Christmas Traditions

Besides the fun cookie plates for friends and neighbors, decorating the tree, Christmas movies, scones and eggnog at Winder dairy, one of my favorite Christmas traditions is getting together with the Simons family. Our moms were best friends, growing up in Texas together and if there are any two people alike on this planet it is Cindy and Joy! So once again we met at the christus statue at Temple Square, caught up on our year, strolled around the lights, and headed back to my new condo about three blocks away.

The tradition is homemade cinnomon rolls, hot chocolate, queso dip, spinach dip, and tons more. We eat until we're sick, and laugh at our dramatic mothers, and how crazy life is. Though there are four new little additions, Rachel is in college now, Austin is getting his drivers license, and most of us are still clinging to the singles scene, it seems we all go back to the moment in time when the "country mice" from Payson come up to visit the "city mice" in Salt Lake and we would primp and go to the mall, or to a singles dance, laugh until we cried the whole night, discussed who had dibs on what boys, and usually hit up a Denny's to discuss everything in detail after.

The Simons are the type of people that you might not see for a few months, but as soon as you get together you pick up where you left off like it's only been a day, and every Christmas season I am grateful for that.

Life is Strange Part 2

Saturday night around 11:00 p.m. I was walking out of the movie theaters at The District, when I spied out of the corner of my eye...a ninja!  Now I have one of those minds that tends to be extremely imaginative and sometimes I think I see things, and then on a second look it was only a piece of newspaper blowing across the yard, so I did my usual double take, and yep a ninja, actually two ninjas, in between the double doors to get out to the parking lot. Thought number one: RUN THE OTHER WAY!  Thought number two: either a Chinese star is about to be thrown at my neck or there is a hidden video camera and this will be on YouTube by midnight.

So the group and I stepped through the first door and ninja number one came rolling toward us, ending in a perfect handstand and held it, while ninja number two jumped in the air and landed in the splits.  We paused, all my senses at high alert and then we got out of there as fast as we could, leaving the ninjas  in the lobby.  It was one of those surreal movie moments when the audience is yelling, "You idiot the ninja is behind the door with a sword-DON'T JUST STAND THERE!" but at the same time you are thinking this can't be real, this is hilarious.  I didn't stick around long enough to see which way this situation would end up, but we did see a get-a-way car idling so who knows what those two crazy ninjas were really up to.  Moral of the story: truth is stranger than fiction--ALWAYS!

Guess What I tried...

Sushi!  I loved it! I've been meaning to try it for years and it never worked out, so last night after work an awesome coworker said she would teach me the ropes.  Prior fears: Fish eggs and sea weed.  So we headed over to Takashi on Market Street, mixed a bowl of soy sauce with wasabi to make it spicy, ate edamame (soybeans coated in salt) while waiting, and then I was presented with the Imagine roll with salmon and the Dragon roll with albacore tuna. One word: AMAZING!  side note: I love fish and strong, salty, spicy flavors, so it was the flavor I've been looking for all my life.  From here on out my life will be known in two eras before sushie (BS) and after sushie (AS), and I could kick myself for not trying it sooner.  Next thing to concur, sushi with quail egg...I don't know about that one.  P.S. Fish eggs bursting delicately in your mouth is actually quite pleasant :)

We headed over to the Oyster Bar for a few minutes after to people watch and then walked over to the Melting Pot for chocolate fondue desert.  I love trying new things!  Happy Sushi Day!

Daylight Savings!

Yesterday was my first commute home after daylight savings this weekend. Here is a list of why I love it:

It is dark by 5:00 p.m. which means my commute home is me singing at the top of my lungs and dancing in the car because nobody can see me!

I have actually been early to work for 2 days because body still wants to wake up at the same time...I don't know how long this will last so let's just celebrate it now.

We already had our first snow, I love driving in snow (I know weird) it's adventurous and makes me feel like it's Christmas, even if the storm is in March, plus snow and darkness outside=staying inside and trying the new Stephen's hot chocolate flavors this year, just picked up cherry chocolate and Belgium chocolate, and watching How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days, and a million other chick flicks.

