In case those who read this haven't figured it out by now, I really like to write. I have ever since I was a little girl, composing four-page stories from the age of nine. It was the pride of my life to read my stories to my fourth-grade class and hear my fellow students tell me that my stories were really good. I continued the story-writing up until I was about fourteen. I stopped when I realized that my old masterpieces really weren't all that great. One of my biggest regrets is that I threw away all but one of my school-girl stories in a moment of teenage stupidity, and now their plots are distant memories. They had really gripping titles, too. "Snow Camp", "Daddy's Home", and "Basketball Wars", just to name a few. But I still really enjoyed writing, even after I gave up writing stories regularly. I took a Creative Writing class my senior year in high school, and I was so proud of myself when I managed to create a sonnet in iambic pentameter within twenty minutes. Shocking. And a long way from my first thrilling epic ever written, "The King and Queen Are Missing!" (gee, i wonder how the plot of that story went.)
I have never aspired to be a great writer, though, and I don't really think I ever will be, but I've been really surprised at the last year of my life and how much time I have spent typing away at story ideas that pop into my head at random times. Sometimes it's a dialog that I think of first, or an image of a scene that I want to describe, and suddenly I think of a whole story to go along with it. Just last week, between the states of sleep and wakefulness, a scene popped in my brain that was crying out for an explanation. Once I was fully awake, I couldn't put the scene aside. I had to create a story to it. Once I had, I shared the storyline with Esther. I'm not sure she was really all that enthralled with it considering it's my hobby and she was lying in bed, but I think she did find a couple of plot points kind of interesting.
If you're curious about the kinds of things I end up writing about, it's not really worth it to ask me for an excerpt or anything. I may be an extremely loud and obnoxious person, but I'm incredibly shy when it comes to sharing these little tidbits of stories, especially when I want to expand on them and actually write something book-length. It was a big deal when I read a mere paragraph to Becky and Esther from something I'd been working on for a couple of months (i'd written more than a paragraph after two months of working on it, but the paragraph was all i shared with them). I'll just say that one of my greatest wishes has been to write a really great American Revolution historical fiction epic. Well, maybe "epic" is too grand a word. But I have a tendency to exaggerate, in case you missed that, as well.
I don't think I have the ambition to really try and ever publish anything I write. I think I'd surprise even myself if I ever did. For now, it's still a hobby I love. But just in case I ever branch out and write something that I don't just post to a blog, you can all say you knew me when. Because, naturally, whatever I write will immediately be a big-time best-seller, complete with a feature film option, and I will be a hit celebrity, like Stephenie Meyer . . . but not like Stephenie Meyer. So far, none of my stories have centered around hormonal, teenage vampires. I have a feeling they never will.
-Me
"Typos are very important to all written form. It gives the reader something to look for so they aren't distracted by the total lack of content in your writing." -Randy K. Milholland
Monday, June 8, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Land That I Love
Wow, talk about lazy posting. It's been three weeks! Heavens. I'd like to apologize to those who actually read this blog . . . which is probably, on average, one person per post. So to whoever the lucky person is that has been checking my blog regularly for the last three weeks, this one's for you. (and anyone else that may happen to wander across this . . . really, i'm not picky.)
Two weeks ago, I made the excruciatingly long trip up to Clinton for the weekend, as Mommy Dearest was there watching out for the kids as Kelly and Nate were out of town. I was looking forward to spending time with the family and seeing Mom, but it ends up that it was a really good thing I went for health's sake! Mom had a cold almost from the instant she set foot in Utah earlier that week, and on Sunday, she was completely bed-ridden and I became a single mom for a day! I love those children. But I've never been a mother. And especially not a mother of four all at once. And I never really had much baby-sitting experience as a kid/teenager, either. I wonder why that is sometimes. Oh, well. Anyway, I took the kids to church and attempted to feed them (mom eventually called me up to the bedroom where she could hear our conversations and croaked out, "let them eat cake" . . . oh, the difference between a mom and a grandma . . .) and entertain them the rest of Sunday until bedtime. Phew! And somehow, even though I'd picked Ali up quite often throughout the day, she instinctively knew that this time around was different, and she immediately started crying and struggling to get out of my grip. She ran to Ganny, who she obviously knew was not in charge that day. But Ganny came through. She got Ali in her pj's and everything, and I was relieved that I didn't have to go through a battle to get Ali to bed. I felt guilty leaving Mom there when she was still sick, but as far as I know, the rest of her time there was smooth enough. At least, no one died, which is always a plus.
