Vacation is a Beautiful Thing

So I am sure that by now you are all madly wondering how I spent my four day vacation last weekend. To appease you all, I will share the details [minus specific names and places to protect the innocent...or whatever]. I arrived at my destination Friday around lunch. Shortly thereafter, me, person L, person T, and person D went out to this outlet mall that wasn't far from the location, and I never knew it existed! I was very upset about my ignorance. At any rate, we had fun in a few of the stores and it was great, even if we were melting by the end. After that, L and myself went to help set up at a little open house for a girl I grew up with who had just gotten married. I hadn't known ahead of time that this would be included in my weekend, so it was a wonderful surprise to be able to see her again and her family as well. Then we went to a classic sandwich place in this town and I had the single most delicious club sandwich ever. So SO good. Then we raced back home to change our clothes to head over to the open house, where we were social and pleasant right up to the end, and then we helped take everything down again. That night I slept in the most AMAZING bed that has ever been created and can I just insert here what a blessing it was to be able to sleep deeply and straight through the night and to feel so refreshed in the morning? That is so rare for me and it was nearly miraculous. Thank you, amazing bed. I miss you already.
ANYWAY. Saturday I woke up all on my own--still early, but no alarm = okay with me--and had a hole-in-the-wall for breakfast, which is always a fun treat, and then I lounged about the house while the rest of the gang did what they had to--I had specifically requested that they do exactly what they were already going to do and not worry about entertaining me, as I was on vacation purely to "just be" for a few days--and really enjoyed that. Around noon, L and I went to go get pedicures. See, I had never had one and that little detail somehow escaped from my mouth while we were at the outlet mall. L was appropriately astonished and said we would take care of that. So off we went for my very first pedicure. Oh my gosh, people. If you have never had a pedicure, you have to go and get one. My feet, which are historically ugly, are now smooth and soft and gorgeous, my nails are radiant in their new shade of "I'm not really a waitress" [yes, that was the color I picked], and I already want to go and get another one. Thank you, L, for opening my eyes and showing me just how blind I have been. After that little jaunt to heaven, we went back to the house to catch a nap, and then G, L, D, M [a lovely girl whom I enjoyed meeting very much], and I [uhh, can we SAY third wheel? oh well. good thing I'm not awkward.] went out to eat at Red Robin [YUM], browsed at Barnes and Noble [dangerous], and saw Harry Potter again. [I do realize that I neglected to post on Harry Potter. I shall amend that soon.] I cried more this time than last time, probably because I was more awake, and had a really good time. Especially since L, M, and I shared a popcorn, seeing as how we three agreed that when you go to a movie, you ought to have popcorn. The boys didn't care and we didn't care that they didn't care.
Sunday I slept in again [bless you, bed], then ate some of the most amazing French Toast that was ever called French Toast [thank you, G. I bow to the awesomeness that is your French Toast]. After that we went off to Church a little early so D and L could rehearse with the choir, which suited me just fine as I wanted to say hi to some of the old gang I used to know who was in the other ward. I got to see some and it was awesome. Church was great. Wonderful talks, spiritual nourishment, and a lovely combination of social mingling, family catch-ups, and flat out gossip. Perfect. Then I went and visited my dad's cousin that lives in the same town and had a lovely hour or so with him, his wife, and their two girls still at home. I love those guys. They really feel closer than they are. I wish I had set aside more time for them, but oh well. Family understands. That night we had one of my favorite dinners from this particular household: Japanese Chicken and Rice. I have the recipe now and I will attempt to recreate it. I am not hopeful. Since I am a movie buff [okay, okay, a movie freak] and G loves that I am, he always makes me watch movies when I'm there, quizzes me on movie soundtracks, and shows me the latest trailers. It's great. He's such an enabler. Anyway, I saw Alice in Wonderland and the Adjustment Bureau, both for the first time, and naturally, we had popcorn. I was pleasantly surprised by both movies, and enjoyed the down time.
Monday I did NOT sleep in [well, okay, a little, but only compared to my normal waking hours] and went with L and her friend D [not to be confused with her son D...or her other son D....] to my favorite little park in the area, where they have a 1.5 mile loop around a pond. We walked it twice. I still hurt. But it was soooo worth it. The exercise is good for my body and the conversation was good for my soul. After that, we went back to the house, ate and showered, and I left, stopping by my very favorite cemetery for a bit and making sure to drop my my favorite ice cream place of all time and getting a malt before hitting the road. I made excellent time getting back here [thank you, other drivers, construction people, and sneaky police for not hindering my journey] and met up with my mom and sister at the mall, where we shopped for a bit, then went home and did nothing else. Awesome.
So that was my vacation. It was short, it was sweet, and it was just what I needed. Here's hoping that the little escape was enough to keep me going for a while. Sometimes you just need to get away, you know? I recommend it, even if it is only for a few days.

