Conversation at New York Burrito in Orem

This happened in the middle of the first BYU Football game on Saturday:

Server: "So, I take it you're not a BYU fan?" (Because I'm not at home watching the game? Or because I'm not wearing BYU appareal during their first game?)
Me: "Nope." [In addition I'm thinking: Ugh. Disgusting. Honestly! Do you even need to ask?]
Server: "Really?! Where are you from?"
Me: "Orem."
Server: [super shocked/disbelief look on her face] "I'm from Texas, so I have an excuse. But that's pretty bold of you!"

Yeah, I'm NOT a BYU fan...sorry.

One of These Days...

• I will have a bidet in my bathroom.
• Raspberry bushes will line the fences in my yard (when I have my own yard).
• I will road bike over Wolf Creek Pass with my very own road bike.
• The cars that stop when they don't have a stop sign and the opposite direction has a yield sign will stop bothering me. (Actually, I don't think that will ever stop bothering me.)
• I will live within 5 miles of a Super Target store.
  

Not a Girlie Girl, But...

So, I'm just NOT a girlie-girl. I don't particularly care for Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility (the books or the movies), I never was goo-goo-ga-ga over any boy band, and, much to my mother's chagrin, I don't like the color pink. Ick.

However, there are few girlie-girl items I just LOVE.

• Apricot Scrub (Target has a cheap off-brand, bytheway)
• Mary Kay's Satin Hands
• Foot wands & food scrub
• Eyelash curlers
• Bath & Body Works' Mentha Lip Shine
• Burt's Bees
• Kisses from Sam
• Chocolate (favoring dark chocolate lately--no more than 65% cocoa, though)

So True

If you've never seen these posters before, check them out HERE. Yes they are making fun of the motivation posters. Yes they are cynical and pessimistic. Yes they are (mostly) down right funny. And, like this one, they are true. :)

(Actually, while all the others are ultra pessimistic, I find this Individuality one to be more positive--to help us all remember that everyone is unique. It goes right along with the lesson I'm teaching in Young Women's tomorrow.)

Just 2 of 17

I have 17 of these cute munchkins (nieces and nephews). When they are all together (or even just half of them together...or even just a few of them) I almost always need an advil or two...sometimes three. Especially when you combine them with my loud brothers. There's way more energy at those times than there ever is at my own little apartment by myself. They are so much fun, though, and cute, too!

My Grandmother--A Woman of Faith

My maternal grandmother, Norma Flygare Thacker, passed away in November 2006, at the age of 83. She was a widow for about 32 1/2 years. My aunt, my grandmother's youngest child, wrote this poem the other day.

MY MOTHER'S FAITH

By Elizabeth Thacker Frederick

I wish that I could have the faith that my dear mother had,

It seems she turned into good, the things that seemed so bad.

She always said she could get through with the Lord by her side,

And then she’d go and do all she could with a smile so big and wide.

She did whatever the Lord asked of her no matter what it seemed to be

From scouting with the boys to young women and then on to primary.

I watched while she taught Gospel Doctrine like a true professor could,

And I saw her take the boy scouts out camping in the woods.

She taught the women in Relief Society how to sew and cook and mend,

And into the nursery she’d go and with loving arms the babies tend.

She lost her parents, some brothers, my dad, a daughter and grandkids, too,

But she taught us we’d see them all again if we lived as we were asked to do.

She lived through the great depression, she said it didn’t seem soo bad,

Then off to the Marines to fight in World War II she sent her husband, my dad.

While dad was off to war she was raising daughter one, and she had number two,

While he was away at war, she lived her life and did what she needed to do.

Oh, I wish that I could have the faith that she had her entire life,

I wish I could cope the way she did, with my trials and my strife.

She made me know that the sun would shine after a stormy night,

She made me know that Lord was not just hers, but also my Light.

I miss calling her and having her tell me things will be okay,

But I look forward to seeing her loving face, in heaven one day.

Veggies of our Labor

We learned a lot this year about how to make our garden better next year. And we got some yummy stuff: a few radishes, lots and lots of peas (we ate them over the last few weeks before we got a photo), some small onions, plenty of spinach, zucchini, small carrots (we didn't thin them out...), and demented carrots (haha).
We're still waiting for our tomatoes to turn red, for more zucchini and squash, cucumbers, and peppers. Mmmm....

