Have you ever been mostly engaged? Isn't it glorious? Mostly engaged is when you've picked out dates, discussed receptions, and talked about where to go on the honeymoon but you don't have a ring and he hasn't gotten down on his one chivalrous knee to ask for your hand and to share a life together.
You're planning but there is still a mystery to it. When will he propose? How will he do it? Will he take me out to dinner and have it sneakily placed on my cheesecake? Will he bring me flowers and have it tied on to the bouquet ribbon? I'm blessed because Alex is very creative. I am SURE that it will be wonderful and thoughtful.
How does June 11th sound to everyone?
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thanksgiving - Part "Doo-ay"
Alex and I have been dating 9 months. It's a fairly long time for the 25+ age group in the LDS world. If we were at BYU we'd be engage, married, and perhaps a bun in the oven already.
When we first started getting serious I told him I wanted to date him a while so I could see him in all aspects and situations. I wanted to see him ticked off at me, how he is around his family, etc. And bless his little Beacham heart, he agreed to it.
He knew fairly quickly that he wanted to be with me; I mean within a few months. I think the last 6-8 months have been a little tiring for him, a lot of waiting. But I think I'm worth the wait. And honestly, who wouldn't want me?! I am seriously hilarious! And I have a great rack. And long pretty hair. And... I have a Prius! Also too, I am very good at multitasking, conducting music, organizing, and typing without looking at the screen or my fingers [those are some non-physical attributes per Janene's request]
Thanksgiving came around and down we went to St. George as described in the previous post. We participated in a devotional, an endowment session, and sealing ceremony for some ancestors. Everyone else left except Alex and me; we wanted to sit in the Celestial Room.
As we sat there, my mind was bouncing all over the walls of my head. Think SUPER bouncy ball shot out of a cannon. How my eyeballs stayed in their sockets I'm not quite sure. We sat for a while, me thinking "Brain, knock that off I'm trying to ponder". But the brain was cowering in a corner.
I opened my eyes to see Alex looking longingly into my eyes. We start sharing how we felt about the experience. I had cried several times in the last 2-3 hours. I shared everything with him. I saw him perk up.
"Does that mean you're ready?" he asked hopefully.
I sat for a long moment to ponder. "No, it doesn't mean I'm ready. All those feelings did not make me feel like marrying you is right. It was just a spiritual evening." Can you believe I said that?! Talk about an accidental shut down. eek. He kindly offered to let me stay longer while he went home with our ride and bring a car back to get me. I watched the man I love walk out the Celestial Room door and immediately turned on myself.
"Look here Beck. You have been praying and asking for an answer that marrying Alex is right. You have felt the Spirit so strongly this evening. You are in the Temple! You CAN get an answer. You can receive personal revelation."
**Side note: I had been asking for months if marrying Alex is right. The Doctrine and Covenants tell you to study it out in your mind right? So I thought about it long and hard, tried to see him and us as a third party. Analyze everything. I determined it was a good thing. I had been taking it to the Lord ever since.
**Side note to the side note: I wanted to marry him. I love him dearly. We have a fantastic time. I have spent all day with him and still don't want to go home at night. He's my best friend (no offense Chels).
Here's the problem with me. I want to get married. I'd like to marry Alex but I was paralyzed. My mom put my situation best in the following analogy:
The Idiot took me skydiving. I watched him pack my parachute and backpack. He said let's go with a gallant smile. I went with stars in my eyes. I jumped out of the plane and my chute didn't open until right before I hit the ground. I was broken and really beat up.
Now wonderful Alex has come and is asking me to go skydiving with him. I like the idea of it. I watch him pack my parachute. I believe he's done everything right. I see nothing wrong with the chute. I nervously clutch his hand tightly. I get in the plane but I could not jump. Paralyzed. The desire is there but I can't take that final step out the plane.
Notes on the Issue: I didn't trust myself to make another life altering choice. I feared the future and the unknown like some people fear the clap. I knew the only one who would know the future and know if I'd be ok is Heavenly Father. I needed a very clear answer from heaven. Something that I couldn't excuse away. "I thought that thought, I dreamed that dream"
Back to the Celestial Room. I sat there pumping myself up. I cleared my thoughts. I sat very still. I began my usual prayer. "Heavenly Father..." *tears* "I believe marrying Alex is right. I can't see the future and I won't make a move until you say go" *full on gushing now* "Is marrying Alex the right thing for me to do?"
I kid you not. I started vibrating. Not a physical shaking or quaking. Indiscernible vibrations. I felt like my chi was at least 6 inches off me, pulsing. It was incredible. I felt like if I opened my eyes and looked across the room at the mirror opposite I would see something only heard of in the Book of Mormon or Bible.
I sat for several seconds and thought "whoa. that's new". I tried it again to see if I could duplicate the feeling. Nope. But I felt like I had asthma for the last while and I could breathe again.
As I walked out of the women's locker room he later told me that even though my eyes red and puffy from a lot of crying I was glowing. Isn't he sweet. He's always been good a reading me, seeing my light.
People, I had a miracle occur to me. ME! And it was HUGE! I later told Alex who commented, "Babe you were shook by God". The moral of the story: Every single person can receive personal revelation. Totally.
And no, Alex probably won't pop the question until the year is up. That's what we agreed to. Isn't that so sweet. He is such a doll.
When we first started getting serious I told him I wanted to date him a while so I could see him in all aspects and situations. I wanted to see him ticked off at me, how he is around his family, etc. And bless his little Beacham heart, he agreed to it.
He knew fairly quickly that he wanted to be with me; I mean within a few months. I think the last 6-8 months have been a little tiring for him, a lot of waiting. But I think I'm worth the wait. And honestly, who wouldn't want me?! I am seriously hilarious! And I have a great rack. And long pretty hair. And... I have a Prius! Also too, I am very good at multitasking, conducting music, organizing, and typing without looking at the screen or my fingers [those are some non-physical attributes per Janene's request]
Thanksgiving came around and down we went to St. George as described in the previous post. We participated in a devotional, an endowment session, and sealing ceremony for some ancestors. Everyone else left except Alex and me; we wanted to sit in the Celestial Room.
As we sat there, my mind was bouncing all over the walls of my head. Think SUPER bouncy ball shot out of a cannon. How my eyeballs stayed in their sockets I'm not quite sure. We sat for a while, me thinking "Brain, knock that off I'm trying to ponder". But the brain was cowering in a corner.
I opened my eyes to see Alex looking longingly into my eyes. We start sharing how we felt about the experience. I had cried several times in the last 2-3 hours. I shared everything with him. I saw him perk up.
"Does that mean you're ready?" he asked hopefully.
I sat for a long moment to ponder. "No, it doesn't mean I'm ready. All those feelings did not make me feel like marrying you is right. It was just a spiritual evening." Can you believe I said that?! Talk about an accidental shut down. eek. He kindly offered to let me stay longer while he went home with our ride and bring a car back to get me. I watched the man I love walk out the Celestial Room door and immediately turned on myself.
