Hop on pop and Green Eggs and Ham

This weekend I invited my niece and nephew for a sleep over at my place. I called their mother earlier and sought permission on the one condition of their good behavior. Aeja informed me once I picked her up, that she almost ran out of ‘chances’ that week, but she did have one remaining.

We first went to Macy’s and talked about what we wanted for dinner. Aeja desperately requested lasagna while Colman first wanted hotdogs, then changed his mind to ‘boy’ cheese sandwiches. (Not grilled cheese, but boy cheese.)

It was at the grocery store I learned an important lesson: Little kids never forget. I guess a few months ago Aeja and Coleman were reading Green Eggs and Ham. I told them the time when I was in the first grade and my teacher brought in some real green eggs and ham. Now, I’m somewhat of a busy young adult and I totally forgot this story. However, Aeja reminded me that I told them next time she and Colman were at my house, I would make them green eggs and ham. I hurry and added ham and eggs to our shopping list. (And just to let you know—food dye is expensive!)

Then we hurried and went to Jump on It in Lindon. I’m sure it’s a little kid’s dream place! It’s the size of a open warehouse with 10,000 square feet of trampolines and other jumping or blowup devices to bounce off of. (My tactic in this was having these kids as tired as they could be by bed time—I’m pretty sure it worked.)

We went home, had dinner, (which Coleman decided he wanted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches instead, and then changed his mind to a complete fruit dinner). We brushed out teeth—(somehow pulling teeth is easier than brushing them!) read scriptures and said prayers. I blew up a queen size air mattress , brought out my body pillow, their pillows, down pillows and six different kinds of blankets for their bed. I popped in Wall-E and we stayed up until 10:00 watching it. (I hate to brag, but I’m a pretty cool aunt!)

The next morning at 7:00, Coleman woke me up by whispering in my ear “It’s time to make green eggs and ham!” I let the two hop in my bed and watch cartoons while I ‘magically’ created this fictional breakfast. Some things are cooler to look at than to eat. . .and this was one of them.
All in all it was a very good experience! They were very good kids and I know I’ll never forget it. I have learned many things from that sleepover.

1) No matter how much fun you’re having, never try to hold it
2) Remind a person about a promise that was made
3) Find complete joy in simple things—like jumping
4) If you really want to eat something for dinner—eat it
5) Sleep with lots of pillows and blankets
6) Fall asleep to your favorite movies
7) Read your scriptures
8) Tell God everything in your prayers
9) Never lose your sense of wonder
10) Laugh!

50 years

I went to Macy’s today for lunch. I purchased a few slices of dill havarti and smoked gouda cheese, a tangelo and a powerade. (Really, with a lunch like that, how can I not drop the pounds!?) I’m on my way out the door I see a couple which reminds me of an experience I had in New York. I totally forgot about this moment until today and felt I just had to write it down. It was one of those experiences where if you were with me, I would have shared with you when we got back to the car and needed a subject change. . .
I interned in New York City for a few months. At the time, Governor Olene Walker and her husband were the government official volunteers. I loved working with the Walkers! I loved going out on assignments with them and learning from their experiences.
All three of us were making our way from Queens back to Manhattan late one night. (We were actually coming home from the US Open, but that’s a different blog for a different day.) I was sitting on one side of the subway train, and the Walkers were together on the other. It was rather late, on the 7 Train and I was just being cautious. (Yeah, I know it was Queens and not the Bronx, but I’m still no dummy!) For maybe 5 minutes, a young man—who was maybe 19 or 20 was sitting next to me and kept eyeing Governor and Myron Walker. It was as if he analyzing them, trying to figure out a life story by the few minutes he shared with them. He was definitely born and raised in one of the rougher parts of New York and I’m sure his resume would include something like ‘guaranteed survival on any street in any city east of the US and then some.’ I remained alert and cautious, but tired not to look paranoid.
The train made a few stops, taking us closer to the middle island. And then the guy he mumbled something.
“How long you two been together?” He nodded his head towards the Walkers.
“Oh, about 50 years,” was Myron’s reply.
Wow. Fifty years. That’s twice my current age! I’m sitting here even now thinking about what all I could see with a person for 50 years—a half a century—a few generations even. The number was impressive to just say, but the way Myron said it was what made this experience stick with me.
The Walkers are just normal people. I saw them argue. I saw one waiting for the other to get ready for an evening event. I saw them work and negotiate together. I saw how he held to door open for her and how she would still wink at him.
When Myron said fifty years, the young man just gawked. They engaged in small talk until we arrived at our stop.
I don’t know if the Walkers remembered this or even if the New Yorker did, but somehow, on my lunch break back in Utah, I remembered that. . .
Fifty years. . .

Because I'm gone, it's gone

FYI: Once again, I had meetings all day long and my candy dish of chocolate fudge covered pretzels were all gone, (save the itty bitty crums) when I got back at 4:30. Oh, the aggravation! I'm putting dehydrated Brussels sprouts in there tomorrow! Muha ha ha ha!!

Don’t take candy from strangers!

I’ve been working at my job for about 8 months now. For a beginner job, I love it! Co-workers are great, work environment’s great—they only thing I could complain about was wearing the dress and nylons every day. (It’s just every consecutive day since May 5, 2004 I feel I’ve been stuck in a frumpy dress and fingernail polish spotted nylons! I’m ready to go back to when I worked in a car shop! Give me those jeans and sweatshirt with the smell of car grease! That was a good job. . .)

