was a bit magical with the lights and the snow coming down outside. (you can watch the snow from the huge window just behind the piano and harp players.)

We ordered hot white chocolate and lovely little finger sandwiches.

And then Santa came. Oh yes! In all his red glory with his lovely wife, Mrs. Claus beside him. Jingling his belt and "ho, ho, ho"-ing all through the tea room and lobby of this beautiful hotel.

This is when I noticed all the children sitting at the other tables! Yes, this was the Saturday that they had their "Christmas Tea" and Santa came to visit. I thought it was absolutely lovely. Until my friends and I were ambushed by Mr. and Mrs. Claus. As you can tell by our faces, we didn't ask nor were we aware that every table go a picture with the Claus'. They wiggled their way right onto our couch and tea table just in time for the photographer to say, "1, 2, 3...." SNAP. Our complete surprise is now forever documented in this lovely keepsake picture that you receive at the end of "Christmas Tea".

to cut? Or not to cut....

Okay folks! This is where my blog becomes "interactive"! Yay... Do I cut my hair like in the blue shirt? Or should I just hang on a few more months and have the long hair?

crazy souvenirs

I had a hard week. Heck I have had a hard 6 years! So I got a tattoo. Yup! (sorry Aunt Lu! I know you are reading this....)

My friends and I went down to Las Vegas for some R & R ... and I came back with a tattoo. I have been thinking about it for a few years... I have wanted one for about that long. So I thought - this is my time....

It was painful, and I'll never do it again.. but I love love love the one I have. Here are some photos to document my torture and then the end result!

rescue

This past Sunday, I taught Sunday School. It isn't usually my week to teach, but I am going on a road trip this coming weekend and needed to switch with someone. I think that was divine intervention.

I taught on the rescue mission of the Willie and Martin handcart companies. I know the stories of those destitute pioneers fairly well. But to actually teach the stories turned out to be quite an emotional experience. Those poor saints!

Which brings me to the story of "my rescue".

Eight years ago my mother's doctors told us that there was nothing else that they could do and that it was "a matter of weeks". I think the number thrown out was 3-8 weeks. Not a lot.

I was in Utah at the time living with a couple of girls and going to school. I was poor, as most college students are and didn't have the means to make the trip to Chicago. I was beside myself and didn't know what I was going to do.

That is when I got a call from a friend from High School. Stewart Barney. He called to tell me he was on his way out the next day with his pick up truck to come and get me and my belongings so that I could move home and be with my family. He made the 20+ hour drive to Utah. While he was here for the 4 short hours that we went down to Salt Lake to see Temple Square, my mother passed away. Stu was here for 5 hours total. I had enough time to pack up my things and pack them in his truck and we made the trip back to Chicago- another 20+ hours.

I am still moved by this act of kindness. We were 22 years old, and he was so amazingly kind to do that for a friend. It is truly amazing.

So when I think of those saints that made the trip back-the 400 miles- and I think of how selfless those men were, I think of my own selfless friend.