"Look here Beck. You have been praying and asking for an answer that marrying Alex is right. You have felt the Spirit so strongly this evening. You are in the Temple! You CAN get an answer. You can receive personal revelation."
**Side note: I had been asking for months if marrying Alex is right. The Doctrine and Covenants tell you to study it out in your mind right? So I thought about it long and hard, tried to see him and us as a third party. Analyze everything. I determined it was a good thing. I had been taking it to the Lord ever since.
**Side note to the side note: I wanted to marry him. I love him dearly. We have a fantastic time. I have spent all day with him and still don't want to go home at night. He's my best friend (no offense Chels).
Here's the problem with me. I want to get married. I'd like to marry Alex but I was paralyzed. My mom put my situation best in the following analogy:
The Idiot took me skydiving. I watched him pack my parachute and backpack. He said let's go with a gallant smile. I went with stars in my eyes. I jumped out of the plane and my chute didn't open until right before I hit the ground. I was broken and really beat up.
Now wonderful Alex has come and is asking me to go skydiving with him. I like the idea of it. I watch him pack my parachute. I believe he's done everything right. I see nothing wrong with the chute. I nervously clutch his hand tightly. I get in the plane but I could not jump. Paralyzed. The desire is there but I can't take that final step out the plane.
Notes on the Issue: I didn't trust myself to make another life altering choice. I feared the future and the unknown like some people fear the clap. I knew the only one who would know the future and know if I'd be ok is Heavenly Father. I needed a very clear answer from heaven. Something that I couldn't excuse away. "I thought that thought, I dreamed that dream"
Back to the Celestial Room. I sat there pumping myself up. I cleared my thoughts. I sat very still. I began my usual prayer. "Heavenly Father..." *tears* "I believe marrying Alex is right. I can't see the future and I won't make a move until you say go" *full on gushing now* "Is marrying Alex the right thing for me to do?"
I kid you not. I started vibrating. Not a physical shaking or quaking. Indiscernible vibrations. I felt like my chi was at least 6 inches off me, pulsing. It was incredible. I felt like if I opened my eyes and looked across the room at the mirror opposite I would see something only heard of in the Book of Mormon or Bible.
I sat for several seconds and thought "whoa. that's new". I tried it again to see if I could duplicate the feeling. Nope. But I felt like I had asthma for the last while and I could breathe again.
As I walked out of the women's locker room he later told me that even though my eyes red and puffy from a lot of crying I was glowing. Isn't he sweet. He's always been good a reading me, seeing my light.
People, I had a miracle occur to me. ME! And it was HUGE! I later told Alex who commented, "Babe you were shook by God". The moral of the story: Every single person can receive personal revelation. Totally.
And no, Alex probably won't pop the question until the year is up. That's what we agreed to. Isn't that so sweet. He is such a doll.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thanksgiving 2010
So much to tell you. But luckily, I can lure you in with pictures!
Like this bad boy, aren't we adorable?
I was invited to the Merrill family reunion/Grandpa Merrill's 80th birthday/Thanksgiving by Alex's mom in May. MAY! How can anyone make plans that early? I didn't even make a decision until 2 weeks ago.
I decided for Alex that he should go by himself and be with his family without me distracting him. He won't be going down for Christmas so this might be the last time he goes down there as a single man. [wait did I type that out loud?] Plus my bestie from high school Lauren was coming up and Aunt Jan was coming down, so I should probably stay.
He thought for a moment and said, "if this were your family reunion and we spent almost every day with my family, wouldn't you want me to go with you?" Huh. He's got a point there. So I went down to St. George for Thanksgiving.
It was so fun. I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Merrill [I think Grandma wants to propose to me, I might be her favorite grandchild and I'm not even family]. I met almost all the aunts and uncles and many cousins. I think we had about 50-60 people crammed into their family room and dining room area for the big day.
Isn't Thanksgiving glorious? People that haven't interacted all year or even in the past 7 years getting together and talking like it's only been a day. So much mashed potatoes that your eyeballs are about to pop out of your head. And stuffing... oh how I love and adore Stovetop stuffing.
We did the crazy Black Friday shopping at 4am. I bought two things for my Dad that my Mom later told me she didn't think he'd like. A few things for Alex. Shirts for the nieces and nephew. A movie for Mom. Not all that expensive of a shopping trip.
**Note to self: Never ever go to Target on Black Friday. The line went around the entire store, then snaked back around again. Shop from home. You get all the same deals without the ridiculous line and you can shop in your PJs while all the suckers at the store have aching feet from standing in line.
Friday night was incredible. INCREDIBLE. That should be a post by itself. Monumentally spiritual experience. I'll give you a run down: St. George temple, devotional, family, sealings, answer. That's all I'm gonna say.
Like this bad boy, aren't we adorable?I decided for Alex that he should go by himself and be with his family without me distracting him. He won't be going down for Christmas so this might be the last time he goes down there as a single man. [wait did I type that out loud?] Plus my bestie from high school Lauren was coming up and Aunt Jan was coming down, so I should probably stay.
He thought for a moment and said, "if this were your family reunion and we spent almost every day with my family, wouldn't you want me to go with you?" Huh. He's got a point there. So I went down to St. George for Thanksgiving.
It was so fun. I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Merrill [I think Grandma wants to propose to me, I might be her favorite grandchild and I'm not even family]. I met almost all the aunts and uncles and many cousins. I think we had about 50-60 people crammed into their family room and dining room area for the big day.
Isn't Thanksgiving glorious? People that haven't interacted all year or even in the past 7 years getting together and talking like it's only been a day. So much mashed potatoes that your eyeballs are about to pop out of your head. And stuffing... oh how I love and adore Stovetop stuffing.
We did the crazy Black Friday shopping at 4am. I bought two things for my Dad that my Mom later told me she didn't think he'd like. A few things for Alex. Shirts for the nieces and nephew. A movie for Mom. Not all that expensive of a shopping trip.
**Note to self: Never ever go to Target on Black Friday. The line went around the entire store, then snaked back around again. Shop from home. You get all the same deals without the ridiculous line and you can shop in your PJs while all the suckers at the store have aching feet from standing in line.
Friday night was incredible. INCREDIBLE. That should be a post by itself. Monumentally spiritual experience. I'll give you a run down: St. George temple, devotional, family, sealings, answer. That's all I'm gonna say.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
A Case of the Wednesdays
It has become so chilly here in Utah. I think Friday was the warmest day with a blistering 46 degrees. *shiver*
Just a few things I have noticed that I want to share:
-Kitchen knives are dang expensive
+Trees changing colors are so beautiful. Orange, gold, and red leaves make trees look like they're going to a dance
-My lips are constantly chapped
+I don't drink enough water - I wonder if those two are related
-I'm outgrowing my singles ward, I think it's served its purpose
+Chocolate chocolate chip cookies are my weakness
-I only eat fruit if it's already cut up
+My mom totally rocks. I want to be her when I grow up
-My eyes aren't exactly blue like they used to be, they're more gray now, I wonder if it means something
+The Pilot G2 gel pen is the best in the world
-Voicemail messages are so difficult to return. It's easier to delete and move on
Question: Does anyone use digital scrapbook or online scrapbook products? I'm thinking I want to start up again but don't want to do it by hand anymore. I mean it took more time to get everything out and organized. Any suggestions?
