Apparently I Feel More Strongly Than I Thought

Today one of my coworkers IM-ed me and asked me what I thought of the Goo Goo Dolls. I immediately typed back the following:

"I hate 'em. With the fire of 1,000 suns."

Now, I haven't even thought about the Goo Goo Dolls in YEARS, and I was still able to muster up such a strong reaction to them. But seriously, even today if one of their songs comes on the radio, I have to change the station immediately. I think it's because the radio stations growing up played their songs SO MUCH. I feel the same way about Nickleback.

What bands do you passionately hate?

This Lush is Going Green

Since I've been home more lately, I noticed that I've been drinking more and more. So much that I even decided to recycle. Guess what my favorite drinks are . . .

We're Raising a Racket!

Now, try not to be jealous, but Kristen and I spent last weekend in beautiful Cedar City. What does one do in the lovely City of Cedar you may ask? Well, we crossed an item off of our bucket lists, and played tennis in the Utah Summer Games! Because you know, there are no try outs. And, it was hysterical. Next year, Kristen is going to participate in the Women's Arm Wrestling competetion, as there was only one participant in her weight class this year, so she at least would have gotten a silver medal! Here is our list of highs and lows:

High: Cedar City is a great little town. They take these Summer Games seriously, and we loved being called athletes wherever we went. Also, they have a random lighthouse in their land-locked downtown, and this gal was camped outside the Army/Navy Supply store/hair salon every day. Please note the sleeve tatoo.


Low: Driving down in this bucket. I'm sorry to anyone who drives a PT Cruiser, but this car is ridiculous. A big boo goes out to Enterprise for having this as their only car in stock when I went to pick up my sweet ride. Not only did the tiny engine take 5 minutes to accelerate up to 60 mph, but it beeped every 2 minutes and 15 seconds to alert us that there was a problem with the airbag. Awesome.



High: Our matching outfits from Walmart! We realized once we got down there that we needed an intimidation factor, and what better way to do that than with matching outfits! Alright, we didn't wear the matching shorts, but it was funny in my head.


Low: The wind! It could not have been more windy. We have decided to blame our losses on the wind.

High: The Wendy Wood Memorial Rodeo! We both love us a good rodeo, and we got in free by wearing our dorky t-shirts! These pictures are supposed to be with us and the doggies (sp?), but you can't really see them. But believe me, they are tucked away in their little pen, resting after being hog tied by some real hot cowboys.


Low: Team Russell and Hensley. These ladies were our arch nemeses, and ended up beating us in our final match. They enter the games every year, and win every event they enter. Plus, they have hot husbands, flashy cars, and wore matching uni's, while we were in our matching outfits from Walmart. I have committed the next 365 days to training to beat Russell and Hensley in 2011.

High: Winning these!

What's in Julie's Church Bag?

Two years ago, I did a post on what was in my purse. Besides strengthening my arm muscles, there are some great things in there. Now, I have had a request for what is in my lovely church bag. Come Sunday, I leave my regular bag at home, and bring my little green number that is wonderfully large and holds anything and everything I may need while at church.

1. My own library. It's hard for me to rely on needing something from a library that may or may not be open and may or may not have what I need. Plus, if I have it - then I don't have to worry about returning it. I carry my own chalk/eraser, bag of scissors and pens, masking and invisible tape (two kinds . . . do you expect anything less), a calculator and staple to put together expense reports, and a container of magnets to put things on the board.

2. Manuals and books - I have my jazzy YW binder with lots of goodies inside, the scriptures (of course) and my own hymn book in case I am seated somewhere where books are not available (totally smart!), a Gospel Principles book and my Personal Progress book I am working on.

3. Miscellaneous Items - I have Kleenex for the waterworks, gum and Mentos (I go through one pack of Mentos a week), checkbook for tithing, CD's for YW when we don't have a pianist, ward lists and newsletters to distribute.

With both of my bags, the goal is to be like Michelle Pfeifer in One Fine Day who could even fashion her child's school costume from materials in her bag. My little green church bag has served me well for several years. However, the grommets are starting to come off near the handles and I am itching to go to NY to find another street vendor gem.

Does anyone else have a bag like this?

Old People I Really Like

Sometimes I think I'm a 60-year old in a 30-year old's body, due in no small part to my tendency to fall asleep in my chair and watch Masterpiece Theater. Here, then is my list of old people I love.

Carol Burnett (age 77). Melinda made fun of me the other day because I admitted that I was listening to Carol Burnett's memoir on tape in my car! There was a CBS special about her show on in the 90s. I taped it and watched that tape over and over again. And now, I can't watch it because I need a VCR.

Watch this clip up through about 2:45.


And here's another:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FpY4aC5l0c

Neil Sedaka (age 71). Just try not to sing along to "Laughter in the Rain."


Bonnie Raitt (age 61). Maybe it's that single white streak in her hair, but there's something about Bonnie I really like. "Something to Talk About?" Great song.

Fred Willard (age 71). He's so deadpan and really good at playing really clueless characters. And he's everywhere - I think he accepts every job he's offered.

Annie Lennox (age 56). Love her music, with the Eurythmics and as a solo artist.