The following week, I only worked for two days (!!!) because Esther and I left on Wednesday morning for DC and Becky's wedding! Good times to be had all around. I rode the Washington Metro for the first time, from where Becky, Noah, and Becky's sister Raelee picked us up and we went on to Frederick. Esther and I stayed in the house of a couple that are old friends with Becky's family. It was also the home to some raucous birds who really needed a mute button. Badly. From about five in the morning. Esther and I were not pleased in the mornings. It was the first time in my life that I recall ever wanting to strap on a shotgun and go hunting.
On the metro. Exciting!
The wood slide near Becky's house. Awesome.
Thursday was spent at the temple for Becky's endowment, and she was really excited. Her older sister, Ruth, was our chauffeur, and after we were done at the temple, she came with Esther and me to get some breakfast/lunch/dinner (really, it was 3:30, and we hadn't eaten all day . . . starving!) at the Cheesecake Factory. (Delectable!) She also dropped us off at the Metro station once we were done with our fantastically edible meal, and Esther and I spent the rest of the afternoon/evening walking around the National Mall, trying to take pictures before the plethora of tour groups got in our way. It was really . . . wow, I feel like any adjective I use here would be inadequate. I was really excited to be in DC and see all the memorials. There was a lot of walking involved, but it wasn't until we were done seeing things and were on our way back to the Metro that my feet felt a little brutalized. It was a little surreal to be actually in the presence of these places that I have only ever seen pictures of, but it was absolutely amazing. As we were coming down the steps of the Jefferson Memorial, I had to stop and look around me. The whole city just looked beautiful from where I stood, and I was really happy to be there. So, to report, Thursday we saw from afar the Capitol and the White House (very much from afar, we didn't bother walking toward them at all), and then the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial (which i really liked), the Vietnam War Memorial (which was the closest i came to crying in the patriotic part of the trip . . . it was very moving to see little offerings put there by families of the different names we saw), the Korean War Memorial, the FDR Memorial (lots of fountains . . . fun!), and the Jefferson Memorial. (we deliberately put off seeing the lincoln, so don't worry . . . i didn't accidentally leave it out.)
At the FDR Memorial
One last roommate shot.
On Sunday after church, Ruth, Raelee, Esther, and I drove up to Gettysburg. Wow. I was amazed by how much land was involved in this battle. We were driving around all the battlefields, and I just kept wondering how much more was coming. Lo, and behold, another turn, another huge amount of land. Incredible. Again, such a beautiful place. So green. (so humid, too, but that's another issue that i won't address here.) After Gettysburg, we were dropped off once more at the Metro, where we miraculously found our way to the Holiday Inn we were staying at (yeah . . . didn't get into our room until about ten . . . pretty laughable). We just dropped into our comfortable bed, turned on the tv, ate our room service (yes . . . we got room service), and it was a good night's sleep.
The WWII Memorial
Another future reference thought: Never, and I mean, NEVER, go to DC on Memorial Day. Not that we could help the weekend that Becky chose to get married, but wow. Don't do it, if all you want to do is walk around Arlington Cemetery without getting herded like sheep into only one direction and not knowing if there's going to be a way out. Oh, well. We weren't really using our heads with that one. Memorial Day=people visiting cemeteries=people going to national memorials and monuments=lots of crowded places=not going to happen to megan ever again.
Esther and the Vietnam War Memorial
Anyway, after our adventure at Arlington and finding our way back out, we crossed the Potomac and walked to the Lincoln Memorial. That was where I was the most anxious to go. Honestly, I could have skipped everything else and been happy just seeing the Lincoln. I think it's because I love Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. He has a connection to that memorial, and I do, too, after seeing Jimmy Stewart talk about how Mr. Lincoln is just sitting there waiting for him. Anyway, naturally the place was totally crowded, but I still managed to get completely choked up reading the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address. What incredible words. And what incredible things happened even at that place. I got a thrill seeing the step from where Martin Luther King gave the "I Have a Dream" speech. Absolutely amazing. What a place.