Pee-Ess: I am so excited for Christmas! I'm already humming songs. Mr. Beacham doesn't appreciate it.
Just a few things I have noticed that I want to share:
-Kitchen knives are dang expensive
+Trees changing colors are so beautiful. Orange, gold, and red leaves make trees look like they're going to a dance
-My lips are constantly chapped
+I don't drink enough water - I wonder if those two are related
-I'm outgrowing my singles ward, I think it's served its purpose
+Chocolate chocolate chip cookies are my weakness
-I only eat fruit if it's already cut up
+My mom totally rocks. I want to be her when I grow up
-My eyes aren't exactly blue like they used to be, they're more gray now, I wonder if it means something
+The Pilot G2 gel pen is the best in the world
-Voicemail messages are so difficult to return. It's easier to delete and move on
Question: Does anyone use digital scrapbook or online scrapbook products? I'm thinking I want to start up again but don't want to do it by hand anymore. I mean it took more time to get everything out and organized. Any suggestions?
Pee-Ess: I am so excited for Christmas! I'm already humming songs. Mr. Beacham doesn't appreciate it.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Babies and un-babies
My best friend from college had her baby on Monday. My other friends are having twins. My friend from Missouri had a baby a few weeks ago. I am thrilled to pieces for them and know they'll both be great moms and their babies will be so loved.
Girls I went to high school with have 2 or 3 children already! It's just craziness. I'm noticing that I'm falling more and more behind everyone else.
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have me all in one piece emotionally than stuck in a horrible marriage with a rotten husband and kids just like him - ADD and allergic to EVERYTHING. But I feel left out of the game. Last one picked for kickball. It's grade school all over again. Seriously, you plow one kid over in soccer and you are branded as a wild card the rest of your life in gym class!
But I'm not trying to throw a pity party for myself. It's like on "Julie & Julia" when Julia Child's sister who was married after her is pregnant and she is so happy but still feels like a yutz for not being pregnant herself. Ya know? [If not, go watch the movie. It's great.] Happy and excited but just a little bummed at the same time.
I love babies. I love squishy thighs. Lower lips and tongues that seem to have a running faucet. Bright eyes. Feathery hair. Little buns. The smell of a freshly washed baby. The itty bitty shoes and socks. The bows and ribbons. The squawks and high pitched sounds they emit. The way they get top heavy and just topple over. The peals of laughter at raspberries on their bellies. How they are easily entertained. How they are so incredibly unaware of everyone else around them but mom. How everything must go in their mouths to be marked as their property. I love that I can hand them back to their mom and smile when they've pooped out their diaper.
what was I saying? oh yeah...
I am SO excited and glad for my friends. They will be fabulous mothers. I am SOOOO incredibly happy I don't have kids from a previous marriage. I am SO glad I don't have kids while I'm trying to work 9 hours a day and date Alex and find time to relax or start going to the gym. There's just no time. I admire all you women who can balance life and work and kids and husband and meals and shopping and decorating and visiting friends and throwing parties and serving in primary. You're incredible!
Happy baby day to Celine and Sam and Janet. Happy un-baby day to me. Happy Wednesday to all who are in the thick of it all.
Girls I went to high school with have 2 or 3 children already! It's just craziness. I'm noticing that I'm falling more and more behind everyone else.
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have me all in one piece emotionally than stuck in a horrible marriage with a rotten husband and kids just like him - ADD and allergic to EVERYTHING. But I feel left out of the game. Last one picked for kickball. It's grade school all over again. Seriously, you plow one kid over in soccer and you are branded as a wild card the rest of your life in gym class!
But I'm not trying to throw a pity party for myself. It's like on "Julie & Julia" when Julia Child's sister who was married after her is pregnant and she is so happy but still feels like a yutz for not being pregnant herself. Ya know? [If not, go watch the movie. It's great.] Happy and excited but just a little bummed at the same time.
I love babies. I love squishy thighs. Lower lips and tongues that seem to have a running faucet. Bright eyes. Feathery hair. Little buns. The smell of a freshly washed baby. The itty bitty shoes and socks. The bows and ribbons. The squawks and high pitched sounds they emit. The way they get top heavy and just topple over. The peals of laughter at raspberries on their bellies. How they are easily entertained. How they are so incredibly unaware of everyone else around them but mom. How everything must go in their mouths to be marked as their property. I love that I can hand them back to their mom and smile when they've pooped out their diaper.
what was I saying? oh yeah...
I am SO excited and glad for my friends. They will be fabulous mothers. I am SOOOO incredibly happy I don't have kids from a previous marriage. I am SO glad I don't have kids while I'm trying to work 9 hours a day and date Alex and find time to relax or start going to the gym. There's just no time. I admire all you women who can balance life and work and kids and husband and meals and shopping and decorating and visiting friends and throwing parties and serving in primary. You're incredible!
Happy baby day to Celine and Sam and Janet. Happy un-baby day to me. Happy Wednesday to all who are in the thick of it all.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Chilly Weather Goodness
With the first week of chilled weather under our belts here in Utah, Alex and I decided to make some soup. I love that he loves soup. I am attempting to eat a little healthier so this was our first attempt at soup and healthy mixed together.
Cauliflower Soup [adapted from Food Network]
I added a fabulous little extra by making Parmesan crisps. You pile a cup of cheese on a sheet and bake about 10 minutes until golden brown and crisps. After they've cooled just break them into shards and garnish with them. So cute!
The absolute best part was that I went to Sur La Table and bought the most darling bowls to have our soups and chilis in this winter.
Aren't they just fabulous! Who wouldn't want to eat soup in this baby!?
Cauliflower Soup [adapted from Food Network]
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 shallot, diced
- 1 head cauliflower, broken into florets
- 1 medium all-purpose potato, cubed
- 6 cups chicken stock
- Salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- Garlic powder
I added a fabulous little extra by making Parmesan crisps. You pile a cup of cheese on a sheet and bake about 10 minutes until golden brown and crisps. After they've cooled just break them into shards and garnish with them. So cute!
The absolute best part was that I went to Sur La Table and bought the most darling bowls to have our soups and chilis in this winter.
Aren't they just fabulous! Who wouldn't want to eat soup in this baby!?
Saturday, September 25, 2010
St. George and Cedar Cedar
**Disclaimer: I for the life of me cannot get this stupid post to format correctly. I apologize for the various font sizes and colors. I have no idea. Stupid stupid.
I am bored with myself. I used to scrapbook like a crazy person but it turns out I did it because I was a little bit crazy. I found that my need to do all the crafting was a way for me to escape my reality. Focus on the happiness of the past, forget the current misery.
Seriously, I learned how to "crochet" baby hats using the loom rings at a Relief Society event and could make 2 an hour and would go through yarn like nobody's business because I was completely in denial about my life. Speaking of, I have a bag full of them if anyone wants some baby hats this winter.
