Nat, this one's for you!

It has been so long since I've posted that I almost wasn't able to access my blog account. To all of my faithful blog followers, I am deeply sorry. What's to blame for my absence from the blogging world....well there are several reasons (you know, the usual) um.....Christmas, spending New Years/Grand Targhee with intellectuals, work, a Bar Mitzvah, training for a half marathon, planning a cruise, being anxiously engaged in the engagement process, etc. But I would have to admit, the reason for lack of posting could be summed up in one word--Facebook.

Lydia once described the appeal of Facebook as "instant gratification!" I wouldn't hesitate to say that she's quite right. It's quick and easy. I only have to post my status (that's thinking of only one witty or thought-provoking thing to say); that's IF I want to say anything at all. People request your "friendship" and "write on your wall." For a brief moment, and I mean brief, you feel really important. In all honesty, it's very reminiscent of Jr. High and High School. It's pretty fun! Now, having said that, it's been a couple months since I joined and it's starting to lose that shiny, new feeling (which isn't necessarily bad). That exciting feeling comes and goes, but ultimately, I try not to waste too much time checking my profile, writing on walls, and such anymore.

I definitely believe that there are many positive uses for Facebook AND blogs! My fear, however, is that I will become too consumed in this electronic "reality" and miss out on what's happening in my TRUE reality. I'm single! I'm young! I'm done with school--I WANT TO LIVE IT UP! There are places to go, people to meet, food to try.... I suppose this blog and Facebook is where I can document said experiences and share them with all of you. Hmmm.

Why is it so hard for me to do... actually sitting down and posting? Is it that I prefer actual human contact, talking to someone in person, or hearing some one's voice on the end of the line? or am I just lazy? Many people describe their blog as their journal. I can relate to that. Clearly my blog posts are not entirely what a formal journal entry would contain. Maybe, I don't post because I feel I should be writing in my "real life" journal instead.

Does anyone else worry that they don't listen as well as they use to? or know how to carry on a conversation with a person face to face? Sometimes I feel like such a goof. I know exactly what to say, as long as it's in "text" form, or "wall" form, or "comment" form; but coming up with something to say on the spot stumps me.

This has become a most random post. It's nothing like I thought it would be in the beginning. I don't even know if there is point to this post...maybe I just needed a moment to reflect (sounds very journally, don't you think?)

At least I can say that I posted!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is the day that we give thanks! There are many things I am deeply grateful for and I thank Heavenly Father for them everyday! There is always room in the world for gratitude.

Today is also a day full of tradition. Who doesn't LOVE tradition?

Today, my family strayed from tradition a bit and instead of sitting down and enjoying a "made-from-scratch" Thanksgiving meal, my parents and all the "unwed" children of the family (there are 3 of us) attended dinner at a restaurant....The Gray Cliff Lodge in Ogden Canyon. I'd give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. It was pretty good! Way better than the time we had Thanksgiving at Zions Lodge in Southern Utah when I was 12. It was nice not to have the stress or clean up of a Thanksgiving at home. However, nothing beats my mom's stuffing and yams, dad's turkey and mashed potatoes, and Grandma Taggart's rolls. The leftovers will be greatly missed (sniff). There's always next year.

Today we reinstated one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions...GOING TO THE MOVIES. It started the year "Tremors" came out. Funny movie to see on Thanksgiving, right? Everyone left me at home sleeping and I woke up when they got home (I was totally jipped). Every year after that, the whole fam (including extended family) would go see the most recent Disney flick. The tradition seemed to dwindle the last few years, but not this year. The 5 of us that were home went to the movies !

We saw "The Boy In The Striped Pajamas". Amazing! See it! It definitely reminded me of my many blessings and that I should be truly grateful.

With that, I am grateful for you!

Wishin' & Hopin'

As I'm online checking emails, reading blogs, and wasting time...I'm also watching one of Adam Sandler's greatest performances as Robby in The Wedding Singer. I found myself wishing and hoping for several things:

1. I wish I could be a wedding singer.
2. I hope I never find myself sitting at "Table 9"
3. I hope I never grow sideburns, like "sideburns lady"
4. I wish that I could meet Billy Idol on an airplane!
5. I hope I'm "totally psyched" when my fiance shows up to our wedding.
6. I wish I had a sweet Van Halen t-shirt
7. I really wish I could find a sparkly Michael Jackson glove.

Just some of my random thoughts this evening.

STONER Part 2

I'm starting to feel like an old lady...you know, the ones who only talk about their health problems. However, this was a funny, yet alarming, discovery.

I was working out at the gym the other day, on the elliptical machine and watching the T.V. I noticed that the commercial that was on was advertising a prescription medication for men with enlarged prostates....called FLOMAX. I instantly began laughing to myself.