A Little Update

Well, it has been a very VERY long time since I have written anything on here. I chalk it up to the fact that 1) I lead a very dull life, and 2) I did not have internet for a long enough time to put up a blog post. But due to changes in my situation that you will learn momentarily, the latter is no longer the case. But the former is still true. Oh well. 1 for 2 is okay.

So the last few months in a short recap: I am still working at my job, still struggling to have a positive attitude about it, and still wishing I got out of the office more. But because eventually the one who persists wears down the opposition, I will be taking up a couple of hours as an athletic trainer at my old high school as part of my job. I am really excited about this, as I can get out of that blasted office AND be an athletic trainer again. AND it's my old school. BONUS!

I have decided to proceed with getting a Master's degree in athletic training. I want to have a job working with collegiate athletics, if possible, and in order to do that, I need a master's degree. So I am taking the GRE on August 4th and will apply to graduate schools after that. It's been hard trying to figure out where to apply, where I might want to go, and accepting the fact that I have to go back to school when I was so keen to get out. But I need to do it in order to progress at all in my career, and since that is all I have at the moment, that is what I will do. I feel good about it, at least in theory. Whether or not I continue to feel good about it will be up to my ability to understand the Lord's will for me. =)

In conjunction with THAT announcement, I have moved back home with my parents to save money for when I am no longer gainfully employed and on the receiving end of an actual salary. We're painting my old room, which was a very bright blue from when Jen had taken over that room during her time in high school. It will now be a very pale shade of green. I'll post before and after pictures when it's done. For the time being, I am sleeping in what Sarah and I have entitled my "Spare Room" which is actually Jen's room. It is bursting with boxes and bins and bags and until I officially move into my room, I will continue to fight to find clothing every morning half asleep, hoping I don't knock anything over. AND I have bought a new TV. It it was about time as the one I had inherited from my brother and his wife had blown up a few months ago and I have been living with a very tiny, older than Jenny TV ever since. Not cool, particularly for someone like me who is a TV junkie. My new TV is 32 inches and a flat screen. Ahhh, so happy.

The summer has been ridiculously hot here, and I have been working all through it. But I managed to take a weekend vacation here and there, and I'm actually leaving later today for one. YAY. Anyway, I was in Chicago for the 4th of July, as always, and this year I enjoyed "teaching" Carly to swim and establishing myself as her favorite aunt. [This is not bragging, this is truth. She calls for me whenever she video chats with my parents]. I love that girl. =)

In other news, I completed two books recently. The first took me 5 weeks, the other 6. I have NEVER written anything so fast. It's been awesome. I have more lined up, but studying for the GRE comes first. Then I can be all creative and fun again.