Me and Mr. Lincoln!
We found our way back to the hotel and the airport after that and returned to our regular lives that night. A pretty awesome weekend. Becky and Noah's wedding was beautiful, and the time we actually did get to spend in DC was awesome. And I have written WAY too much. Please forgive me my tirade. I could have said a lot more; believe me.
-Me
"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations." -Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address
Two weeks ago, I made the excruciatingly long trip up to Clinton for the weekend, as Mommy Dearest was there watching out for the kids as Kelly and Nate were out of town. I was looking forward to spending time with the family and seeing Mom, but it ends up that it was a really good thing I went for health's sake! Mom had a cold almost from the instant she set foot in Utah earlier that week, and on Sunday, she was completely bed-ridden and I became a single mom for a day! I love those children. But I've never been a mother. And especially not a mother of four all at once. And I never really had much baby-sitting experience as a kid/teenager, either. I wonder why that is sometimes. Oh, well. Anyway, I took the kids to church and attempted to feed them (mom eventually called me up to the bedroom where she could hear our conversations and croaked out, "let them eat cake" . . . oh, the difference between a mom and a grandma . . .) and entertain them the rest of Sunday until bedtime. Phew! And somehow, even though I'd picked Ali up quite often throughout the day, she instinctively knew that this time around was different, and she immediately started crying and struggling to get out of my grip. She ran to Ganny, who she obviously knew was not in charge that day. But Ganny came through. She got Ali in her pj's and everything, and I was relieved that I didn't have to go through a battle to get Ali to bed. I felt guilty leaving Mom there when she was still sick, but as far as I know, the rest of her time there was smooth enough. At least, no one died, which is always a plus.
The following week, I only worked for two days (!!!) because Esther and I left on Wednesday morning for DC and Becky's wedding! Good times to be had all around. I rode the Washington Metro for the first time, from where Becky, Noah, and Becky's sister Raelee picked us up and we went on to Frederick. Esther and I stayed in the house of a couple that are old friends with Becky's family. It was also the home to some raucous birds who really needed a mute button. Badly. From about five in the morning. Esther and I were not pleased in the mornings. It was the first time in my life that I recall ever wanting to strap on a shotgun and go hunting.
On the metro. Exciting!
The wood slide near Becky's house. Awesome.
At the FDR MemorialI love coming from where I do. With very few exceptions, my entire family lives on the west side of the United States, but it was a great experience to go to a place that is so historical. I don't profess to be a history buff, but it is a subject that I have always enjoyed. Maybe from my experiences of reading about Felicity, Molly, Samantha, and Kirsten, when I was in my "American Girl" kick as a child (remember those? i was always so jealous that my cousin kathryn had the kirsten doll . . . i always wanted felicity). Anyway, being back in DC really increased my appreciation for being a citizen of this country. It's not perfect, but I know that we always have the chance and responsibility to make it better, and that's because of all the great people who have come before us, be they great historical leaders or everyday men and women. I'm grateful for my freedom.
The Washington Monument
The Washington MonumentOkay. Enough patriotic schmaltz. Back to business. Friday was spent getting ready for the reception on Saturday, but there were so many people at the chapel helping, there ended up being very little to do. So after Esther and I had done what we could, we took Becky and Noah's car (oops, i mean "borrowed"), took it through a car wash (which it desperately needed . . . so many birds had used it as a potty), and then proceeded to the closest mall in Frederick. There we found the biggest shoe store I have ever seen. I was astounded. We were back in time to party hearty at the "bachelorette party" for Becky. And, naturally, being the Mormons that we are, the party consisted of eating hamburgers, chatting, and playing "Apples to Apples" with Becky's now-sister-in-law. Hardly a riotous event. But it was Becky's last night of singledom, and I think she was grateful to have her close friends and sister with her.
Me and the Capitol Dome.