I'm sure you're all thinking, "Shanna, enlarged prostates are no laughing matter! Hundreds of men suffer from this painful condition." Precisely, enlarged prostates are not funny! What's funny is that FLOMAX is the medication that was prescribed to me for my kidney stones. That's right, I have been taking a medication designed for men to help alleviate the symptoms of enlarged prostates.

It seems I have more to worry about than a couple of measly kidney stones.

STONER

About 3 1/2 years ago I missed my flight from Connecticut to Utah. This was when I experienced my very first kidney stone. I was about to make a 7 hour trip home-even boarded the plane-but when I headed straight for the bathroom instead of my seat, I knew I wouldn't make it. I asked the flight attendants to please get my carry-on and I raced to the jet way where an airline employee shoved a barf bag in my face...just in time. Humiliating.

When being discharged from UCONN Health Center ER I asked my doctor what the chances were I may have another stone. He shared with me some interesting statistics...

Every person has a 10% chance of getting a kidney stone.
If you've had one stone, your 90% more likely to have more..."Unfortunately, if you have a second stone, you are what we call...a stoner."

Today I officially became...a STONER. Not just a second stone, but a third as well. I drove myself to one of Salt Lake's finest Emergency rooms this morning and spent the entire work day watching "What Not To Wear" and trying to pee in a cup during commercial breaks. You'll be happy to know that I was finally able to give them a good sample for testing AND the real estate agent from Chicago LOVED her new look!

Beijings Got Game

Da__Da__DaDom...Dom...Dom...Dom__DomDom...DaDomDom___DomDomDaDomDomDom!
It is that time again! It only happens every two years...I make up for all of the time I haven't spent watching sports in 17 glorious days. Since I am trapped in "the lab" again, I've got all the time in world!

Last night was the opening ceremonies of the SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES!!! Bottom line--magical. I was blown away by the artistry and talent. Beijings got game! It was literally beautiful. They used fireworks to make giant footprints in the sky leading up to the Olympic Stadium (nicknamed "The Birds Nest" ) where there were 2008 drummers creating, what looked like a digital clock, the count down to the start of the games.

The Bird's Nest looked like it was sparkling! Definitely YouTube worthy if you didn't see it. I get all warm and fuzzy during the opening ceremonies...the whole world coming together in the name of sport. There are always these amazing displays of humanity during the Olympic Games. The athletes are so inspiring and there is this feeling of respect between them.

I absolutely love watching the Olympics, especially the Summer Olympics! Watching the Olympics was always something we would do as a family growing up. I love it! Sadly everyday obligations--work, church, sleep-- keep me from watching EVERY minute. However, there are several events I make a point of watching:

Gymnastics!!! Women's and Men's
Swimming--Go Michael Phelps!
Diving
Track and Field
Basketball--the Dream Team is now known as the Redeem Team. We lost the Gold and took Bronze in Athens. Now is the time to bring home Gold baby!
Beach volleyball

The only downside...the constant reminder of my lack of self-discipline! Does anyone else ever wonder what event they would be competing in if their parents had shipped them off to live with their coach from the time they were 10? Mine--table-tennis or hula hooping (if it were an event). My dad would have been so proud!

FREE AT LAST!

For the first time in my life I was grateful for Monday to come! Particularly, last Monday. I spent the entire weekend (Friday morning to Monday morning), essentially trapped in a hospital room without windows. I am currently part of a clinical research study, investigating a new pain medication. This study requires 3 different 3-night stays in their "lab". Fortunately there were several other study subjects there to keep me company--9 women and 9 men (don't worry, no co-ed sleepovers). All the girls were in one hallway, sharing one custodial-like bathroom and all the boys were in another hallway.

So what did I do to bide the time between meals and routine blood draws from the IV in my arm you ask? This:

• Slept!!!
• Read a bit
• Chatted with my roomie Sally--she's 18 and getting married in Vegas two weeks from now to a boy from Bulgaria. Honestly, she is a really nice girl. I was pleasantly surprised how well we got along.
• Painted my toenails and fingernails
• Watched Juno! Love that movie.
• Watched an obscene amount of television--so much you kind of feel sick afterwards because you haven't done anything to get your blood pumping for awhile. Gross!

**Disclaimer: we were strictly told to not participate in any strenuous exercise during the course of the study (Translation: I better be really good about eating healthy. Thankfully chocolate is also off limits during the study. That will help).**

Bonus: they fed us all our meals and gave us good snacks, i.e. fruit snacks, granola bars, apples, yogurt, etc. It was also a great weekend for 80's dance flicks on T.V.; Flashdance AND Girls Just Want to Have Fun were both shown...multiple times.

1 stay down and 2 more to go. Then the $4500 is MINE! HAHAHAHAHA.