And just for kicks and giggles, any fans of the book Austenland by Shannon Hale out there will be as delighted and squealishly [I just made that up] excited about the fact that is being made into a movie starring Keri Russell and JJ Feilds. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Okay, I think that will serve as a proper update. I promise to share more things more often, especially now that I can do so. If you're even interested anyway. If not, too bad. =)

The King's Speech

So I have been very interested in the success of the movie The King's Speech this awards season. I had never seen it, but I sort of have an unhealthy obsession with all things England, and have always been fascinated with English monarchies, and....Colin Firth is in it. Nuff said right? Of course, right. So, I REALLY wanted it to do well. I cheered very loudly when Colin Firth won his Golden Globe award, much to the amusement of my friends watching with me. I squealed and almost cried when he won the Oscar for it. I pumped my fist in victory when The King's Speech took home the Best Picture award. Very odd, you might say, considering I had never seen it.

Why hadn't I?

Because it was rated R and I decided a long time ago that I was not going to see R rated movies, no matter how tempted.

I had never really been that tempted.....until now.

I struggled, I really did. See, I knew this was a true story. This actually happened, this was no "loose interpretation of a good story" movie, this was literally real. And I knew the only reason it was rated R was for the language in one scene. Just one. And given my above sentiments towards the film and its details......well, I was aching to see it. But I knew I would be disappointed in myself for breaking that promise I had made to myself, regardless of if I enjoyed the actual film. So I prepared to wait until it came out on DVD and I could find an edited version somewhere. I had even planned with my dear sister-in-law to have a viewing party of it, since she shared my desire to see it.

I bought the book and read it in about three days, and I was even more tempted, now that I knew the story. [By the way, get the book. So amazing.]

But lo, and behold, miracles happen. Somebody [and I really have no idea who, but I want to send them a fruit basket or something] decided to release a PG-13 version of the movie, with the parts that make it R removed. It was going to be released to select theaters, but I was willing to drive however far I had to so I could see it.

On Wednesday, my mother told me she received an email from one of our local movie theaters advertising the showing of the edited version of The King's Speech. I almost cried with joy.

Tonight, my dreams came true.

The movie was PHENOMENAL. The acting was above and beyond what I was expecting [and I was expecting a good deal, I'm a little harsh that way, but it's out of love, I swear]. The music was breathtaking. I already have the soundtrack. The story was touching and inspiring, and Colin Firth's performance is the stuff of legend. I would move to any country where that man was king. ESPECIALLY if Helena Bonham Carter was his queen. She makes me smile in real life, and was perfection in this film. The rest of the supporting cast is delightful, and there was not one single thing that I would change about it [well, okay, maybe the swearing, but even then, it's really funny......as if that makes it okay.....I'm torn].

In short, if you see R rated films, see it. If you don't, find the edited version somewhere near you and see it. Amazing amazing amazing.

I firmly believe that I was meant to see this movie.

I'm going back again this week.

And as many more times as I can.

Wow.....Just Wow....

Just a quick update for those of you who actually read this:
Last night's episode of Bones was the most evocative episode of TV I have ever seen. I was literally blown away. Ask my roommates, I couldn't stop talking about it. Which is funny, considering that when it was over, I literally had no words.
Without going into any details, I'll just say that it pinpointed the painful feelings associated with the situation of many single people. "Why don't [they] want what I'm offering?" It was so poignant, and I found myself in tears. Who hasn't felt that? Who hasn't wished that they could find someone who wanted what we offer, all of us, the good and the bad, the whole package, flaws, quirks, and all? Who hasn't been disappointed by a lack of interest or a relationship that wasn't what it appeared or a person who was built up to perfection in our minds only to wake up and find that we never knew them at all? Who hasn't wanted, if just for one day or night, to forget it all and not feel anything? And it led me to ask myself this question: how many amazing people, such as this character [who ANY woman should want to be with if they have any brains or a heart at all], are sitting alone this weekend and wondering those very same things?
It examined the human heart with more pinpoint accuracy than I ever expected it to. I know I'm being overly analytical and sentimental and it's probably ridiculous and pathetic on far too many levels for comfort, but it really struck me. I don't think it'll be leaving my mind anytime soon, either. So a MAJOR shout out to the creator of Bones, Hart Hanson, to the writers, the producers, and, most especially, to David Boreanaz for the most amazing 15 minutes of TV I have ever seen. Truly a beautiful and touching performance.
Happy Valentine's Day to you all, lovers and loners alike.