Diane Sawyer (age 65). I've seen a few interviews with her, and she's just so down-to-earth and funny! Plus, I hope I look that good when I'm 65.

The Crazy-as-a-Bat Category: Carol Channing (89), Phyllis Diller (93), and Cloris Leachman (84)


Charo (age 59). I think I like her because her name reminds me of churros.


Dolly Parton (age 64). Yes, she's unrecognizable, but I love that she totally admits to all the work she's had done. "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap." Plus, I just think she's a good person.

Favorite Apps . . . Continued

In response to Kristen's recent post, I thought a list of my favorite iPhone Apps was worth it's own special post. While I loved my Blackberry, my iPhone has easily replaced it as my new best friend. I can't leave home without it. In fact, our little kids are liking our iPhones more than us these days when they come to visit . . . this is a shot of Maia and Emma on Sunday. Here are some of my favorites:

* Shazam . . . I already mentioned this one in an earlier post, but am totally in love with it. I find myself pointing my phone at the TV, at a store's speaker system or all the time in my car trying to identify songs I love. Then, of course, they have made the App totally appealing to an impulse-customer-service oriented person like myself and I can purchase the song I love on iTunes with one touch of a button from there. Love it!

* LDS Gospel Library - when I first got my phone the church didn't have an App and there were lots of other separate Apps you could find with scriptures, hymns, lessons, etc. Then the official App came from the church and it is fantastic . . . all of these goodies rolled into one. I can hyperlink to a YW lesson, then to scriptures and over to the latest and greatest LDS-related news stories. At a recent YW General training, the leadership mentioned they were working on a Personal Progress App too! The church is so progressive!

* DirectTV and America Credit Union - if I am away from home I can schedule items to record on my DVR through DirectTV. And, since our family all have accounts at the same location, I can easily transfer money around to make sure that we are always straight.

* My News - This consists of EOnline, People, Entertainment Tonight, USA Today and KSL . . . in that order. I like to check what's going on in the "news" throughout the day. If any earth shattering news happens about Britney, I'm all dialed in.

* Flashlight - If I want a low light to read a program at a play or something else in the dark, this App lights up the screen so you can see what's going on. Aiden was all sorts of excited about this since he likes to read in the dark after he has supposedly gone to bed.

* Yelp! - This little beauty helps you find anything near where you are. How else would we have discovered the yummy cupcakes on 25 Main in St. George when we were there recently. And the other day I was tracking down some YW supplies at various WalMarts. I plug in "WalMart" and to give me directions from where I am right there and up comes a complete set of driving directions for me. What did I do without this? This has also come in handy as we are on our eternal quest for various Macy's and H&M stores as we travel.

* Games - SkeeBall, Solitaire, Line-Up2 (so addicting!) and AirHockey are the ones I play most often.

The only bad thing about the lovely iPhone is that you have to use AT&T service. I had them years ago and am sad to be back. Apparently my lovely home in the Springs is often a dead zone as my phone cuts in and out as I sit here. Verizon is by far the best service that I have ever had with fantastic reception anywhere and everywhere.

Now This is Sad

The following is an actual email that was sent to all the ladies in my office the other day. While it was not sent from me, I echo this brave patriot's crusade. It really is bad. Please enjoy:

From:
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 4:49 PM
To:

Subject: Please help!

Ladies! Because I have increased my water intake, I have frequented the restroom more than usual. That is not the reason for my email though – to bring to everyone’s attention how often I go ‘powder my nose’…but it is to plead with all of you – proper flushing etiquette.

The handicap stall needs for you to HOLD DOWN the handle until all the water has emptied otherwise, the next visitor will find a surprise! I have found surprises 3 times today! Not a good thing. Please please, if anything…double flush for the benefit of those who may follow you.

Thanks for helping.

Makes Sleeping Even More Fun!

I'm in love with my iphone, and I can tell right now I'm going to have to limit my time with it. But for right now, I have a cool app to share: Sleep Cycle.

The idea is that you move differently when you're in different stages of sleep (for example, when you're in REM you don't move at all). So you put the phone by your pillow and the sensors in the iphone chart when you're moving around at night.

THEN, it gives you a graph of how you slept during the night! Mine from last night shows that I woke up briefly at 5:00 and 7:00 before finally getting out of bed at 9:30

You can also set an alarm for an approximate time you want to get up, and it'll set the alarm to go off when you're in your lightest stage of sleep, which makes it easier to get up in the morning!

My phone is so smart. I hate being the dumb one in a relationship.

Does anyone else have an iphone? What are your favorite apps?

Another Favorite Website

I am always on the lookout for new ideas and discovered this little gem of a website a while ago . . . Green Jello with Carrots. Not only is the company name fantastic that screams Mormon . . . but it is a site that is constantly updated with new church games, clip art, wall art and other fun ideas. The ladies who put the ideas together are so talented. They have freebie downloads on Friday and I always love to see their blog updates in my Google Reader. Their prices are totally reasonable and then you download the file right away, which I love. And the best part is that the artwork is already colored. I have fond memories of sitting at the kitchen table with Mom on Saturday nights as we worked on coloring and laminating our various projects for our lessons at church the next day. Boy, have things come a long way. I had sent a request for Plan of Salvation figures and the other day it appeared on their site. I can't wait to put it together for a Personal Progress project I am working on.