Me and the Capitol Dome.Saturday was the wedding, and Becky was just glowing; she was so happy. And, despite any tears that may have been shed on the part of her former roommates, we were very happy for her. We took up the very-important post of watching over the presents and the guest book (that noah made! creative guy!) at the reception. Our efforts were very necessary, although maybe our presence would have been better appreciated at Becky and Noah's car, seeing as how those who decorated it went a little too crazy in what was done to it. We could have at least foreseen and talked them out of pouring chocolate syrup onto and concurrently into the car. What a pleasant experience for them to drive away from the reception that night, stopping at Wal-Mart to get some cleaning supplies to attempt to clean up the chocolate in the back seat. For future reference, if/when I get married, don't do that to my car. Cleaning up chocolate in the back seat is the last thing I will want to be doing on my wedding night. Umm . . . yeah. Moving on.
One last roommate shot.On Sunday after church, Ruth, Raelee, Esther, and I drove up to Gettysburg. Wow. I was amazed by how much land was involved in this battle. We were driving around all the battlefields, and I just kept wondering how much more was coming. Lo, and behold, another turn, another huge amount of land. Incredible. Again, such a beautiful place. So green. (so humid, too, but that's another issue that i won't address here.) After Gettysburg, we were dropped off once more at the Metro, where we miraculously found our way to the Holiday Inn we were staying at (yeah . . . didn't get into our room until about ten . . . pretty laughable). We just dropped into our comfortable bed, turned on the tv, ate our room service (yes . . . we got room service), and it was a good night's sleep.
The WWII MemorialAnother future reference thought: Never, and I mean, NEVER, go to DC on Memorial Day. Not that we could help the weekend that Becky chose to get married, but wow. Don't do it, if all you want to do is walk around Arlington Cemetery without getting herded like sheep into only one direction and not knowing if there's going to be a way out. Oh, well. We weren't really using our heads with that one. Memorial Day=people visiting cemeteries=people going to national memorials and monuments=lots of crowded places=not going to happen to megan ever again.
Esther and the Vietnam War MemorialAnyway, after our adventure at Arlington and finding our way back out, we crossed the Potomac and walked to the Lincoln Memorial. That was where I was the most anxious to go. Honestly, I could have skipped everything else and been happy just seeing the Lincoln. I think it's because I love Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. He has a connection to that memorial, and I do, too, after seeing Jimmy Stewart talk about how Mr. Lincoln is just sitting there waiting for him. Anyway, naturally the place was totally crowded, but I still managed to get completely choked up reading the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address. What incredible words. And what incredible things happened even at that place. I got a thrill seeing the step from where Martin Luther King gave the "I Have a Dream" speech. Absolutely amazing. What a place.
Me and Mr. Lincoln!We found our way back to the hotel and the airport after that and returned to our regular lives that night. A pretty awesome weekend. Becky and Noah's wedding was beautiful, and the time we actually did get to spend in DC was awesome. And I have written WAY too much. Please forgive me my tirade. I could have said a lot more; believe me.
-Me
"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations." -Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Climb Every Mountain
It's strange to say you love inanimate objects, but I'm going to say it, anyway. I love our new place. It's so incredibly nice! The Halfway House, while it was good enough for a year, was just such a dump compared to the new place (we may have to come up with a name for it). We have stairs! I'm excited about having stairs! We also have a ton of storage space, and the kitchen is so cute with its one red wall! Extra perk: we have a dishwasher that is NOT named Megan! It's an actual machine! Huzzah! (i've been saying that a lot lately. must be my new "awesome" . . .) Esther, Alicia, and I got all moved in a couple weeks ago, then Rachel came last week. So it's the four of us, and I think we're handling the new arrangements all right. Especially since we have yet to experience even one day with all four of us actually here. Crazy. But we love the new place, in case you didn't infer that.
Just a couple shots of the new place
I had quite the kitchen-oriented start to my week, actually. I've been determined to actually cook more, and that determination has been kind of succeeding, especially since I was involved in a work potluck and a dinner group potluck all on the same day, and then the actual cooking for myself (and roommates/friends) in addition. Fortunately, both my potluck dishes (enchiladas for the cinco de mayo potluck at work and the amazing jensen lemon cake dessert for the dinner group) got rave reviews from all who partook. Yay! I'm in charge of the dinner group on Thursday, too, and I'm really pumped to make this absolutely awesome and incredible soup that I've been looking for an excuse to make.