If I were an Actress......

Hey y'all....
So I know I've been remarkably absent since my last post. This is why I don't make resolutions. Life gets in my way. Anyways, I'm doing well and I promise to update you if anything major happens in my life. Promise promise.
Anywho, my sister-in-law started a new blog and she recently talked about a show called Inside the Actor's Stuido. WHY DIDN'T I KNOW ABOUT THIS BEFORE???????? It is TOTALLY right up my alley. I would have been watching this show all the time!!!! I guess it doesn't really matter, since I know now and I have already programmed my parents' DVR to record it. Should be fun!
But onto my point: If I were on this show [when I'm a famous actress], these would be my answers top the questions at the end.

1. What is your favorite word? Hullabaloo. Isn't it just a great word?
2. What is your least favorite word? Can't. I hate that word so much.
3. What turns you on? Cheesecake.
4. What turns you off? Arrogance.
5. What sound or noise do you love? The sound of a spoon scraping against a plastic bowl. It means somethign yummy is being created, and I will inevitably ask "Whatcha makin'?" in the hopes that I will get some.
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Radio static. ICK!
7. What is your favorite curse word? [peers around to make sure no one will think less of her for having one] I personally think that h-e-double hockeysticks is a funny word as an expletive. But if I had a swaering problem, I imagine that I would say the moderate expletive version of "darn it" often. Also, nothing is funnier than hearing your grandma swear. It makes me giggle no matter what she says.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I think if I could go back to school and do it all over again [which I have contemplated], I would like to be a criminal investigator. I'd love to solve puzzles and catch bad guys. But that's my fantasy. In reality, I think I'd make a decent psychologist. I'd like to help people help themselves.
9. What profession would you not like to do? Anything political. Yelch.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "So......how was the food?" =)

In other news, It's BONES DAY!!!!! I'm slightly obsessed. Tonight's episode is going to be AMAZING!!!! That or it is going to make me severely depressed. Either way, I'm prepared with popcorn and a big bag of peanut M&Ms. Hopefully I'll be floating on Cloud 9 tomorrow, but if I'm not, I trust that one of you will help me out of my depression induced chocolate coma.
Thanks, friends. Enjoy the day. Spring is coming......I hope.....

Believe

Instead of a string of New Year's resolutions this year, considering that I almost never keep them, I have opted for a theme. Odd, I know, but I really think that this will be something I can follow throguh on and why shouldn't I let 2011 have a theme? It will give me something to keep in mind, something to inspire me, keep my focus where it needs to be.
The theme I have opted for is BELIEVE.
Believe in God, believe in people, and believe in myself.

That is what my focus is going to be this year. Every month I'll do a specific post on the year's theme, and reflect on what it means to me at that point.
I want to keep in mind a few scriptures for this theme. I'll just share one at the moment. Mark 9:23-24. It's the story of the young father who asked the Savior to heal his son. Jesus says, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Then verse 24: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.
I feel like I say that a lot. "Lord, I believe!" But then I have to turn right back around when I realize that I know nothing, that I can't do anything on my own, and I have to say, "Help thou my unbelief." But I just love what the Savior says. "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." All things. Not just some things, but all. How great is that? If we will just believe, all things are possible!
One of my favorite singers is Andrea Bocceli, and one of my favorite songs he sings is one called Because We Believe. Much of it is in Italian, but I'll provide the translation for you. But you really REALLY need to hear it. It's the perfect theme song for anyone's life.
Here are the lyrics:

Look outside: its morning
This is a day you'll remember
Hurry, get up and go
There are those who believe in you
Don't give up

Once in every life
There comes a time
We walk out all alone
And into the light
The moment won't last but then,
We remember it again
When we close our eyes.

