Sunday, April 18, 2010

Good Times

This is not the greatest photo of me, it was taken after a Sunday nap, but I failed to take any other photos this week, so it will have to do.


My husband and I played a piano duet together in Sacrament meeting. It was an arrangement of "Love at Home". I think we are both happy with how it turned out. I was definitely less nervous/shaky than the last time we did a duet.

He gave me those tulips during the week too. He came home with the tulips and a copy of "The Blind Side". He has absolutely no interest in seeing that movie. He played a duet with me, brought me flowers and a chick flick. That was so nice of him. I am a lucky woman.

A few weeks ago I was working at Costco when I ran into the husband of one of my first college roommates, Katrina. We exchanged numbers and Katrina and I made plans to meet at her home in Tooele on Wednesday. She has lived there for nine years now.

Their school district has short day on Wednesdays, so I met all five of her children ranging from 12 years old to 17 months. I was a little surprised by this, even though I shouldn't have been. We were married about the same time. We had such a good visit; I had forgotten what an incredible friend she is. We both remembered quite a bit about the things we did together that the other forgot. For example, she said that when she was hugely pregnant with her first, I would meet her at Aggie Village at least once a week and we would go on long walks dreaming about our futures.

I am so glad we got together. It was revitalizing to talk with her because she kind of still saw me as I was at 18. She reminded me of my old self and I felt fantastic.

I was playing with my camera last Sunday and I took a bunch of photos. Here is one of them. Yes, there is a giant elephant behind me.

Other news for the week include that the weather has been nice so Clare and I have been running like maniacs. Tulips are blooming everywhere. I have been working on securing future employment and so far things are going very well. I may have extremely good news next week. Tomorrow I pick up my mom from the airport and take her to Logan for her to stay a week with Margie's family. That's enough for now. Thanks for all your comments. I enjoy hearing from you.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

You Be The Jury

I was just driving back from the University of Utah and a police officer pulled me over. The police officer was in an unmarked black SUV and he was not wearing a police uniform rather a red dress shirt embroidered with the the words, "Cottonwood Heights Police".


Here is what happened. I was at an intersection turning right onto a road that had all but one of the westbound lanes closed for construction. This single lane was backed all the way to the intersection so cars were having a hard time getting into the lane. When my light turned green there was no room in the lane for me and there were cars in the opposite direction from me blocking the intersection because they were trying to turn left into the single lane.

I knew if I didn't pull into the intersection when my light was green to take my place in line, I would never get to go. When the single lane began to move the left turning cars turned west into the single westbound lane, my light turned red, and then I turned right into the single lane. Yes, I turned RIGHT on a RED light into the lane.

The black SUV was first in line at the intersection going straight west, so I went in front of him.

So he pulls me over, and he is mad. He shakes his head like I'm an idiot and asks me for my license and registration. I hand him my license and while I'm getting my registration he can see by the look on my face I really have no idea what he thinks I did wrong.

Nothing he said seems clear to me other than, "Your light was red when you entered the intersection" and "That's how accidents happen". My light was not red when I entered the intersection.

When I arrived at the intersection, my light was red. I stopped and waited at the stop line while it was red. My light turned green and I entered the intersection. I sat there waiting in the intersection while it remained green. It turned red, and then I turned into the westbound lane.

I'm wondering what I was supposed to do differently? So I'm really questioning myself thinking maybe he is right, maybe I did something wrong. I tell him, "I don't know what I did wrong" and he says "We can argue it in front of the judge". I say, "Okay", not to be smart, I just really didn't think I did anything wrong.

He seems upset at this point that I'm not crying or pleading at his mercy. He asks when was the last time I had a ticket. I tell him years ago. He then starts to tell me his intention was to just give me a warning, but since I insist that I didn't do anything wrong, he is going to write me a ticket.

So here it comes, here is what he wanted. "Oh please, please, please please please, I was wrong," as my stomach churns because it makes me sick that he just wants me to worship him. He says, "So now you say you were wrong?" "Yes, I was wrong." I have no idea what I did wrong, but this is what he wants to hear. He says, "okay" and hands me my license back.

I would never have been able to turn right if I waited for an opportunity when my light was green and the west bound lane had space open. The intersection was backed up in all directions.

I'm trying to learn from the experience, but really, I would do the same thing, if I was in the same situation again.

What should I have done differently?

Saturday, April 10, 2010

A Nice Week

Monday night it snowed and this was Tuesday morning. I went to Logan and enjoyed a day with the girls.


I received two tiny rebate checks, so I went to the ATM, "cha-ching".


I warmed up leftover shredded beef with a variety of sides for super easy eats.


I went to Wal-Mart to buy some cream they didn't have and asked some missionaries to take my photo so you could see me in action. They were a little suspect of my intentions.


I chauffeured my husband to and from the UofU. (There is still a little snow on the grass.)


In the end, it warmed up enough to wear flip-flops and a sweater for a limited amount of time.

Have a nice day. :)

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter Week

When this week began I thought all I had ahead of myself was working, sleeping, eating, exercising and a little reading. I feared I would have nothing of interest to write about so I started taking a few photos of things I was eating so I would have something to say.

As you can see I had a couple Asian Chicken Salads (ooh...aah...exciting right?)



lots of smoothies

and I munched on asparagus because it is in season, on sale and so good after being baked for ten minutes with a sprinkling of sea salt. (Bob made us this cool bowl for a wedding gift.)


But then, to my surprise, something of significance happened. I gave notice that April 30th will be my last day of employment here.

I am super happy and excited. Goodbye Costco.


Working at Costco has been interesting. It is a good place to work, but it is also requires much heavier labor than I ever anticipated. I've worn out a few pairs of shoes walking an excess of twenty miles a day circling that concrete warehouse returning items to the shelves, pushing rows of heavy carts outside in the scorching sun and freezing rain, scrubbing floors, serving hot dogs, cashiering, and other things I wouldn't want to mention. There were nights when I would return home wondering if my feet were still at the bottom of what felt like stubs hanging from my hips.

Then my husband surprised me with these sweet flowers. The picture doesn't do them justice, they are nothing but cheer. :)


Easter arrived and I didn't know what to cook because my husband doesn't like pork in any form, but he requested enchiladas with Mexican rice, so here it is. I made them with shredded beef. Mexican food doesn't make a pretty photograph, but it tastes good.


In the end, this beautiful, irresistible box of chocolate covered caramels arrived to wish us a happy Easter from Ted and Liz . They are so good. Thank you for spoiling us as always.

We watched conference over the weekend. It was good as always.

I'm truly surprised I had as much to say as I did. I shouldn't have ever thought my life would be boring. There is always something happening, I just don't always know what it will be. :)

Happy Easter.