But what do I do now that I'm not miserable?
I'm attempting a few things. Forgive me for the half A-ed attempts but it's 1:37am. Again, I'm bored. I was fiddling around with Adobe Photo Elements and figured out a few things a little too late. Ah well. Next time will be better. And faster.
Alex's younger brother was married in the St. George temple to his lovey of a whole 9 months last weekend. We left Thursday an hour and a half later than we should have thanks to work and arrived just in time to help put the decorations up for the reception. LONG DAY.
The next morning his fabulous mom made everyone homemade doughnuts. Here is a short synopsis of this story:
Alex's great-grandparents made homemade doughnuts in the great depression to sell. They sold them for 30 cents if they were lucky. They woke up every morning around 3am to start making the doughnuts in their kitchen. Put them in the box attached to their bike in the summer and sled in the winter. That's how the family survived the depression. Doughnuts!
After everyone showered up and got beautiful we headed to the Temple. We arrived and my car wouldn't lock. Stupid electric car. I leave it unlocked and walk off to the rest of the wedding party. Who's going to break into a car parked right outside the temple?!
[Waiting for the bride and groom to come out]
[These are some of my favorites from the trip]
[At the reception...at the church. So many things to say but I will refrain]
We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Merrill, who have had their own bedrooms for 30+ years. Each with their own lonely twin bed. I gasped.
ANYWAY... their neighbor had the best yard ornaments I had seen in my entire life. We drove by at night and I made Alex promise to take me back the next morning before we left.
What a treasure trove!
[The fabulousness that is St. George lawn ornamentation]
It was a glorious trip. Lots of laughing and talking and singing together. It was so nice to be with Alex all day Friday and Saturday.
Ok time for bed. It's now 2:06.
I am bored with myself. I used to scrapbook like a crazy person but it turns out I did it because I was a little bit crazy. I found that my need to do all the crafting was a way for me to escape my reality. Focus on the happiness of the past, forget the current misery.
Seriously, I learned how to "crochet" baby hats using the loom rings at a Relief Society event and could make 2 an hour and would go through yarn like nobody's business because I was completely in denial about my life. Speaking of, I have a bag full of them if anyone wants some baby hats this winter.
But what do I do now that I'm not miserable?
I'm attempting a few things. Forgive me for the half A-ed attempts but it's 1:37am. Again, I'm bored. I was fiddling around with Adobe Photo Elements and figured out a few things a little too late. Ah well. Next time will be better. And faster.
Alex's younger brother was married in the St. George temple to his lovey of a whole 9 months last weekend. We left Thursday an hour and a half later than we should have thanks to work and arrived just in time to help put the decorations up for the reception. LONG DAY.
The next morning his fabulous mom made everyone homemade doughnuts. Here is a short synopsis of this story:
Alex's great-grandparents made homemade doughnuts in the great depression to sell. They sold them for 30 cents if they were lucky. They woke up every morning around 3am to start making the doughnuts in their kitchen. Put them in the box attached to their bike in the summer and sled in the winter. That's how the family survived the depression. Doughnuts!
After everyone showered up and got beautiful we headed to the Temple. We arrived and my car wouldn't lock. Stupid electric car. I leave it unlocked and walk off to the rest of the wedding party. Who's going to break into a car parked right outside the temple?!
[Waiting for the bride and groom to come out]
[These are some of my favorites from the trip]Turns out my battery is dead. Like, gone to heaven. Not coming back. Brother-in-law Phil comes over to jump the car. Alex and I do a photo shoot because... well, the truth is I just look dang hot. That's all there is to it. Battery gets charged and it dies as soon as the car is on. We charge it again and Phil follows us to the nearest Toyota dealership.
The nicest of the 3 dirty mechanics hooks the car up to their computer while I go inside. It's over 90 degrees in the end of September. The weather down there is just mean.
I make the obligatory small talk with my new friend and notice a long print out spewing from the computer. "Uh oh, that's never a good sign" my new friend says.
The nicest of the 3 dirty mechanics hooks the car up to their computer while I go inside. It's over 90 degrees in the end of September. The weather down there is just mean.
I make the obligatory small talk with my new friend and notice a long print out spewing from the computer. "Uh oh, that's never a good sign" my new friend says.
**Side note 1 about a Prius: Battery. It's fabulous. Fabulously expensive. It works really well when it's new. Mine was 6 years old.
My new friend's friend comes in with the print out. "Oh wow" says my friend. "You don't have a charge."
I look up perplexed. I just drove over here and it showed I had 3/4 of my battery charged. Turns out my car is lying to me. *in a reprimanding tone* Bad Sprocket.
**Side note 2 about a Prius: Names. When I first drove it I felt like I was flying a space ship. It reminded me of the cartoon, The Jetsons. The Jetsons are a futuristic bunch. George works for Spacely's Sprockets. My car is named Sprocket. You have to name it something space oriented or futuristic. It's in the manual.
My new friend's friend comes in with the print out. "Oh wow" says my friend. "You don't have a charge."
I look up perplexed. I just drove over here and it showed I had 3/4 of my battery charged. Turns out my car is lying to me. *in a reprimanding tone* Bad Sprocket.
**Side note 2 about a Prius: Names. When I first drove it I felt like I was flying a space ship. It reminded me of the cartoon, The Jetsons. The Jetsons are a futuristic bunch. George works for Spacely's Sprockets. My car is named Sprocket. You have to name it something space oriented or futuristic. It's in the manual.
Get this. A new Prius battery in all its glory hold 274 giga-watts of power [if you'll remember, a bolt of lightning is 1.21 giga-watts... so there you go]. Mine was holding a mere 7. SE7EN. That's it! Poor little Sprocket! A quick zip of my AmEx card and 30 minutes of waiting in the air-conditioned dealership and we're on the road to the reception.
As we drove away, we said a thank-you prayer. Thank you not letting this issue happen the day before when we were late and driving in the dark. Thank you for helping the car make it through Fillmore and Beaver. Thank you to Phil for jumping the car. Thank you to my dad for helping me jump my car earlier in the year when I left a light on all night so I knew HOW to jump my weird car. Thank you to the Toyota Dealership in St. George who had a ridiculous Prius battery in stock. And thank you for air conditioning.
[At the reception...at the church. So many things to say but I will refrain]We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Merrill, who have had their own bedrooms for 30+ years. Each with their own lonely twin bed. I gasped.
ANYWAY... their neighbor had the best yard ornaments I had seen in my entire life. We drove by at night and I made Alex promise to take me back the next morning before we left.
What a treasure trove!
[The fabulousness that is St. George lawn ornamentation]The day after the wedding we drove back to Bountiful via a scenic route through Cedar Breaks. When Alex was little he called Cedar City "Cedar Cedar City". Isn't that the cutest? Looking back he wonders why no one corrected him. 'Son, it's just one Cedar' would have been too easy I guess.
It was a glorious trip. Lots of laughing and talking and singing together. It was so nice to be with Alex all day Friday and Saturday.
