The Paper Sculpture

Strange Book Idea

2011-03-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

I always seem to have a sixth sense about when the power is going to go out. I'm also one of those people that turn off and on streetlights by walking by them. Maybe it's a super power I just haven't learned to control yet. So at 2:16 a.m. this morning I wake up, look at my alarm clock, and five seconds later the power is gone. It always makes me nervous for some reason, so I go out on my balcony to wait it out (because even though I could've set my phone alarm I don't trust it). It's been a while since I've been able to enjoy watching the snow falling at night. I love the way snow looks falling around street lights, I love how snow sticks to the tree branches and power lines, and I love how it catches moonlight and you can see for miles.

So while I'm waiting for the power and staring at the storm I start thinking of how many amazing picture opportunities this early morning makes, seriously my little downtown street looked like a calendar picture...and then I got an AWESOME idea! You know how I know it's awesome? Because when I woke up this morning and looked at the notes I made it was STILL an awesome idea. So it might take a couple of years, but it will be fun to try. Really it's probably equivalent to the Seinfeld episode where Kramer's coffee table book turns into a coffee table, but I'm quirky like that so if it is so be it.

Best Road Trip Snacks

2011-02-24T20:02:00.000-08:00

Due to an extremely disturbing and contagious case of cabin fever, a few of us got into what we thought were the best road trip snacks today at work. I love these kind of peeks into people's personal lore, it's like being in college and finding out your five roommates all have a different take on tacos and Sheppard's Pie. It's funny because my list included a bunch of crap I would never consider eating at any other time and all of it had a bit of nostalgia either from family vacations through the years or what friends have added along the way including, but not limited to:

Ranch Corn Nuts (only if EVERYONE in the car agrees to eat them OR all four windows can at least be cracked)
Chocolate Licorice-this tried and true favorite has saved me on many trips and long airplane rides when normal chocolate would have melted (especially on the Costa Rica trip).
Swedish Fish
Fig Newtons
Cheese Nips
E.L. Fudge cookies
Sour Cream & Onion Pringles-once again probably not the best flavor to pick in an enclosed space.
String Cheese
Purple Grapes
Ritz Crackers with Cheddar & Bacon Easy Cheese
Chocolate Teddy Grahams
Combos
and Nicole's homemade chocolate chip cookies (from the infamous L.A. road trip amongst other occasions)

I realized I tend to eat on the truck driver end of the spectrum when couped up in a car with my favorite people. I guess only true friendship could survive the Corn Nut experience. Honorable mentions from the conversation include Nilla Wafers, Sun Chips, a bag of chocolate chips (okay, whatever creams your Twinkie), edamame (didn't really seem travel-friendly to me), lemonade, beef jerky, pretzels, and Jelly Belly's.

What are yours?

The Essence of Summer 2010

2010-06-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

Three real summer days in a row! Kind of makes me feel like I know how Kevin Bacon felt inside when he danced his little high-waisted jean heart out inside of that abandoned warehouse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsCO-YkDgnY&feature=PlayList&p=CF92A75AB8ECA2E1&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index

If that doesn't capture the feeling of this summer, an angry shimmy/cable swinging freedom what does?

Things I Could Do Without This Week!

2010-05-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

Food establishments that refrigerate and use the ends of tomatoes.

Smart cars. Is it really that smart to crouch down in a bright colored roller skate and roll through a busy intersection? Not to mention there is not a pair of sunglasses this side of Pluto that could possibly make you look cool in that car.

Persistent rain clouds that make even Eyore’s rain cloud suicidal!

Mutant douches on Legacy Highway trail that aren’t aware of “trail etiquette”. If you say, “On your left!” I will move out of the way, you don’t have to jump on my back like a rabies infested Yoda and breath in my ear like Jack the Ripper! (Yes 60 year old in the red spandex I’m talking to you and SPANDEX ARE A PRIVELEGE NOT A RIGHT!)

Anyone who doesn’t drive at least 80 in the fast lane!

Enjoy the holiday weekend, maybe if it snows again I’ll put up my Christmas tree and watch Elf…but a BBQ would be nice.

I Found My Soul Mate!

2010-05-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

Have you been to Google today? Pretty much whoever turned the Google logo into the Pacman game is my soul mate! Call me a nerd but I've never been so happy on a rainy Friday day in my entire life! Yes I will be inserting coins the rest of the day inbetween combing through really long reports, thank you very much!

