abc's

A-attached or single? single
B-best friend? Kristy
C-cake or pie? tough decision, but I think I'm going to have to go with cake
D-day of choice? Saturday
E-essential item? cellphone
F-favorite color? red
G-gummy bears or worms? bears
H-hometown? Mesa, AZ
I-indulgence? pedicures
J-January or July? both...January (weather), July (birthday)
K-kids? not yet...need a hubby first
L-Life is incomplete without...my family!
M-marriage date? sometime in the future :)
N-# of siblings? 4-J.R., Steven, Faith and Julia
O-oranges or apples? oranges
P-phobias or fears? dying in my sleep, sleeping with the closet door open
Q-quote? "I am coyote"
R-reason to smile? *NSYNC
S-Season of choice? Spring- the reason I live in AZ
T-tag 3 people- nobody
U-unknown fact about me? I want to one day travel to Mars
V-very favorite store? Target
W-worst habit? wasting time at work surfing the internet (shh...don't tell)
X-x-ray or ultrasound? never had an ultrasound so I can't make an informed decision on this one
Y-Your favorite food? Mexican
Z-zodiac sign? Cancer

what's that?

I arrived home tonigt at about 6:30pm and had the following converation with my roommie, Kristina:

Kristina: Wanna go to the Easter pageant with me?
Me: Not particularly.
Kristina: Why not?
Me: Because.
Kristina: Are you sure you don't want to go?
Me: Yeah. Why?
Kristina: Cuz I don't want to go by myself.
Me: When is it?
Kristina: 8 o'clock, but I'm leaving in about 10 minutes to get a good seat.
Me: Uh...okay. Sure.

15 minutes later in the car on the way to the temple...

Kristina: *starting to chuckle as she's driving*
Me: What?
Kristina: You realize tonight's the Spanish version, right?
Me: *silence*
Kristina: I couldn't tell if you knew and just didn't care or if you had no idea.
Me: How would I have known it was the Spanish version tonight?
Kristina: I just thought you knew.

There was silence in the car for a few seconds as we got off the freeway and headed towards the temple...

Kristina: I can turn around and take you home.
Me: No, it's fine.
Kristina: I'm serious. I'll take you back. I don't mind.
Me: You should be able to feel the Spirit no matter the language, right?
Kristina: Right.
Me: Hey, at least I have something to blog about now!

Below is a text conversation I had with my brother J.R. while sitting on the temple lawn waiting for the pageant to start and smelling the Arby's the people we're sitting next too are eating. Mmmm....Arby's...

Me: So I'm at the Easter pageant with my roommate. Funny thing is she forgot to inform me it was the Spanish version tonight. This should be fun.
J.R.: Are there spanish protestors?

Kristina insisted on reading what I wrote and informed me later that she didn't really care about going by herself. She just said that cuz she wanted me to come and didn't want me to be home alone. To which I replied, "I am perfectly fine with being home by myself."

Note to Kristina: Next time it's Spanish night...let me stay home! (In all actuality, it was fun listening to it in Spanish.)

Conversations between Kristina and I waiting for the pageant to start...

Kristina: Que hora es?
Me: What's that?
Kristina: What time is it?
Me: 7:25

Kristina: Que hora es?
Me: What's that?
Kristina: What time is it?
Me: 7:42

Kristina: Que hora es?
Me: What's that?
Kristina: *laughing* What time is it?!
Me: *laughing* 7:51. That should be the title of this blog: "What's that?"!

insert cash or press "pay with card"

Only problem with that? There is no "pay with card" button!!!

"Let me 'splain...no, there is too much. Let me sum up"

I went to Wal-Mart this morning with my roomie Elaina to get a few random items and a Money Order for our March rent. The line at the Customer Service desk was about a bizillion people long, so I decided to use the machine they have where you can pay for and print money orders automatically. So, figuring this would be the quickest route, we stepped up to the machine and started placing our Money Order order. I had the majority of the rent amount in cash, but had to pay for some of it with my debit card. I fed all the cash I had into the machine, one 20 at a time, then when I got to the end of what I had the machine said: "insert cash or press pay with card." But...as previously mentioned...there wasn't a "pay with card" button. In lieu of missing button I swiped my card on the pinpad, thinking that would work. It didn't.

We pushed the help button...and waited.

We asked an associate to call someone...and waited. She then came over and said to just swipe my card. I told her I already did that, but did it again. Surprise, surprise...it still didn't work.

