Saturday, April 12, 2008

Monticello

This won't be a lengthy post by any means, but I thought it would be fun to post something directly from Monticello, UT. My ward came down here to visit the temple and are staying in the Rodeway Inn & Suites. It is a very "glamorous" facility, mostly due to the fact that they have internet access from a community computer in the lobby (right next to where they served the free continental breakfast). Each room also is equipped with a 19" TV and a mini fridge. All in all and in all honesty, the place worked out perfectly. The lovely people here gave us a group discount and the bishop said the ward would pay for half of the cost...that means each of us only have to pay $9 (don't forget, that includes breakfast!)!

I love visiting these types of small towns. What I love most is that there always seems to be one of those amazing "mom-and-pop" type of burger/shake joints. My goal for the day is to find one before we have to leave...burger, onion rings, shake...seriously what could be better?

Monday, March 24, 2008

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

I got this email today from my mom who got it from my uncle. I found it very interesting and believe it just might work...

Read it and pass it along if you agree!

WHERE TO BUY YOUR USA-GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON--Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor. An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia Just buy from gas companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis. Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends. I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.

These companies import Middle Eastern oil:
Shell.......................... 205,742,000 barrels
Chevron/Texaco.........144,332,000 barrels
Exxon /Mobil..............130,082,000 barrels
Marathon/Speedway.. 117,740,000 barrels
Amoco..........................62,231,000 barrels
Citgo Gas comes fro m South America , from a Dictator who hates Americans.
Do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18 BILLION! (Oil is now $90-$95 a barrel)

Here are some large companies that DO NOT import Middle Eastern oil:
Sunoco................ 0 barrels
Conoco................ 0 barrels
Sinclair................ 0 barrels
BP/Phillips.......... 0 barrels
Hess................... 0 barrels
ARC0................... 0 barrels
Also: Pilot, Flying J, Love's, RaceTrac, Valero

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.

I'm feeling very patriotic right now!

Friday, March 14, 2008

10,000 seconds of my life I'll never get back!


I know that I'm no Siskel, or Ebert, or even Roeper for that matter, but I'm going to give the new film "10,000 BC" two enthusiastic thumbs DOWN. My roommate and I went with some friends from our ward to see this supposed "epic depiction of life at the dawn of civilization" and instead we were all epically disappointed. The only redeeming factors were 1) we had free passes to get in, thus not wasting our own money and 2) the ice cream cones provided by Beau and Jessi were delicious(I love swirly cones!).

When the movie was over, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to express how ridiculous I thought this movie was and would have keep my comments to myself (in order to not sound ungrateful for the free pass)...much to my delight we all agreed that:

  • The story line was lame--it was like a bad rendition of the story of Moses mixed with the story of Troy, but with made up legends and names no one can remember or pronounce.

  • We were all sure that the "spear-tooth" (translation: sabor -tooth) was going to start talking to the main character and offer to let him climb up on his back and take him the rest of his journey.

  • The old wise-lady from the village was the scariest part.

...And last of all, everyone sounded like Madonna--you know, kind of spoke with a quasi-English accent and never used conjunctions (can't, won't, didn't, etc.)

Bottom line...awful. Just plain awful!




Wednesday, March 5, 2008

TAGGED

A: Each player answers the questions about themselves.

B: At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.




What were you doing 10 years ago?

On March 5, 1998 I was 17 and a Junior at Layton High School. I'm sure I was anxiously preparing for the California trip with the choir, nervously hoping to get asked to prom, and mega-crushing on Gabe Smith (I know....I can hear all of you laughing).



5 things on my "to-do" list today.

1. Eat healthy

2. Go to the temple with Melanie

3. Call my Activities committee members

4. Watch American Idol (I've got to check out what my competition would have been)

5. If I'm lucky...I may be able to get my eyebrows waxed!



6 Snacks that I enjoy.

Chocolate, jicama, edamame, "Spoon Me" frozen yogurt, "Diddy Reis" ice cream sandwiches (only found in L.A. folks), and Slurpees (frozen, icy, goodness)



3 bad habits.

1. I hate folding my laundry.

2. I'm a stacker...if I don't know where to put it, I stack it. The perimeter of my room is lined with little stacks of misc. stuff.

3. I can not walk past a smut magazine (i.e. People, US weekly, InStyle, etc.) without picking it up and reading the ENTIRE thing.