Ok time for bed. It's now 2:06.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Living Planet Aquarium
When Alex and I first started dating in March we were so excited for all the fun things we could do in the summer. Tennis, hiking, REAL soccer games, Bee's games, etc.
One of the activities I was really excited for was The Living Planet Aquarium. I love aquariums. Alex has a tank with some not-goldfish fish that look like goldfish. I've named most of the them. Robert Redford has a serious crush on Big Mama. Fu and Manchu are brother and sister but do it all the time. There are others that are somewhat see through that I ignore because it freaks me out.
The aquarium is broken into types of water, we first went to the creeks and marshland.
The next section was the deep ocean. These jellyfish were SO cool. The aquarium had colored lights that make them look so awesome.
They had a penguin exhibit but those birds are so dang fast, they were just blurs on the camera and the glass was all finger smudged. We couldn't get a clear picture of them.
We were just in time for the sting ray feeding. I am not embarrassed to say I squealed like a pig every time the rays were get "excited" and breach the water. It scared me. All that flapping. Gives me the heebies. Alex was brave. But he's a guy... and a Marine.
Every aquarium has to have a nurse shark. They're so tame and boring though. There was a white tip shark in there but it swam too fast and our camera was too slow. It looked like a blur. I thought I'd spare you.
The obligatory arms length shot so you know where you were.
Just a couple random ones of just how cute we are!
I was saying something to Mara my niece. I kept it because he looks so good.
This weekend we're off to St. George for his younger brother's wedding. And yes, some of us are having a hard time that our younger siblings are all married before us.
One of the activities I was really excited for was The Living Planet Aquarium. I love aquariums. Alex has a tank with some not-goldfish fish that look like goldfish. I've named most of the them. Robert Redford has a serious crush on Big Mama. Fu and Manchu are brother and sister but do it all the time. There are others that are somewhat see through that I ignore because it freaks me out.
The aquarium is broken into types of water, we first went to the creeks and marshland.
The next section was the deep ocean. These jellyfish were SO cool. The aquarium had colored lights that make them look so awesome.
They had a penguin exhibit but those birds are so dang fast, they were just blurs on the camera and the glass was all finger smudged. We couldn't get a clear picture of them.
We were just in time for the sting ray feeding. I am not embarrassed to say I squealed like a pig every time the rays were get "excited" and breach the water. It scared me. All that flapping. Gives me the heebies. Alex was brave. But he's a guy... and a Marine.
Every aquarium has to have a nurse shark. They're so tame and boring though. There was a white tip shark in there but it swam too fast and our camera was too slow. It looked like a blur. I thought I'd spare you.
The obligatory arms length shot so you know where you were.
Just a couple random ones of just how cute we are!
I was saying something to Mara my niece. I kept it because he looks so good.
This weekend we're off to St. George for his younger brother's wedding. And yes, some of us are having a hard time that our younger siblings are all married before us.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Broken Beatrich's
When we're doing something involving teamwork, doing dishes, cooking, or just being funny, Alex and I call ourselves the Beatrich's. We spliced our last names to get the team name: Beacham and Dietrich. I've come to love the name and actually would love to get a dog or a fish or something that I can name Beatrix in honor of the relationship.
Although Beatrix isn't one of those old fashion names that everyone adores like Emma, Olivia, Sophie, Morgan, or Charlotte. It's more like Helga. Ugly girls have that name.
But the Beatrich's are broken. Poor Alex a few weeks ago spent 4 days in the depths of the earth at a trona mine. He had to check and refill over 500 extinguishers down there. Yuck! He found it takes a certain kind of person to work in a mine. He is not one of them. 4 days were 4 days too many.
He came home in one piece. His first day back on the job in Salt Lake, breaks his foot. He doesn't even have a cool story to go with it. That is just tragic.
He was walking down the stairs, his right foot stayed planted as the rest of his body started going left down the landing. Snapped his metatarsal. The ER doctor said he was going to need a screw, probably be off his foot for 3 months, hell fire and brimstone, years of walking with a limp. It was scary. 3 days later at the orthopedic surgeon's office we find out he's on crutches for 6 weeks, walking with one crutch after 2, no pins or screws unless he's a famous athlete. YAY!
Now me. I was in a severe car accident 5 years ago. Whiplash. Bad. Chiropractor fixed it but it started acting up on Monday. Now I can't pull up my pants, put on a bra, brush my hair, wash my body in the shower, reach for something on the floor, or reach for the phone without a yelp of pain.
Pain shooting down my tricep into my elbow. Lovely.
Alex was icing his foot laying on his couch and I was sitting there hugging my arm to myself so it would zap me, we started laughing at how ridiculous we looked. Partially immobilized and afraid to move. Before we're 30!
I thought you weren't supposed to feel this old until you were in your 50s!
Boo to feeling old and decrepit.
Although Beatrix isn't one of those old fashion names that everyone adores like Emma, Olivia, Sophie, Morgan, or Charlotte. It's more like Helga. Ugly girls have that name.
But the Beatrich's are broken. Poor Alex a few weeks ago spent 4 days in the depths of the earth at a trona mine. He had to check and refill over 500 extinguishers down there. Yuck! He found it takes a certain kind of person to work in a mine. He is not one of them. 4 days were 4 days too many.
He came home in one piece. His first day back on the job in Salt Lake, breaks his foot. He doesn't even have a cool story to go with it. That is just tragic.
He was walking down the stairs, his right foot stayed planted as the rest of his body started going left down the landing. Snapped his metatarsal. The ER doctor said he was going to need a screw, probably be off his foot for 3 months, hell fire and brimstone, years of walking with a limp. It was scary. 3 days later at the orthopedic surgeon's office we find out he's on crutches for 6 weeks, walking with one crutch after 2, no pins or screws unless he's a famous athlete. YAY!
Now me. I was in a severe car accident 5 years ago. Whiplash. Bad. Chiropractor fixed it but it started acting up on Monday. Now I can't pull up my pants, put on a bra, brush my hair, wash my body in the shower, reach for something on the floor, or reach for the phone without a yelp of pain.
Pain shooting down my tricep into my elbow. Lovely.
Alex was icing his foot laying on his couch and I was sitting there hugging my arm to myself so it would zap me, we started laughing at how ridiculous we looked. Partially immobilized and afraid to move. Before we're 30!
I thought you weren't supposed to feel this old until you were in your 50s!
Boo to feeling old and decrepit.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Brag Session
I gave a talk yesterday in Sacrament meeting on the topic "Faith in Every Footstep". I focused on faith and the second speaker focused on the pioneers.
A member of the Stake Presidency was on the stand because he announced stake conference next month and to notify us that the presidency will be changed. Nothing too shocking, they've been there for almost 9 years.
I gave my talk about faith, how my parents are converts and I was a lazy investigator and didn't really gain a testimony until I went to college, how my sister had similar experiences and chose differently than I did, etc etc.
Let me just say I had a captive audience.