I completed my first Y hike of the summer season on Thursday evening. First time I ever did it by myself. Not something I'd recommend, but I wanted to do it, and I guess I was just too lazy to call anybody to come with me. It's a short hike, yes, but it's so darn steep that I always feel as though I've conquered Kilimanjaro once I've reached the Y. The first time I ever tried to hike the Y ("tried" being the operative word), I didn't make it all the way because my 200-above-sea-level, Oregonian body did not appreciate it and I subsequently became extremely light-headed and nauseated (hurray for altitude sickness). Fortunately, my date that day (yeah, it was a date . . . embarrassing to not make it on a date) was really nice about it. A month and a half later, I actually made it (that time, i nearly blacked out halfway up, but i refused to stop and be humiliated by the mountain again). And ever since then, hiking the Y has been a great accomplishment for me. And now you may all mock my history of lameness when it comes to mountains. -gives five seconds- All right, stop laughing. No, really, I mean it. Hey, stop!
The south view from the Y
And one more parting image of the lovely Jeremie Jones.
This time he really DID leave Provo.
And Cher gave her final concert.
Yesterday, I got to see my friend Andrew for a large chunk of the day. I haven't seen him in quite some time. We talk occasionally, but the last time we actually laid eyes on each other was probably in January. So we ended up going to dinner (i introduced him to carabbas . . . needless to say, he really enjoyed it) and then he suggested seeing the new Star Trek movie. I really hadn't been planning on seeing it (and i had told esther so the night before), but he wanted to see it and was willing to pay for me, so I went along with it. So. Good. It was an awesome movie, so I'm really glad that Andrew got me to change my mind. Everyone should see it.
Okay, that's all for now. I'm looking forward to a new week, and my new determination is to have a better attitude about work. So we'll see how that goes. Wish me luck!
-Me
"I don't even butter my bread. I consider that cooking." -Katherine Cebrian
Just a couple shots of the new placeI had quite the kitchen-oriented start to my week, actually. I've been determined to actually cook more, and that determination has been kind of succeeding, especially since I was involved in a work potluck and a dinner group potluck all on the same day, and then the actual cooking for myself (and roommates/friends) in addition. Fortunately, both my potluck dishes (enchiladas for the cinco de mayo potluck at work and the amazing jensen lemon cake dessert for the dinner group) got rave reviews from all who partook. Yay! I'm in charge of the dinner group on Thursday, too, and I'm really pumped to make this absolutely awesome and incredible soup that I've been looking for an excuse to make.
I completed my first Y hike of the summer season on Thursday evening. First time I ever did it by myself. Not something I'd recommend, but I wanted to do it, and I guess I was just too lazy to call anybody to come with me. It's a short hike, yes, but it's so darn steep that I always feel as though I've conquered Kilimanjaro once I've reached the Y. The first time I ever tried to hike the Y ("tried" being the operative word), I didn't make it all the way because my 200-above-sea-level, Oregonian body did not appreciate it and I subsequently became extremely light-headed and nauseated (hurray for altitude sickness). Fortunately, my date that day (yeah, it was a date . . . embarrassing to not make it on a date) was really nice about it. A month and a half later, I actually made it (that time, i nearly blacked out halfway up, but i refused to stop and be humiliated by the mountain again). And ever since then, hiking the Y has been a great accomplishment for me. And now you may all mock my history of lameness when it comes to mountains. -gives five seconds- All right, stop laughing. No, really, I mean it. Hey, stop!
The south view from the Y
And Megan, the lone explorer.
Now that you've all recovered from your Megan-induced hilarity, we'll move on.
I'm really looking forward to seeing my mom later this week. I've been really missing her (and dad, naturally, but he's not coming down to utah, -insert sad face here-), so I'm glad for the opportunity to go up to Clinton and see her and (help take care of) the kids while Kelly and Nate are back east. I'm not sure when exactly I'll get the opportunity to go up, but I'll probably try to swing it this weekend.
And one more parting image of the lovely Jeremie Jones.And Cher gave her final concert.