If I were suddenly a billionaire I would...

I would definately pay off the debt of each person in my family and make sure each person is set, give to charity, buy a house and everything that comes with it, travel the world, make my money work for me--INVEST, and buy Natalie and Lydia spots on the next "Survivor"!



5 Places I've lived.

Layton, UT

West Hartford, CT

Ogden, UT

LDS Hospital (this was when I was in school)

Salt Lake City, UT



5 Jobs I've had.

Arby's

Red Hanger Cleaners

Nanny

America First Teller

Rad Tech



5 Things people don't know about me (this is hard since I pretty much broadcast my life to everyone)

1. I always regret it when I broadcast my life to everyone.

2. I get such an adrenaline rush from auditions--I've tried out for American Idol, not once, but TWICE! and I tried out for Kurt Bestor's Best Singer Search last fall.

3. I am currently enrolled in a Hip-Hop dance class--Kevin Federline, watch your back!

4. I am terrible at balancing my check book...don't do it.

5. I has taken me two days to think of 5 things people might not know about me (see #1).


I now would like to tag Lydia and Kirsche! Have fun!

FYI

Many of you may have deciphered from previous posts that I was job hunting in Connecticut. The last time I was there visiting, this job opportunity sort of just fell into my lap. I applied and had an interview the day before I was leaving (kind of felt like divine intervention). The interview went well and about 2 weeks later I had a telephone interview. The day after the phone interview I was sent paperwork to authorize a background check.....suddenly I realized that this may be a real possibility--"Connecticut or BUST!"

Well, it turned out to be a "BUST." I won't be moving to Connecticut and starting a new life on the exciting east coast any time soon. I have mixed feelings about it, none of which are feelings of sadness. The interview process was a good experience and I will continue to pursue other options in other states.

The world has not come to an end.

Monday, February 25, 2008

James

I know that I'm 27 and really should've out-grown Hollywood crushes, but for some reason I can't help swooning over James McAvoy. Who is he? He's an amazing actor with an impressive resume...The Chronicles of Narnia, The Last King of Scotland, Becoming Jane, Atonement, Penelope...to name a few.

He caught my attention when I saw the previews for Atonement (see right). Then I saw Becoming Jane and last weekend I went to an advanced screening of Penelope and loved it!!! He is extremely talented and doesn't look a thing like typical Hollywood hearthrobs like Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise (which I love about him). He does, however, have a very sexy Scottish accent and piercing blue eyes.

While searching for him on IMDb.com I also discovered that he and I think alike! (see below) Which makes me like him even more.

I'm almost certain that if he were not married, we would certainly meet and fall madly in love.




"We're in a horrible, repugnant place now where kids are told it's their right and due to be hugely famous. Not good at their job, not good at anything, just hugely famous. This is not sane. Little girls think they'll be famous if they have vast breast implants and might as well die if they don't."








































Thursday, February 14, 2008

This is not a pitty-party post!

It's Valentines Day. It's 10:44 at night. I'm sitting at work. Am I feeling aware that I'm single right now? Hmmm.

As I reflect back on this last week I've made some funny observations...
1) I've watched 3 chick-flicks in 3 days...two of which with a Jane Austen theme. I adore Jane Austen stuff. I'm a total romantic, so much so that when I'm love sick, I'll binge on her movies and be perfectly content watching them hundreds of times (alone).

2) Every night before I've gone to bed (at 10:30) I've listened to Carrie Underwood's new album, "Carnival Ride"...mostly the slow songs. I've not always been a huge Carrie fan. In fact, I only put her on my iPod when I found she was on my roommates laptop. I'm actually okay that no one is usually home, that way I can sing whatever I want at the top of my lungs! It's entirely liberating for me.

3) Tonight as I have done the routine blog check and some good exploring, I have found that I'm usually the only "single" on everyone's blog list. I'll get excited when I see a single name...*click* Oh! what a darling picture of someone's husband and child.

And finally....
4) I had a telephone interview today with the Chief Radiation Therapist at a hospital in Connecticut and realized, if necessary, I could pick up my ENTIRE life and move there in a week (maybe two, so I could give my work notice). No prob. AND my only concern about moving out-of-state would be if there are enough dating "options", for lack of a better word.

Huh. These things haven't made me feel sorry that I'm single, but have made my singleness more real--palpable. I do look forward to marriage. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!