I am one of those listeners that if I'm not captivated I've got my head down, reading something or drawing or something else to hold my attention until the next speaker. I hate it when people get up there and just read. So I make it a point to just have bullet points and just talk.
So I talked. I welled up and shed a tear about my sister. I refrained somewhat from talking with my hands [I'm a TOTAL hand talker], and over all did fairly well in my mind.
Sacrament meeting is over and the Stake President tells the other girl [who just read her talk] how great she did and didn't say anything to me. I got hand shakes from the bishopric and was about to leave when the Stake Pres calls me over to him.
Get this...
He wants me to give my talk [shortened to a merciful 4-5 minutes] in Stake Conference next month. And since they're reorganizing the presidency I'll be speaking in the same meeting as Russell M. Nelson. Talk about pressure. Holy cow!
Evidently Elder Nelson sent the presidency out asking them to visit all wards and find a talk that will fit a certain criteria that he gave. I fit the bill.
How crazy is that?! I've met several members of the 12 and even some prophets thanks to my dad's work, but this will be the second time I've met a member of the Twelve on my own terms and not being introduced as someone's daughter. I'm so excited!!
A member of the Stake Presidency was on the stand because he announced stake conference next month and to notify us that the presidency will be changed. Nothing too shocking, they've been there for almost 9 years.
I gave my talk about faith, how my parents are converts and I was a lazy investigator and didn't really gain a testimony until I went to college, how my sister had similar experiences and chose differently than I did, etc etc.
Let me just say I had a captive audience.
I am one of those listeners that if I'm not captivated I've got my head down, reading something or drawing or something else to hold my attention until the next speaker. I hate it when people get up there and just read. So I make it a point to just have bullet points and just talk.
So I talked. I welled up and shed a tear about my sister. I refrained somewhat from talking with my hands [I'm a TOTAL hand talker], and over all did fairly well in my mind.
Sacrament meeting is over and the Stake President tells the other girl [who just read her talk] how great she did and didn't say anything to me. I got hand shakes from the bishopric and was about to leave when the Stake Pres calls me over to him.
Get this...
He wants me to give my talk [shortened to a merciful 4-5 minutes] in Stake Conference next month. And since they're reorganizing the presidency I'll be speaking in the same meeting as Russell M. Nelson. Talk about pressure. Holy cow!
Evidently Elder Nelson sent the presidency out asking them to visit all wards and find a talk that will fit a certain criteria that he gave. I fit the bill.
How crazy is that?! I've met several members of the 12 and even some prophets thanks to my dad's work, but this will be the second time I've met a member of the Twelve on my own terms and not being introduced as someone's daughter. I'm so excited!!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Call me Yente
When I first started going to the YSA ward I met a lot of great girls. Erin was my first friend, then I met Connie, Kathy, Stephanie, Emily, Truly, Chrissy, Nicole, Melanie, Lis. I LOVE these girls. There are beyond fabulous and so much fun. Honestly you will never ever be bored with them around.
I met a few guys, like Lynn, Alan, Shadd, Matt, Matt, and Jake. When I first met Alan I thought to myself, "oh he would just be perfect for Emily". I suggested it to the girls who told me they have all thought it for years. Stephanie even suggested it but nothing ever happened.
I decided I was going to make that happen.
Alan is my birthday friend. He has the same birthday as me, just two years younger. When I found out he was born in 1983 I about died. I was not tactful at all. I think the conversation went like this:
M: when's your birthday?
A: February 10th
M: No kidding. Mine's the 10th. What year?
A: Um, 1983.
M: SHUT UP! You're younger than me?! You have GOT to be kidding me.
hmmm yeah not tactful. And I'm not even exaggerating. But I mean, look at him!
Bless his little nerdy heart. He could go on for HOURS about Star Trek, Star Wars, cereal, cartoons, gamma rays, etc. Sorry the picture quality is terrible, I had to save it from my Facebook picture [you can see it better there]. It's from my 80s party - so fabulous.
And you all know Emily from the Disneyland trip.
Anyway, so I started going to lunch with Alan on our birthday. He works at the Airforce Base and I worked in Clearfield. I told him how I thought he'd be perfect for Emily. He said he wanted to ask her out but thought she'd say no.
I, being the good girl friend that I am, immediately run and tell Emily that Alan wanted to ask her out but thought she'd say no. She tells me to tell him that she wouldn't say no.
I tell Alan that I told her that she wouldn't say no and he said, um ok. So he asked her out. 4 MONTHS LATER! Talk about a slow mover. He's got an open net, just has to send the puck down the ice.
Fast forward to July. He calls me to see if we'd do a double date with them for the first date. We see the Last Airbender and go to dinner. They do something the next day. Then the next. Then the next. Finally she says no because she needs to do laundry and have a day to herself. He doesn't ask her out again.
Thinking my matchmaking meddling has gone to waste, my spirits rise when Alan said he needs to meet for lunch to discuss some questions.
He wants to know what Emily has said. I know from her roommate that she's enjoying dating him, wants to continue, and wants him to hold her hand. How cute is that. I got all squealy.
I squealed in IHOP when he told me that.
Of course I told her roommate [as I'm driving away from Alan] who will then tell her she'll have to hold something next date. OOOOOOH I'm so happy and so excited.
Look what I made. I made a relationship!
I met a few guys, like Lynn, Alan, Shadd, Matt, Matt, and Jake. When I first met Alan I thought to myself, "oh he would just be perfect for Emily". I suggested it to the girls who told me they have all thought it for years. Stephanie even suggested it but nothing ever happened.
I decided I was going to make that happen.
Alan is my birthday friend. He has the same birthday as me, just two years younger. When I found out he was born in 1983 I about died. I was not tactful at all. I think the conversation went like this:
M: when's your birthday?
A: February 10th
M: No kidding. Mine's the 10th. What year?
A: Um, 1983.
M: SHUT UP! You're younger than me?! You have GOT to be kidding me.
hmmm yeah not tactful. And I'm not even exaggerating. But I mean, look at him!
Bless his little nerdy heart. He could go on for HOURS about Star Trek, Star Wars, cereal, cartoons, gamma rays, etc. Sorry the picture quality is terrible, I had to save it from my Facebook picture [you can see it better there]. It's from my 80s party - so fabulous.
And you all know Emily from the Disneyland trip.
Anyway, so I started going to lunch with Alan on our birthday. He works at the Airforce Base and I worked in Clearfield. I told him how I thought he'd be perfect for Emily. He said he wanted to ask her out but thought she'd say no.
I, being the good girl friend that I am, immediately run and tell Emily that Alan wanted to ask her out but thought she'd say no. She tells me to tell him that she wouldn't say no.
I tell Alan that I told her that she wouldn't say no and he said, um ok. So he asked her out. 4 MONTHS LATER! Talk about a slow mover. He's got an open net, just has to send the puck down the ice.
Fast forward to July. He calls me to see if we'd do a double date with them for the first date. We see the Last Airbender and go to dinner. They do something the next day. Then the next. Then the next. Finally she says no because she needs to do laundry and have a day to herself. He doesn't ask her out again.