I'm nervous it is getting too cool too quickly. I never thought I'd hear myself saying this, but I want it to be hotter for a few more weeks so that more can grow quickly. There's a short growing season out here! (Too bad none of the tomatoes are ready before Sam leaves.)

And we're making apricot stuff up the wazoo! We made about 18 pints of syrup yesterday...and we still have 2 buckets of apricots!!

Apricot Mania

My brother called me the other day for recipes and canning instructions for apricot syrup, nectar, and fruit leather (that's kind of part of my job, but I just look it up in a book...no expert, yet). I asked him where he's getting all the apricots for these projects and upon hearing the answer, Sam and I drove down to Helper that same night to get some for ourselves.

See:

We've only made jam so far (one batch was a raspberry-apricot mix. Yum!). But coming up later will be syrup. It has to be one of my childhood favorites--homemade apricot syrup over waffles. Mmmm....

Another One Done--Still More to Go

I've been an avid journal writer since my tween years (the avid-ness has slipped since I've been married, but I'm getting in the groove of it again). As I started this new journal the other day ($3 special, bytheway), I re-read the first page of the one I just finished:

"I always love starting a new journal--it's like starting a new year, or moving into a new apartment--refreshing and hopeful, and yet anxiously awaiting the day it's full, or over, or time to move on."

- My journal, September 16, 2007

Another OCD Habit

Yesterday I realized I have yet one more habit to add to my OCD List.

• I cannot throw any sort of bottle away (water bottle, pop bottle, milk jug, etc.) without first taking off the lid. If needed and possible, I also have to put the remaining liquid down a drain. I usually end up asking people I know (if I catch them in the act) to take the lid off before they throw it away (that's how I remembered I have this OCD habit--I caught my intern in the act of throwing away a watter bottle with the lid screwed on). Sometimes I'll even reach in the garbage (gross, I know) and take off a few lids, but only if I see a bunch at the top of the garbage.
  

I heard once that if there is liquid in a bottle and the lid is on, nothing can crush that bottle because of the pressure inside (go ahead and try it!), and therefore there's a certain percentage of the world's garbage that is air.

Smart people who have had multiple hard-core science classes are the only ones that believe me. And also people who have worked in recycling centers, because their job was to unscrew the lids for that reason. So it must be important if people get paid to take the lids off, right? It's not just another of my OCD habits?

A day in the Mountains.

I thought everyone might enjoy some of the pictures I took yesterday in the mountains just east of Strawberry reservoir.

Road Trip!

Last Thursday Melanie and I took a road trip to California for a cousin's wedding in Fresno. We drove and drove and drove some more. And then we kept driving! It was, however, quite bearable because we listened to Meyer's Eclipse on CD, which I would say is her best so far. I also saved time by practicing my trombone while Melanie drove. Finally, we arrived at our destination and could stretch our legs. We spent the weekend with Melanie's Aunt, Uncle, and cousins, setting up the reception, swimming, eating, and sleeping. Each morning Melanie and I were able to go on walks together, which was very enjoyable because we seldom do.

As Melanie and I waited at the temple for the bride and groom, I decided to become a behind-the-scenes photographer (I remember after our wedding we found some good pictures from non-professionals). This is especially fun and exciting due to the digital world, unlimited photography means unlimited pictures. So I took lots! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Later that evening the photographer's helper saw me taking photos, and asked who I was. I told her, and then she asked if I took photos as a hobbie or professionally; I replied that I just decided to take some, so I guess that's a hobbie. She then proceeded to tell me that she and her husband were not photographers, they were simply friends who were given a camera and asked to take pictures for the day. She was open for any advice but I'm no professional and I didn't care really, so I said that they were doing fine. I am pleased to say that many of my photos turned out very well and I have included some in the slide show.

Sunday Melanie and I got up real early and drove and drove and drove again. We were able to stop in Rosemond, CA and visit with our Logan friends, Scott & Sue. Anna has grown up and is very cute, her brother Reese is also a cutie. We attended Sacrament meeting and then continued our driving. It was very nice to visit with Scott & Sue, they are great people and we miss them.

On our drive home we got Cabin Fever, but then Melanie saw a Target semi-truck and calmed down (the only Walmart truck we saw was being towed, ha ha).