Like stars across the sky
And in order to shine
You will have to win
We were born to shine
All of us here because we believe

Look ahead and never turn your back
On the caress of your dreams,
Your hopes and then,
Turn towards the day that will be
There is a finish line there.

Like stars across the sky
And in order to shine
You will have to win
We were born to shine
All of us here because we believe

Don't give up
Someone is with you

Like stars across the sky
We were born to shine
And in order to shine
You will have to win

Believe is my theme for this year, and I think it's going to be a good one.

Round 12: Santa

If you could not tell from previous posts, I am more than slightly obsessed with Christmas. Yeah, duh, we got that. But something else you probably caught [if you've been paying attention] is that I LOVE Santa. And when I say LOVE, I mean LOVE. Santa is one of my absolute favorite parts of Christmas. Let me review:

1. It's not Christmas until Santa comes in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

2. My favorite theme of the Christmas season is Believe. [more on that in a minute]

3. I smile whenever I see a Santa in the mall

4. I love any artwork with Santa in it

5. I still go to bed early [ish] on Christma Eve so Santa can come. [Yes, he still does]

6. I still set out a treat for Santa.

7. Hands down, my favorite wrapping paper has Santas on it

8. The saddest thing ever is when someone stops believing.

9. Most of my favorite Christmas movies have something to do with Santa

10. I have been known to wear a Santa hat on random Christmas occasions.

Santa, to me, represents all that is good and magical and wonderful about the holiday season. As a child, there was nothing more exciting than the thought of Santa. I loved writing to him, making crafts of him, making cookies to leave for him, and seeing the magic proven on Christmas morning with full stockins, new presents, and an empty plate and glass. Of course, this also made falling asleep on Christmas Eve just about impossible. The lack of sleep was so worth it.

{How fun is this? Hope those kids are sleeping!}

Some people choose not to let Santa into their lives. That's their right, and I won't say anything about it because it's really none of my business. But to me, including Santa in Christmas only magnifies the true meaning of Christmas. What did our Savior come to the world for but to give us the most amazing, impossible gift of all? Why should we not allow the tradition of Santa, a man who brings joy to others and expects nothing in return, to fill our holiday season as well? The magic of Santa only magnifies the reality of our Savior's infinite goodness. That's my opinion, at least.

{Beautiful artwork by Greg Olsen}
I love hearing children tell me all about Santa, about how they saw him at the mall or at a party, how they wrote him a letter and mailed it... The innocence of children makes Santa even more fun for me. I remember asking my mother when I was young if she believed in Santa. "Yes, I believe in Santa. Do you?" I nodded. "Good. If we believe in Santa, he'll believe in us." I still hold true to that. He is as real as we let him be. This is probably why I love The Polar Express and Josh Groban's song Believe.

{I WANT THIS SHIRT!}

One of my favorite TV shows is NCIS [hang in there, bear with me, I have a point]. One of their recent holiday episodes involved pulling off an impossible task for a little boy who asked for just one thing for Christmas. Acting as Santa's helpers, they made it possible. When they have done it, the forensic specialist Abby, who is the most interesting TV character there is, says to the agent who did it, "You would make a great Santa." He replies, "I guess you just gotta believe." Then Abby delivers my favorite line of all time: "I do believe."

It's that simple. Believe in the magic, believe in the wonder, believe in the tradition. Macy's has the theme of Believe for the Christmas season, and each Macy's store has a mailbox specifically for letters to Santa. For this reason alone, I have grown exponentially fond of Macy's. [Okay, that and the fact they sell Frango mints. Gimme a break.] I almost get choked up when I see it. To bring emphasis to the importance of believing during this season of wonder and miracles and magic.... Way to go, Macy's!

{Someday, I'm going to go see this NYC Macy's in person. LOVE this!}
I believe in Santa Claus. Do you?