Thinking my matchmaking meddling has gone to waste, my spirits rise when Alan said he needs to meet for lunch to discuss some questions.
He wants to know what Emily has said. I know from her roommate that she's enjoying dating him, wants to continue, and wants him to hold her hand. How cute is that. I got all squealy.
I squealed in IHOP when he told me that.
Of course I told her roommate [as I'm driving away from Alan] who will then tell her she'll have to hold something next date. OOOOOOH I'm so happy and so excited.
Look what I made. I made a relationship!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Hogle Zoo
When Alex and I first started dating we talked about all the fun things we'd do this summer if it lasted that long. Nice huh. We were just trying to keep it real. Hogle Zoo, Real Salt Lake soccer games, Bees baseball games, museums, plays, concerts, it was a long list.
We been to two Bee's games and decided on July 5th to cross another off our summer o'fun list. Hogle Zoo. Considering it was a day after a holiday when everyone has the day off it wasn't too crowded. We had to park about 1/4 of a mile away but we're young so we hoofed it on over. We enjoy meandering around and looking at all the crazy beasts of the world. Cavy, lemur, camels, girafee, and other such strangeness. Like man eating drinking fountains!
The mama elephant had a baby elephant not too long ago. The marketing department for the zoo invited us to visit the new addition, baby Zuri with all sorts of flags around town, flyers, radio ads, and tv ads. Wait, isn't Zuri the name of Brangelina's baby? They named the elephant after a celeb's kid? I guess that's better than Courtney Cox & her crazy husband naming their kid Cocoa after the gorilla.
Ladies and gentelmen... I give you ZURI. Not sure if it's a girl or boy. Alex swore he saw dangly bits.
Here's Mama Elephant who received no notice at all for her fertility, gestational time, or delivery work. At least recognize that she pushed a freakin elephant out. Holy hannah!
An ostrich. Seriously, their middle toe is scary. If that thing flipped you off you'd apologize for being alive.
This is the girafee chapter. I don't know why but I took a ton of them. I think I was regretting not taking many other pictures so I went all out.
This cracked me up. This huge girafee is in the splits almost to the breaking point. It's little legs were trembling trying to get down far enough to eat that bush. No thought to kneel down. It was like watching siblings pulling apart the wishbone on Thanksgiving. I was seriously waiting to hear a snap.
I'm regretting not taking a picture of the girafee just behind him. It was making out with the wall like it hadn't been laid in a year. It was embarassing. Huge LONG tongue going up and down the wall. Up and down. I felt like I needed to look away to give him a moment.
Alex claims someone gave him the nickname Meerkat. Evidently they called his name and he poked his head out the window... like a meerkat.
I call him Muskrat on purpose to get a rise out of him. That's the kind of fabulous relationship we have.
We decided to take a rest and I took some more pictures... of the animals.
The underbiter
The long-tongued lamure
The stud-muff
The good-little roo
The sleepy-eyed blinker
The smoocher
The wiger (woman-tiger)
We been to two Bee's games and decided on July 5th to cross another off our summer o'fun list. Hogle Zoo. Considering it was a day after a holiday when everyone has the day off it wasn't too crowded. We had to park about 1/4 of a mile away but we're young so we hoofed it on over. We enjoy meandering around and looking at all the crazy beasts of the world. Cavy, lemur, camels, girafee, and other such strangeness. Like man eating drinking fountains!
The mama elephant had a baby elephant not too long ago. The marketing department for the zoo invited us to visit the new addition, baby Zuri with all sorts of flags around town, flyers, radio ads, and tv ads. Wait, isn't Zuri the name of Brangelina's baby? They named the elephant after a celeb's kid? I guess that's better than Courtney Cox & her crazy husband naming their kid Cocoa after the gorilla.
Ladies and gentelmen... I give you ZURI. Not sure if it's a girl or boy. Alex swore he saw dangly bits.
Here's Mama Elephant who received no notice at all for her fertility, gestational time, or delivery work. At least recognize that she pushed a freakin elephant out. Holy hannah!
An ostrich. Seriously, their middle toe is scary. If that thing flipped you off you'd apologize for being alive.
This is the girafee chapter. I don't know why but I took a ton of them. I think I was regretting not taking many other pictures so I went all out.
This cracked me up. This huge girafee is in the splits almost to the breaking point. It's little legs were trembling trying to get down far enough to eat that bush. No thought to kneel down. It was like watching siblings pulling apart the wishbone on Thanksgiving. I was seriously waiting to hear a snap.
I'm regretting not taking a picture of the girafee just behind him. It was making out with the wall like it hadn't been laid in a year. It was embarassing. Huge LONG tongue going up and down the wall. Up and down. I felt like I needed to look away to give him a moment.Alex claims someone gave him the nickname Meerkat. Evidently they called his name and he poked his head out the window... like a meerkat.
I call him Muskrat on purpose to get a rise out of him. That's the kind of fabulous relationship we have.
We decided to take a rest and I took some more pictures... of the animals.
The underbiter
The long-tongued lamure
The stud-muff
The good-little roo
The sleepy-eyed blinkerThat isn't an engagement ring, it's a ring I got from my great-grandma, who bought it from the gypsies about 70 years ago. I love that ring.
The smoocher
The wiger (woman-tiger)The last place we went was the monkey house. This orangutan had the right idea. He had his head under a sheet, camped out in front of the AC unit.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Movin' on Up {movin' on up} to the East Side
Can anyone name the TV show this was a theme song for? Movin' on up, movin' on up, to the East side, movin' on up. We finally got a piece of the PIE!!!!
My first year as the legal assistant/office manager at GC Dietrich Law is almost over. Honestly the last year has gone so fast. I have learned a lot and my brother has been so patient with me as we both learn the ins and outs of bankruptcy law. Daily I am grateful that I don't have the same stressful work environment as I did before. Don't get me wrong, my work here is BEYOND stressful some days but I feel like I'm appreciated so it's all good.
And this has to do with moving....how?
All this year I've been working in our Clearfield office. Clearfield is right next door to Layton, about 30 miles north of Salt Lake. Geoff works most days in Salt Lake so I have this ridiculously huge corner office [we're talking floor to ceiling windows on two full walls] and a gigantic desk to myself. All day. Every day. But honestly, why do we have it when he's only up here one day a week [if that]. He only comes up this way if we have a client who lives and wants to meet in Davis county and he meets with them in the conference room.
So I'm moving down to the Salt Lake office this week. Really it should be chaotic this week with packing but I'm in avoidance mode. I have a handful of large projects on my plate due by Thursday and Friday that I don't have time to pack and all that. So I'm thinking I have to come in Saturday to move everything.
My dream of being the little-big-city girl is coming true. I think Salt Lake is a little big city. I might end up moving down there but I'm not sure. Why give up rent that's a couple hundred bucks a month?! I've saved a ton over the last year and a half living with the parents.