It's a Sign

I've been coveting an iPhone lately and thinking more and more about getting one. Then, tonight I dropped my cell phone in the toilet. Accident - or destiny?

PS. I will be inaccessible by phone for the next little while.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

One of my more glamorous duties at work is to monitor our company bulletin board. We get some kind of crazy stuff people are trying to sell, like stuffed animals (taxidermy-style) and homemade jars of jam. But this one about took the cake...

It was an ad for two oil bronzed light fixtures - you know, the standard kind that come in houses these days.

I had to decline the posting and ask the man who posted it to submit a different picture. I'll give you one guess why:

I Just Can't Have Any Pride...

Please take a look at this little beauty that was passed up to me in the middle of Sacrament Meeting yesterday. Have you gotten a good look at it? I have the following observations:



1. You can't tell in this picture, but this was the most shockingly bright shade of yellow I have ever seen. I know, let's pass the brightest yellow paper that we can find up to the single gal in the middle of the meeting which screams that she is a single lady over the age of 31. Rude! We are not off to a great start here, Sandy West Stake.

2. Three of the four activities start between 10:00-12:00! You know what? Some of us have to work during the day! Apparently, this is also a club for unemployed/retired ladies. Sign me up!

3. Cost-Free! What a relief!

4. Men are NOT invited. The one activity in the evening is a BBQ. The woman in charge of this activity said that they were having a difficult time finding enough women who either had a grill, or who knew how to grill. You think? I suggested that if they invited some men, the odds of finding both would increase by quite a bit. In response, she gasped, shot me a withering look, and I think she "tsk'd" at me. Excuse me, but the LAST thing I want to do on July 14th at 6:30 pm is hang around with a bunch of retired women eating a hot dog that was baked in the oven because nobody had a grill!

5. If you sign up for one of the 15 highly coveted slots for the HCT tour and suddenly cannot go, you MUST find a replacement!

6. When did this become my social circle? If you need to find me tomorrow, I'll be drowning my sorrows during a guided tour of the Governor's mansion.

I'm Done with Movies!

Last week we saw, Letters with Julia, and I was reminded why I don't go to movies very often. B-O-R-I-N-G. This week we tried The Killers . . . which slowly killed me! Terrible acting . . . ridiculous story . . . me checking my watch lots of times. I can't remember the last movie I saw that I actually enjoyed. I am done with movies (for a while at least) and will be sticking to my TV shows, which are much more exciting.

I Live in the Sticks!

My friend, Camille, and I ventured out yesterday and look what we saw across the street from our subdivision . . . .

See how they are grazing NOT behind a fence. Ahhhh!!! Now, I have heard coyotes at night . . . but am luckily inside for that. These little sheep were just roaming around. Now, I am not an animal person . . . not a dog, a cat or even a fish. I don't care if your animal is nice . . . I still don't like them. So, it's pretty ironic that I live out in the "country". Salt Lake suburbia with a freeway closer than 20 minutes . . . take me away!

Memorial Day Fun

Jacob with Sara, Emma waving, Maia and Aiden with Gracie in the front.

We had a fun family Memorial Day. Brent and his family were the strong ones who went to Mom's grave. They said that it looked nice with lots of flowers. Our cute Dad makes sure that the grave area always looks great . . . I still can't make it there . . . but I'm glad that it's well taken care of. What I can do is plan food and fun together. We ventured up to Big Cottonwood canyon for a picnic dinner. It's so fun to see the kids playing and loving to be together. We have fun memories of similar canyon adventures when we were little. Who knew how much fun dirt, sticks, rocks and water can be.

Brent and Grace collecting their rocks

Sara with her rocks ready to skip them in the stream

Melinda, Kristen and Lilli

This marshmallow face Maggie is funny since she hates being dirty and always likes to be clean. Shortly after the wipes came out and she was all better.

Brian and Lisa

Dad/Grandpa, Julie and Kristen

Maia and Jena

Aiden and Jacob

Grace is in her element as a little monkey in the trees . . . she is a great climber.

Emma

When Did I Get So Short?

One of my favorite things about being an aunt is going to all of the performances and activities that my nieces and nephews have. I'm sorry, but there are few things better than going to little league anything, dance recitals and any program where singing is involved. Not only does it make me nostalgic for the days when I played soccer in bitsy little shorts, but the events are always entertaining.

A few weeks ago, our nephew Aiden, had his Spring concert, so Julie and I ventured over to our old Jr. High to take in the show, and boy howdy, we were not disappointed. They have certainly upped the difficulty level since I played the clarinet, as they whipped out all kinds of jazzy numbers. I think Mary Had a Little Lamb was the most difficult song that I ever played, and it took me all year to master it. But I digress. The kids were told to dress in Springy colors, and sure enough, Aiden rocked a pink shirt and green tie. Seriously, how handsome is he? And please note that he was totally hunkering down so as not to tower over me. Oh yeah, he's 12. And I'm officially short.