The times in which we live

This is Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the DNC on Thursday. You may not like his politics but I don't think you can deny that he's an amazing individual, indicative of the exciting times in which we live. It gives me hope for the future and the future of my children and their children. It's a long speech (40 mins) but if you have the time, even if you don't plan to vote for him, I think it's worth watching. He's an amazing public speaker.

Odd Duck

So, my sister, Annie, (whose blog is infinitely better than mine) rather threateningly tagged me and so I am completing this at her behest.

Rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you. (Annie..check)

2. Mention the rules on your blog. (check)

3. Tell about 6 quirks of yours.

4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers to do the same. (i'm not sure I know 6 different bloggers)

And away we go....

1. I get excited by the smell of books. Just looking at my stuffed to the brim bookshelf makes me very happy.

2. I'm slightly self conscience about my thumbs. My thumbnails are short and wide. My sister got on of each...a normal thumb and one like mine...my siblings call them "shovel thumbs".

3. Like my sister, I rub my feet together when I go to sleep. I'm not sure why but i do...maybe it's genetic?

4. I like to make to do lists and I like to include things that I have already done that day so I can check them off the list.

5. I have food texture issues. I don't like mashed potatoes or ground beef or oatmeal because I don't like the texture.

6. When I'm hanging out with friends or family and the conversation has slowed or has taken a somewhat awkward turn I will say "MONKEYS!" to change the topic or start the conversation again.

TAGEES:
1. Ash

2. Sue

3. Conor

4. Nicki

5. Wendy

6. Lisa

My Happy Place....

I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends! Last night I got to talk on the phone with Nicki for an hour and a half. She is off in Iowa pursuing what she calls, "Professional Training". Really she's starting her MLS (Master of Library Science). I don't get to talk to her nearly as often as I would like but that just makes it so much better when I do get to talk to her. Last night was one of those conversations that is long overdue and we just spill out everything that has been building up for past several weeks. It was so great to talk to someone that is so solidly in "my corner" and yet will call me on my crap as needed. She is such a wonderful friend and example for me. I LOVE YOU NICKI!!!

I also have been very blessed to meet several new friends and kindred spirits. Lisa and Christine are so much fun and are quickly becoming my favorite people. They get my sense of humor and allow me to be silly and goofy. I hung out with Lisa this weekend (Christine was in Logan doing wedding stuff). We went to antique stores on Saturday, random - I know. We walked all over downtown and went into all those shops that you drive by a million times and say you want to go in but never do. We went to the Rare Book Store on 200 East and 300 South. You could smell the books before you even walked in the door. I found a 5 volume set of Louisa May Alcott books printed in 1911 for $30! $30!!!! And she let me wander around the store and didn't laugh at me when I got giddy about the books.

We joke sometimes about finding your happy place when something has gone wrong or you have to do something unpleasant. I joked that these books were my happy place...and they are. But really, my friends are my happy place. They are truly wonderful, beautiful, amazing people and I am truly blessed to have them in my life. My Patriarchal blessing says something about how I will be able to make and maintain meaningful friendships and relationships throughout my life that will uplift and support me in times of trouble. I have been blessed.

I have been remiss

So I have been fairly bad at keeping up on this as of late and I suppose I should apologize but really I was just doing you a favor. This way you didn't have to read all the complaining about how horrible my job is or my life or whatever drama happened to be going on at the time. So really, it was for your benefit that I hadn't posted in such a long time.

I should probably fill you in on what has happened since my last post...I ended up staying in my current job because they said they needed me and I would be able to basically make my own job description. That didn't turn out to be entirely true but that's hardly the point anymore. I have since moved to the department I wanted to move to and I am working with a great group of people that I thoroughly enjoy and can relate to. Work is still hectic at times but there is less complaining, less drama and more laughter.

I moved in with Patrick in the Hillcrest (Covey) apartments. It's going fairly well and we only really bicker occasionally but even then it doesn't last long. It's been nice living with him. For the most part he's really easy to live with except when he doesn't clean his dishes every time after he eats or like how he never takes out the bathroom garbage but then again, I'm sure I do things that he finds obnoxious and irritating but all in all, it's a pretty good set up. However, when our lease is up in October, I'm moving in with my friend, Lisa. Her roommate (also my friend) is getting married in the middle of October so I'm taking her place. I'm excited for rent to be less than half of what I'm paying now, including utilities and a nicer kitchen.

I also registered to take the LSAT. GASP! I know. But it's about time. I took my first practice test and I was only a few points off of where I need to be to get into the Pace/Sarah Lawrence program. So that's basically my life right now. I work a lot, go to church, hang out with friends, eat and sleep. It's not an exciting life but it's a good life and I'm excited to see where it leads me. I've posted some pictures of some stuff from the past couple of months...

This is Nicki's going away party...very sad evening.

Up Big Cottonwood Canyon with our pewter picnic set

More Big Cottonwood Canyon

The 6 bug bites from Big Cottonwood Canyon!