In honor of the move to Salt Lake I surveyed my closet and said, I need more work appropriate pants. In my email the next morning I found a lovely note from Express saying they're having a summer sale and all their tops and pants. Well sign me up! I bought 3 pairs of pants and a shirt that I have been coveting for months. Who doesn't love a good blue and white striped oxford shirt? I look like I belong on a boat but I love it. Give me a pair of loafers and some white shorts and call me cap'n!
PS - This weekend I'm hosting a birthday party / game night 80s style. I'm hoping a lot of people come in costume because really the 80s were fabulous for outrageous clothes. I borrowed my sisters leg warmers and I am so excited - I LOVED my leg warmers when I was little. For snacks we're having Shasta, Kool-Aid, and Cheetos, etc.
Can anyone think of other food fads that came out in the 80s?
My first year as the legal assistant/office manager at GC Dietrich Law is almost over. Honestly the last year has gone so fast. I have learned a lot and my brother has been so patient with me as we both learn the ins and outs of bankruptcy law. Daily I am grateful that I don't have the same stressful work environment as I did before. Don't get me wrong, my work here is BEYOND stressful some days but I feel like I'm appreciated so it's all good.
And this has to do with moving....how?
All this year I've been working in our Clearfield office. Clearfield is right next door to Layton, about 30 miles north of Salt Lake. Geoff works most days in Salt Lake so I have this ridiculously huge corner office [we're talking floor to ceiling windows on two full walls] and a gigantic desk to myself. All day. Every day. But honestly, why do we have it when he's only up here one day a week [if that]. He only comes up this way if we have a client who lives and wants to meet in Davis county and he meets with them in the conference room.
So I'm moving down to the Salt Lake office this week. Really it should be chaotic this week with packing but I'm in avoidance mode. I have a handful of large projects on my plate due by Thursday and Friday that I don't have time to pack and all that. So I'm thinking I have to come in Saturday to move everything.
My dream of being the little-big-city girl is coming true. I think Salt Lake is a little big city. I might end up moving down there but I'm not sure. Why give up rent that's a couple hundred bucks a month?! I've saved a ton over the last year and a half living with the parents.
In honor of the move to Salt Lake I surveyed my closet and said, I need more work appropriate pants. In my email the next morning I found a lovely note from Express saying they're having a summer sale and all their tops and pants. Well sign me up! I bought 3 pairs of pants and a shirt that I have been coveting for months. Who doesn't love a good blue and white striped oxford shirt? I look like I belong on a boat but I love it. Give me a pair of loafers and some white shorts and call me cap'n!
PS - This weekend I'm hosting a birthday party / game night 80s style. I'm hoping a lot of people come in costume because really the 80s were fabulous for outrageous clothes. I borrowed my sisters leg warmers and I am so excited - I LOVED my leg warmers when I was little. For snacks we're having Shasta, Kool-Aid, and Cheetos, etc.
Can anyone think of other food fads that came out in the 80s?
Monday, June 7, 2010
Trying New Things
Alex and I decided we'd take turns planning dates if we don't have a party or event to go to. Last weekend on my day we helped my parents take the cabinets out of the kitchen so Mom can have a huge picture window looking out over the valley, dinner, star gazing up in the mountains with a chart of constellations and ... a pedicure. His feet aren't disgusting but they were craggy and stuff. You know, man feet.
I said, I don't care what you say but we're going to get a pedicure, my treat. He didn't put up too much of a fight. We got there and he was excited for the massage chair and laptop [which he promptly dropped on the floor] and the free soda. He squirmed less than me when they razored and pumiced the bottom of his feet [I seriously can't sit still - I almost kick the guy in the face every time].
When the lady doing his feet asked him what color he wanted he sarcastically answered green and she got up to get the color. You should have seen the panic in his eyes. Oh man.
I'm nervous that after such a girly date night he's going to plan something ultra manly next weekend. Like paintballing, or rifle shooting, or drag racing.
I said, I don't care what you say but we're going to get a pedicure, my treat. He didn't put up too much of a fight. We got there and he was excited for the massage chair and laptop [which he promptly dropped on the floor] and the free soda. He squirmed less than me when they razored and pumiced the bottom of his feet [I seriously can't sit still - I almost kick the guy in the face every time].
When the lady doing his feet asked him what color he wanted he sarcastically answered green and she got up to get the color. You should have seen the panic in his eyes. Oh man.
I'm nervous that after such a girly date night he's going to plan something ultra manly next weekend. Like paintballing, or rifle shooting, or drag racing.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Alex and Me - A Photo Shoot
As I mentioned a while back, I accompanied Alex to St. George for his cousin's wedding. He was the best man and of course had to have a hottie for arm candy. That's why he asked me. That and the fact that he's crazy about me. We drove down to St. George Friday afternoon and got there in time for dinner.
We sat down to dinner of spaghetti and texas toast garlic bread; there was Stan (dad), Laura (mom), sister Michelle, and sister Nicole with husband Phil and baby Carter. About halfway through dinner I smell a smell. "boy that baby stinks. I can smell his poopy diaper from here, why doesn't anyone change him?!" Then I realize there are two dogs in the house. One could have sat lovingly at my feet and farted.
I start to look around for the perp; I glance under the table, no dog. Not two feet to the right of me is a little gift. A little Belle, the Sheltie, gift. Two poop logs with a bow and a card that said "Welcome to the family". At this point I begin giggling like crazy, trying to get Alex's attention but he doesn't understand why I'm cracking up, staring at the ceiling, and pointing at my shoulder. He leans over and about throws up. Stan is upset, "She's never done this before" and then Phil notices another deposit on the opposite end of the table. Needless to say, we lit the candle I bought as a hostess gift but everyone lost their appetite.
The cousin's wedding was outside in a nice garden in 90 degree weather. A little roasty but that's what short sleeves and skirts are for. These aren't the best pictures but for heavens sakes I'm putting them on here. They're all I've got to show for it. That trip has convinced me that I MUST buy a digital camera before any future trips. Disposable cameras are such a joke.
On the lovely bridge in the gardens.
A little overexposed and he's squinty and has some weird shadows going on his face. Seriously, digital camera.
About a month ago we decided to start taking pictures of us, here's from the first photo shoot.
I decided to white out the background because it was his apartment building and there was a huge satellite between our heads. Lovely.
Me being me on the swings.
Alex HATES this one because his nose is squished against my cheek. He's already dubbed this picture the "Parrot Nose Picture".
This one is better but he thinks his neck looks fat. Wait, who's the girl here?
All by himself. He had just gotten his hair cut and it was WAY too short. I've already remedied the situation, this short of a haircut will never happen again. Gives me the shivers just looking at it. And no, he is not a skin head. Just a little self conscious about the receding hairline.
I think the dialog to this next picture went like this:
Alex: Do something cute
Becka: Like what?
Alex: I don't know. You're naturally beautiful, just give me a smile
Becka: *bashful smile* Stoooooooooop
All I'm going to say is he looks dang hot in these glasses and the brown jacket on the bike. Oh holy hannah.
He bought a motorcycle for the summer. Not exactly the best option for someone you're dating but every guy seems to own a motorcycle once in his life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