Yesterday, I got to see my friend Andrew for a large chunk of the day. I haven't seen him in quite some time. We talk occasionally, but the last time we actually laid eyes on each other was probably in January. So we ended up going to dinner (i introduced him to carabbas . . . needless to say, he really enjoyed it) and then he suggested seeing the new Star Trek movie. I really hadn't been planning on seeing it (and i had told esther so the night before), but he wanted to see it and was willing to pay for me, so I went along with it. So. Good. It was an awesome movie, so I'm really glad that Andrew got me to change my mind. Everyone should see it.
Okay, that's all for now. I'm looking forward to a new week, and my new determination is to have a better attitude about work. So we'll see how that goes. Wish me luck!
-Me
"I don't even butter my bread. I consider that cooking." -Katherine Cebrian
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Impossible Dream (literally)
So, being a single girl, I have this incredible luxury. I can hopelessly swoon over famous guys I will never meet without making a boyfriend/fiance/husband's eyes roll and wonder if he'll ever measure up to these impossible expectations that we women inevitably set after observing these men. I would still definitely prefer to actually have a real relationship with a solid, real, human boy (not to say that these actors/singers aren't real humans . . . just that they're not around me in the flesh). But in the meantime, while I'm stuck at home on a Friday night, I will indulge my silly tastes by listening to this guy sing . . .
. . . and watching this guy act.
I'm not ashamed.
Just please remember that I am very willing to give up these funny admirations for an actual guy, even if he has faults (because heaven knows, he'd have to put up with my faults . . . such as occasionally wishing he were Mr. Thornton . . . kidding).
-Me
"A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized." -Fred Allen
. . . and watching this guy act.
I'm not ashamed.
Just please remember that I am very willing to give up these funny admirations for an actual guy, even if he has faults (because heaven knows, he'd have to put up with my faults . . . such as occasionally wishing he were Mr. Thornton . . . kidding).
-Me
"A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized." -Fred Allen
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Girls of Summer
In honor of the weather finally getting warm again (especially after the freak snowstorm we got on tax day . . . happy birthday, tom) and of the fact that people in Provo are turning their minds to summer with the end of winter semester this week (haha! i love not having to worry about that anymore!) (and i also love rubbing it in my friends' faces who are still in school), I am writing out my summer to-do list. I created one last year, and there were a lot of items on it, and surprisingly enough, I accomplished a great deal of them. However, it's a new summer, and I would like to do the things that I didn't do last year, as well as new ideas and goals. And I am posting this on my public blog in the hopes that people will check up on me and make sure I'm actually doing what I say I want to. Here goes:
1) Hike at least once a month.
2) Go on a road trip (or several, but at least one).
3) Visit home. (Oregon! June's a good month. The roses will be out.)
4) Go camping. (Guess that means i need a tent.)
5) Be outside. A lot.
6) Learn new music, hopefully two good pieces on the piano. (Suggestions, Mom? Kelly? Anyone?)
7) Cook. On a regular basis. And boiling angel hair pasta doesn't always count.
8) Go tubing on the Provo river.
9) See Timp Caves.
10) Go on dates. That's right. PLURAL! dateSSSSSSSSS.
11) Do service. Secret or otherwise; just do it.
12) Sing. My voice is so out-of-practice.
13) Write. In case you hadn't figured it out, I like doing that.
14) Read. (That doesn't necessarily need to be on my list because I do it all the time, but I should always be exposing myself to good books.)
15) Dance. Dancing is fun and it works off calories. Both good things.
16) Attend the temple weekly. Set a specific time and day, Megan!
17) Go to the Utah Shakespeare Festival. (They're putting on "The Secret Garden"!)
18) Visit Grand Junction.
19) If I can afford it (ha!), go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. ("The Music Man" AND "Much Ado About Nothing"! Can life get any better than this? I submit that it cannot!) (p.s. am willing to give up utah shakespeare festival for oregon shakespeare festival.)
20) Don't sit around. Bad. Unless it's outside. Good.
21) Go to DC for Becky's wedding in May. That's a given that I'll be doing it, but I should put it on the list to be able to cross it off.
22) Laugh. I spend way too much time crying.
So that's what I've got so far. Any other suggestions? Music to play? Places to go? People to see? (everything for you and meeeeeee . . . name THAT musical.) So, bring it on, Summer 2009! We're going to make it a good one, even if I am a working stiff.