I was quite intimidated when I first started working at LDS Philanthropies because of all the new faces. (I always hate being the new kid—everyone seems to know you, but how are you supposed to line up 300 names and faces?!) I felt needed to meet everyone and learn to adjust sharing turf with them. My solution to this problem was a candy dish, (which has also helped with my secretary spread !)

There’s been all sorts of different candy in that dish—chocolates, Jordan almonds, Swedish gummy raspberries and even truffles! The whole point of this dish, (which is strategically placed so anyone who’s walking past my cubicle can see the bright array of sugary sweets,) is to have people stop by 5x5 ceiling-less work box and talk to me! (Co-Workers: I want to get to know you!)

With this is mind, I’d like to share with you this week’s events:

Monday, January 12: Noticed my candy dish, (which I stole from my mother) was empty and desperately needed to be filled.

Tuesday, January 13th: I dropped by the BYU Bookstore and purchased a ½ lbs of Valentine colored Jordan Almonds and placed them in the candy dish in my cube.

Wednesday, January 14th: Very few people stopped by to talk to me and/or take my candy.

Thursday, January 15th: Was in a meeting from 8:00 to 5:00 in the Student Athlete Building, resulting in my absence from my regular 313C LDSP Building residence.
Friday, January 16th: I arrived at work at 7:58 and noticed an empty candy dish. My heart was broken.

People take my candy when I’m not even in my office!!! AURGH! What’s the whole point to the candy dish when I’m not here?! I guess people have a candy complex. They only take it when no one’s looking. I’m tempted to leave a sign stating:

“Please feel free to take these delectable, delicious pieces of heaven when I’m here so I may get to know you better. If you choose to take some when I’m absent from my desk, please fill out the attached survey stating where you’re from, where you graduated, how many kids are in your family and do you know any eligible, wealthy, smart, tall with a totally rockin’ bod, LDS men that you can hook me up with? Thank you, and have a good day.”

(Okay, that last part about the guy just might be a violation of HR, but I just had to squeeze that in there somehow. . .)

I mean, it’s not like my work actually tries to do things to build teamwork! We should have events where we do things like rafting and celebrate the Olympics and use our talents at huge conferences. Hmmm, now that I think about it—I guess we do things like that . . . maybe I should take advantage of those things to get to know my co-workers better. . .now that’s a good idea.

This was our "Lighting of the Torch" for the LDSP Olympics. (You can't beat a sparkler and a chocolate drumstick. Gives new meaning to Fire and Ice!)

Our fearless Janalee (Staff Assistant of Athletics) gives her all in the spear throwing contest!

And the crowd cheers on the athletes!

The tough girls of LDSP. (That's my boss standing above me.) Okay, so not everyday we're in a dress!
It's a messey job working here. But hey, somebody's gotta do it!

Water--An essential part of life

A watched pot never boils. I beg to differ.

I have actually sat in front of my stove with a stop watch to see how long it would take a pot of water to boil. (You may think I have nothing to do in life but watch lifeless water. I actually so desperately wanted to prove this cliché wrong!) It took five minutes and 43 seconds. With the same amount of water at the same temperature, at the same elevation and same heat rate I timed the acceleration of water from still to boil being absent from the kitchen. I checked on it at five minutes and 40 seconds. It was at a rapid boil.

My conclusion—you get more done when you’re not watching.

2008 has come and gone and I’m still single. Am I sad? Was I hopping to find that potential someone in 2008? Did I accomplish all I wanted to and could do last year? Am I happy where Father Time has taken me? My answer to all of that is a simple ‘yes.’

Here’s what I did last year:

Taught Family History
Graduated from College
Spent time with my parents
Went on a cruise
Landed a great job
Bought a car
Paid a huge chunk of school debt off
Laughed all summer long
Went Skydiving
Had a boyfriend
Worked two jobs while going to school full time
Made a few new friends
Left a few old friends
Worked on photography portraits
Ended a relationship
Wrote a new song on the guitar and piano
Became a better friend to my sisters
Went to Lake Powell
Spent quality time with my nieces and nephews
Started a 401k


I did so much more, but I can’t write them all down. 2008 was a good year—not the best, but still good. I accomplished many good goals to define my character and give me that much more experience. However, just like any other single girl, I’m still waiting for that one year I’ll never forget . . .

Do you know what I did when I left the room, waiting for the pot of water to boil? I read a few pages in my book—a biography on one of the greatest scientist to be exact. I returned a borrowed item to our neighbor. I wrote a few texts too. I paid a bill and I answered the door when someone knocked on it. A lot happened in those five minutes. Perhaps 2009 will not be that special year, but I’m not going to sit and just watch it boil away. . .

Happy New Year

Salt Lake Snowy Lace

Even though I claim my W-2 and taxes in the state of Utah, I don’t claim I’m an Utahan. I still feel like a tourist when I visit Temple Square. I’m in awe when I hear there’s a member of the Quorum of the Twelve speaking at someone’s fireside and I still giggle at back to back LDS meeting houses which share the parking lot. (It’s true! I promise!)
Last Sunday a few of my sisters, mother and I went to hear the Bells on Temple Square. It was a beautiful winter morning. We were there quite early and our footprints were some of the first in the snow. We enjoyed hearing the Mormon Tab, seeing the dancers and listening to the Prophet. I keep forgetting how lucky I am to be living in Utah where experiences like this happen daily!

Melissa's Gingerbread

For the past 10 years, my sister Melissa has perfected the art of gingerbread houses. She was asked to teach her Relief Society Enrichment last night and I tagged along to help. These are amazing little festive edible homes!