A cashier came up...we explained what we were trying to do she said to just swipe my card. I told her I already did...twice...but she said to do it again. I did. It didn't work. She then somehow managed to cancel the transaction, making the machine print out a piece of paper telling them to refund the cash I'd already fed in. She stood around looking at the receipt with this blank look on her face for a while then pressed the cancel transaction button, effectively locking the machine.

She went into the office and had some other lady come out...then walked away.

Lady #2 again stood around with a blank expression on her face. I explained the situation to her saying I either needed the Money Order or my cash back. and then decided to call over an assistant manager.

Assistant Manager comes over. I explain the situation for the third time. She tells Lady #2 that she needs to refund me my cash from the money they keep in the office. Lady #2 then walks back into the office and dissapears for about 3-5 minutes while Elaina and I stood waiting in the Customer Service area which, by the way, was now empty. (If I had only waited in line for another ten minutes I could have avoided this whole mess.)

Finally Lady #2 comes back out with a handful of cash. I counted it, just to make sure, and had to sign two different pieces of paper. Assistant Manager then helps me get the Money Order I need. Finally!

Bottom line: Don't use the Money Order machine at Wal-Mart. It sucks!

random thoughts on a thursday morning

Things I hate:

*Morning Traffic...Baseline is reduced to one lane at the 101 (which is ridiculous) forcing me (and everyone) to take an alternate route--Southern. What used to take me twenty minutes is now taking me thirty.

*Weeding/Yard work...my backyard is out of control! I hate yard work with a passion. I wish I would have taken pictures last weekend before we sprayed so you would believe me when I say we have an ocean of weeds taking over. It's ri-dic-u-lous!

*Forgetting to take the trash out the night before it's supposed to be out...why am I the only one who takes the trash out?

*Dieting...but with summer coming it's a necessary evil.

Things I like:

*American Idol...I'm in love with David Archuleta. I hope he wins. I voted 7 times for him this week.

*Writing...I started writing a story at the end of last year. It is now over 100 pages (which is a personal record and which, I think, classifies it as a "book" now instead of just a "story").

*My new mix CD...some Onerepublic, Midnight Run and Rooney, a little bit of Paula Abdul, Blake Lewis, Mika and Collbie Callait, with a dash of N SYNC thrown in and you've got a great CD to dance and sing along to in the car (while stuck in morning traffic).

*My new nickname at work..."Alpha Geek"

*Chocolate chip cookies...I'm having a craving. I'm going to have to make some on Saturday.

Things I don't understand:

*Smokers...how in the world do you get anything done when you're getting up to go outside to light one up every thirty minutes? And, I especially don't understand why you would want to be a smoker here in AZ. Why, when it's 100+ degrees outside in the summer, would you want to go outside and suck even more hot air into your lungs. Something's wrong with that picture.

*People who get engaged and then wait FOREVER to get married...case in point: a guy I work with got engaged to his girlfriend before Thanksgiving (they've been living together for 5 years). I overheard him talking to another co-worker that the wedding is tentitively set for June of 2009! What's up with that?

*Quantum Physics...I'm not even going to go there...

of butts and boybands

So when I was at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah my roommate, Devone, and I decided one Saturday to drive to Vegas (about 1 1/2 hours away). We walked the strip and went in to several of the casinos (just to look around, mind you...). When we went in to Ceasar's Palace and proceeded to get lost looking for the Forum Shops. As we were wandering the halls of the casino we kept coming back to the statur of Michaelango's "David", and (here's the funny part) everytime we came back to in, no matter which hallway we were in, we always managed to come back to it from behind. So everytime we were like, "There's the butt again!"

This weekend I am on vacation with my family. We drove up to Salt Lake to surprise my grandpa (who's birthday it is) and for a few other fun things which will be explained later on. Instead of driving up through Flagstaff and Kanab, we decided it might be a little safer (with all the snow up north) to drive through Vegas instead. We went to M&M World and Ceasar's Palace to go to the Forum Shops (which we had no problem finding...I don't know what mine and Devone's deal was). I made my parents come with me to find "The Butt" again, just for old times sake. It's still there...




The whole time I was thinking..."Wow. That's a pretty big butt." (Ten points if you can name what movie that's from...)

So last night was amazing! My best friend, Kristy Marchant, and I found out a month ago that The Jonas Brothers were going to be in concert up here in Salt Lake this weekend that I was coming up. We decided we were going (yes we are fourteen, haven't you figured this out by now??), but I knew my sisters would hate me if they found out those guys were in town and I went but they didn't. So, I told my mom about the concert and said, "it would really be better if Kristy and I could take the girls with us. It would give us a visible excuse as to why we, as two 25 year olds, are at this concert. It would look like we were there as the chaperones." So she agreed that they could come and we proceeded to keep it a secret from them (not an easy task. The beans were almost spilled a couple of times)...until last night. They were in shock...