-Me
"It's a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do." -Walter Winchell
1) Hike at least once a month.
2) Go on a road trip (or several, but at least one).
3) Visit home. (Oregon! June's a good month. The roses will be out.)
4) Go camping. (Guess that means i need a tent.)
5) Be outside. A lot.
6) Learn new music, hopefully two good pieces on the piano. (Suggestions, Mom? Kelly? Anyone?)
7) Cook. On a regular basis. And boiling angel hair pasta doesn't always count.
8) Go tubing on the Provo river.
9) See Timp Caves.
10) Go on dates. That's right. PLURAL! dateSSSSSSSSS.
11) Do service. Secret or otherwise; just do it.
12) Sing. My voice is so out-of-practice.
13) Write. In case you hadn't figured it out, I like doing that.
14) Read. (That doesn't necessarily need to be on my list because I do it all the time, but I should always be exposing myself to good books.)
15) Dance. Dancing is fun and it works off calories. Both good things.
16) Attend the temple weekly. Set a specific time and day, Megan!
17) Go to the Utah Shakespeare Festival. (They're putting on "The Secret Garden"!)
18) Visit Grand Junction.
19) If I can afford it (ha!), go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. ("The Music Man" AND "Much Ado About Nothing"! Can life get any better than this? I submit that it cannot!) (p.s. am willing to give up utah shakespeare festival for oregon shakespeare festival.)
20) Don't sit around. Bad. Unless it's outside. Good.
21) Go to DC for Becky's wedding in May. That's a given that I'll be doing it, but I should put it on the list to be able to cross it off.
22) Laugh. I spend way too much time crying.
So that's what I've got so far. Any other suggestions? Music to play? Places to go? People to see? (everything for you and meeeeeee . . . name THAT musical.) So, bring it on, Summer 2009! We're going to make it a good one, even if I am a working stiff.
-Me
"It's a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do." -Walter Winchell
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
When I Was Twenty-One, It Was a Very Good Year
So we're already a week into April. Wow! Time sure flies by quickly. The last day of March, I was particularly amazed at how fast the last two months of my life have gone by. Good times, all.
I think I may copy my good friend Charity and just give a brief description with pictures of my last week and a half, simply because I am just feeling too darn lazy to write my normal epic-length post. Not to say that I have anything of GREAT significance to write about, but anyone who knows me knows that I elaborate on even the smallest details, and I'll try to avoid that.
Friday the 28th, I drove down to . . .
St. George, Utah, where my mommy was visiting her parents. It was a great family time, considering my sister and her kids were also there for a bit, my uncle Tom and aunt Tracy, as well, and my aunt Karen also lives in St. George. So a weekend of family! Hooray!
On Monday the 30th, Mom and I drove back to . . .
Provo. It wasn't nearly as sunny in reality as this picture is, but oh well. Had a good night's rest on my couch while I magnanimously gave up my bed to Mom.
Tuesday the 31st was another family day, which was awesome.
Well, technically Megan here isn't blood-related, but she's awesome and came with us all to the temple. Hooray!
The 1st was your standard April Fool's Day, when your boss decides to carry jokes so far that you just can't quite figure out if it's serious and it has just happened to fall on that particular day. Fortunately that crisis was over pretty quickly.
Then came the 2nd. What a wonderful day that was. And why? Oh, it was just my birthday! That's right, everyone! I am quarter of a century now!
The amazing and awesome Birdhouse girls gave up their peace and quiet for a night by letting me invade their home for the party, and the finger painting stuff I supplied as a last-minute inclusion ended up being the run-away hit! Hooray! And I sure cleaned up on kitchen supplies for presents. Thanks, Mom, Becky, and Esther! Thanks also go to Charity and Lisa, who both unexpectedly gave me gifts! I'm surrounded by giving people! You're all amazing! (and yes, i am, in fact, blowing out a lighter rather than a candle . . . my guests were horrified that i wasn't going to make them sing to me and blow out candles, so chris and liz quickly did a make-shift arrangement with chris's piece of cake and liz's lighter)
Then conference. It was awesome. Or as Rhino the hamster would put it, "Beyond awesome. . . be-awesome!" Oh, yeah. Saturday night, once Esther and I reached her parents' house in Stansbury, we watched Bolt with her mom.