And last, but not least, I am a major night owl, I am more productive at night in the darkness, I prefer moonlight to sunlight and all of this just means from now until March I am my most productive, I am motivated to get more done, try new recipes, start another painting, write, deep clean, and find ways to serve. So here's to six months of me not feeling like a giant Sloth!

I have a deep, dark secret...

With every fiber of my being I hate Jane Austen. Her writing is boring, her characters are vapid, spoiled, rich girls waiting and day dreaming in prairie's full of flowers behind huge English cottage/mansions for a gorgeous, rich man to sweep them into true love...etc, etc, etc, barf! (And yes, I get that she was simply attempting to write a "biting social commentary" about the women of her day, moral issues, the roles of women's socioeconomic standing, and I probably have more in common with her than I want to admit, but let's face it her novels are a giant snooze fest).

Back in 2003 I did a study abroad in England, one of the English classes I took while there focused on female English authors and it was great, until we got to Pride & Prejudice. On discussion day many of my female peers were swooning, we went around our classroom of 11 and everyone gave their spill on what they liked and didn't like. Suddenly it was my turn, I simply said, "I hated it!" simple and to the point. For the next 45 minutes I was comparable to the witches of Salem and almost tied to a pole to be burned for my beliefs.

Fast forward 7 years to these golden nuggets of good fortune:

Both books keep the original Jane Austen text with new twists and turns making Ms. Austen actually interesting and hilarious, just when you think you can't take anymore of an ego-centric, shallow character-they are offed by some creature. When the elder Mr. Dashwood is brutally murdered by a hammerhead shark within the first three pages in Sense and Sensibility and Sea monsters, I seriously stayed up past midnight cackling in my room.

Defiling a classic you may say...I think these versions need to be included in every literary cannon. It might actually make English class way more enjoyable to those who don't aspire to be book geeks and writers. I bet Ms. Austen might even be thinking, "Pirates, Giant Squids, Zombies? Dang, I should have thought of that!"

Ahh, Comfort Food!

Remember these?

When I was little I was obsessed with cursive handwriting, I had to know how to do it, and would pretend that I could read all of the beautiful cursive written cards and letters that came in the mail for my mom. Since these were my favorite treat, I was convinced the swirling loops of frosting on top was my name in cursive. I would ask my mom everytime if it was my name, and if she even hesitated for a moment I became so upset, almost in tears trying to convince the entire family it was true!

Because I am on a "diet" which in Tami world just means, make sure every treat counts and hits the spot, and I have been craving these for days I finally broke down, DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER HOW GOOD THESE ARE?!?! Diet or not, I am declaring today Hostess Cupcake Day! Everyone pick one out with your name on it, and ENJOY!

Ellen DeGeneres Really?!?!

Let's be honest American Idol is NOT my favorite show, in fact last season was only the second season I had actually watched because my mom and sister LOVE it and I kind of got roped in. I was glad to see Kara come because she actually gave some decent feedback, and I loved her by the finale for showing up the infamous bikini girl. I died laughing-don't we wish we all had a moment like that.

Paula flat out bugs me, yes she is beautiful and talented, and in Jr. High I remember dancing to Opposites Attack and thinking then it was odd she cast a cartoon cat as her opposite, but that is for another day. So the announcement was madeyesterday that Ellen DeGeneres was picked to take Paula's place. My reaction was...ha ha ha we've all been punked! That Ashton is a riot...isn't he? Wait really? Ellen?

I love Ellen she is hilarious, but does she sing? Nope. Has she ever been in the music business? Nope. So really, what gives? Yes Paula was more of the town drunk, or the cheerleader that has hit her head one too many times and now gets distracted by sparkling things and pretty lights, and she was really only good for a laugh...so maybe that is what stuck out we just need someone to make us laugh. In fact I think Ellen guest judged on "So you think you can Dance" and she was hilarious and charismatic the entire time, but this is a bizarre choice...I guess the execs were only looking for the yin to Simon's yang; proving the judges are only there for the show. It is obviously America who picks their next Idol anyway...or so they would like you to think.