And I don't really think it set in where they were until the boys came out on stage...

It was awesome! We danced around, sang along and screamed like a bunch of fourteen year olds (my voice is sore and my ears are still ringing)!! And just in case you were wondering if we really went...here's the proof taken with my own camera...

hooligan shananigans

Pardon the above language but that about sums up the week I've had. It all started last Friday night...

As mentioned in my last blog I have been trying to go walking with my roommie, Elaina, in the evenings (although I haven't gone at all this week). Last Friday we did our usual 2 mile loop around our neighborhood and had some random guys drive by us (twice) as they were cruising through the neighborhood (don't ask me why they were cruising through our neighborhood). Normally I wouldn't have given them a second thought, but the fact that they were blaring loud music out of their windows and yelling out "booty, booty, booty" to us as they drove by kind of made for an awkward situation.

Monday morning I had to be to the Mesa Municipal Court building bright and early(7:45am) for jury duty. Let me just say...it was a big waste of time. I got there, signed in and filled out the little biographical sheet they have you fill out, then just sat and waited for the rest of the potential jurors to do the same. Finally about 8:20am this guy comes in and proceeds to give a speech about why we have jury trials, and how many jury trials he's had as a judge, and the different laws that are in effect for jury trials. He also expressed his thanks for us being there (multiple times...probably at least 12 times...it was actually a bit ridiculous after about the third time). After he rambled on for a good 40 minutes (and I struggled to not fall asleep) the judge for the trial came in and said, "Fortunately or unfortunately, however you want to look at it, both parties have decided to settle out of court today. Thank you for coming in." I sat there like, "You're kidding right? I just wasted 2 1/2 hours of my morning?" So...after that I had to go into work, because as per my company's policy, I get paid time for jury duty, but as soon as my committment is over I have to go back to work...which sucks! But whatever.

This week at work we have been frantically trying to get ready for the "Celebrity Night at the Tables" poker tournament that we are hosting as part of all the Super Bowl festivities going on this weekend. (And while we're on the subject let me stop and say that I find it highly ironic that my company which is all about teaching kids about financial literacy and economics and having good credit and making good money choices is having a POKER tournament! Anyone else see the irony in this or is it just me??) It normally wouldn't have been so bad, but we've been working with anoth foundation whose members really pissed me off all week. It is a group of young, good looking, rich guys who think they are all that and a bag of chips. It was ridiculous the way they strutted around the office thinking they were hot stuff. They were rude most of the time, completely took over the office with their demands and needs (making me question if they had an office of their own and whether they decided to work with us on this because they needed a place to work for a week) and walked around with their cell phones glued to their ears. I wanted to tell them, "You know what? You're not as hot or as important as you think you are."

Another thing that really ticked me off was the fact that nobody told me about any of the meetings going on this week, nor were any of them (that had to do with this particular event) scheduled on the calendar, so I looked like a complete idiot sitting there at the front desk when they came in asking where everyone was meeting and I had to say, "Uh...I'm not sure. Hold on." I mean, come on! I'm only the receptionist. You'd think it might be somewhat important that I know what is going on, don't you? Needless to say these guys (and maybe a few of my own co-workers) are off my Christmas card list for this year. Grrr!

Deep cleansing breaths...Deep cleansing breaths...

I keep telling myself: "I just have to make it through to next Thursday." Why, you ask? Because then I will be on vacation for 5 glorious days!

I can make it...
I can make it...
I can make it...

things in my neighborhood

I am attempting to be somewhat healthy in the new year, so my roommie and I have been walking every night. I thought you might be interested in some of the things we have found around our neighborhood...

1 sporadically dancing roommate (Na na na na nana...Gettin jiggy wit it")

1 gray cat/dive bombing_____? (Thanks Elaina! It's nice to know you would protect me in a real emergency!)

1 cookie, still wrapped and...eatible? (ready, together: "A cookie!")

1 plastic Christmas tree (still lit) in someone's front yard (as my roommie Kristina said, "I love Christmas in January"...can you hear the sarcasm?)

1 petrified chalk eraser in the middle of the road (I think it may have actually been a brick.)

1 guy riding a motorcycle (Careful of the speed humps. And no, I am not talking about rabbits! Elaina, stop laughing!)

1 white car with it's brights on driving menacingly slow ("game off...game on...")

and 1 styrofoam egg carton (I really have nothing to say about this. It was just kind of random...)