Yeah. It was good. People should see it. But really, conference was just inspiring. I always feel so good and motivated to be better after watching it. One of the best weekends of the year.
-Me
"They used to photograph Shirley Tempe through gauze. They should photograph me through linoleum." -Tallulah Bankhead
I think I may copy my good friend Charity and just give a brief description with pictures of my last week and a half, simply because I am just feeling too darn lazy to write my normal epic-length post. Not to say that I have anything of GREAT significance to write about, but anyone who knows me knows that I elaborate on even the smallest details, and I'll try to avoid that.
Friday the 28th, I drove down to . . .
St. George, Utah, where my mommy was visiting her parents. It was a great family time, considering my sister and her kids were also there for a bit, my uncle Tom and aunt Tracy, as well, and my aunt Karen also lives in St. George. So a weekend of family! Hooray!On Monday the 30th, Mom and I drove back to . . .
Provo. It wasn't nearly as sunny in reality as this picture is, but oh well. Had a good night's rest on my couch while I magnanimously gave up my bed to Mom.Tuesday the 31st was another family day, which was awesome.
Well, technically Megan here isn't blood-related, but she's awesome and came with us all to the temple. Hooray!The 1st was your standard April Fool's Day, when your boss decides to carry jokes so far that you just can't quite figure out if it's serious and it has just happened to fall on that particular day. Fortunately that crisis was over pretty quickly.
Then came the 2nd. What a wonderful day that was. And why? Oh, it was just my birthday! That's right, everyone! I am quarter of a century now!
The amazing and awesome Birdhouse girls gave up their peace and quiet for a night by letting me invade their home for the party, and the finger painting stuff I supplied as a last-minute inclusion ended up being the run-away hit! Hooray! And I sure cleaned up on kitchen supplies for presents. Thanks, Mom, Becky, and Esther! Thanks also go to Charity and Lisa, who both unexpectedly gave me gifts! I'm surrounded by giving people! You're all amazing! (and yes, i am, in fact, blowing out a lighter rather than a candle . . . my guests were horrified that i wasn't going to make them sing to me and blow out candles, so chris and liz quickly did a make-shift arrangement with chris's piece of cake and liz's lighter)Then conference. It was awesome. Or as Rhino the hamster would put it, "Beyond awesome. . . be-awesome!" Oh, yeah. Saturday night, once Esther and I reached her parents' house in Stansbury, we watched Bolt with her mom.
Yeah. It was good. People should see it. But really, conference was just inspiring. I always feel so good and motivated to be better after watching it. One of the best weekends of the year.-Me
"They used to photograph Shirley Tempe through gauze. They should photograph me through linoleum." -Tallulah Bankhead
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Stay Awake; Don't Rest Your Head
All right. I'm going to attempt to write this post quickly, because I am tired, and I am making a four-hour drive tomorrow morning to St. George and should really be sleeping instead of posting on my blog. Oh, well. Since when did I ever do the healthy thing? Just wanted to update about my last week before I get distracted by all the undoubtedly fun things I will do next week.
At dinner (Chili's)
Last Friday night, Esther, Becky, and I headed out to a Marriott hotel in Lehi next to Thanksgiving Point to 1) have a girls' night out, and 2) celebrate Becky's birthday. As a result of this, Becky didn't have to pay for a thing for the entire night. We took her to dinner, where we were served by an extremely friendly waiter, Kevin. He sat right down with us every time he came by the table, and Esther took advantage of his kindness by asking him to find out the score of the Utah game, which he obliged her by so doing. The rest of the evening was spent in swimming (and really enjoying the splash bombs in the pool), gorging ourselves on the television in our hotel room and doing our nails, and sleeping. Those beds were sehr comfortable. I slept very well that night, especially since I got very little sleep the entire week before and we didn't go to bed until about 1:30. -sigh- Busy, busy.
Becky is very threatening with the splash bomb
Seriously. Comfortable beds.
Because we're not allowed to do this at home
And now I must hie me to my bed (actually, i'm already in bed; i just haven't gone to sleep yet, obviously). Good night, all. And let's hope I don't die in my travels allllllllll alone.
-Me
"Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation." -Kin Hubbard
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