Bitter Sweet Endings

2010-04-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

I start a new job on Monday and even though it is time to move on, usually the motivating factor is annoying coworkers or I get board easily and love a new challenge, but this time is just different. I will miss the view from my office (and getting into the Art and Jazz Festivals for free) :)

And I will really, really miss my favorite coworker/sushi eating /Paradise Bakery sugar cookie run /"Let me hook you up with so and so ..."/homemade tamale making partner in crime/and much, much, much more. It's rare to have this much fun at work!

This last week has been like attending your own funeral, so many people saying the nicest things, lavishing me in gifts, the best boss ever taking all my work friends out to lunch at the Garden Cafe at the Grand America Hotel and making me give a speech (you can only kind of tell how embarrassing that was, yep that's me at the head of the table, ugh!).

And in the end the lesson I've learned is wow, if everyone at work felt this appreciated every day, I bet everyone would love going to work. So my new coworkers are not going to know what to do with my new found appreciation. Here's to the passing of time, new challenges, big changes, friends from every facet of life, and looking back at 90 at thinking wow, I got to live all of that?!

Livin' La Vida OBVIOUS!

2010-03-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

And in other news Ricky Martin stated yesterday he was gay....um, this is news? (Insert sound bite of crickets chirping). Even though last week I seriously had a conversation with a coworker that said, "I will not believe he is gay until he says it! He has kids you know!"

And here we are a week later, her eyes tearing up (I'm not kidding) with the "news". Isn't it weird how the universe works? Or really how oblivious we become over a star crush, I would like to say I've never been "that type of girl" but if you would have known me at 20 when *NSYNC ruled the world, you would have wanted me to trip off a cliff near the ocean.

Please tell me I'm not the only one? Have you ever had a star crush?

Alice in Wonderland Review

2010-03-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

I saw Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland over the weekend. In one word: Languorous. Tim Burton stuffs some of the original Disney movie characters into the first Wonderland scene of the film, as if to get it over with so Alice could move on to an even stranger story; except for the blue Caterpillar, with a disappointing and anticlimactic performance from Alan Rickman, who also appears toward the end of the movie to attempt to make sense of the mess, also known as the entire script; but failing, in his smoky wisdom, to explain some of the movie’s odd basics, like why some characters refer to the magical place as Underland, and others to it as Wonderland.

The scenes felt rushed, trying to press a different story from all things Wonderland that have come before; awkwardly tumbling the plot down additional side rabbit holes of no return, instead of allowing the dream-like qualities of the book to float the audience through the strange and beloved world of Lewis Carroll. The special effects were mediocre and quite frankly awkward, sprinkled with some picturesque visuals. Anne Hathaway’s performance as the White Queen was obnoxiously similar to Amy Adams’ performance in Enchanted. The odd plot of the movie that involved a Jabberwokey, was ruined in the first 30 minutes of the film by the scroll the Caterpillar possessed, then awkwardly handled throughout the other 79 minutes. And so much time was wasted on the characters wondering if Alice was the “real Alice”. My favorite character was the Cheshire Cat, definitely stealing the show as his elusive and playful self, and to me upstaging the Mad Hatter.

The ending was awkward, time warping the late 19th Century Victorian Alice suddenly into the 21st Century through some wormhole where it is normal for a 19-year-old to assume the role of her dead father in his trade business, and leave alone on the very first voyage to China with her family smiling on at her new found independence. Um, historical fact check: women of the Victorian age were not given freedom to choose the course of their life; they had no choice but to accept whatever was placed before them, which for Alice would have most definitely been her arranged marriage, instead of becoming her “almost” future father-in-law’s business partner, which seemed like an antidotal double shot of girl power, instead of portraying Alice in a more strong modern sense all along, maybe even setting the entire movie in the 21st Century…because not wearing a corset to a Victorian backyard BBQ didn’t quite cut it.

In the end not even 3D IMAX could make up for the blasé script and lack of memorable characters. Not to mention the card soldiers being odd metal robots, kind of a cross between Iron Man and the Flying Monkeys from the Wizard of Oz. Some might argue I’ve lost my childhood imagination, but maybe Jordan Commons should have set up a Hookah bar outside the theater to help us all catch Tim Burton’s vision. In the end, like a bad dream, I just wanted it all to go away.

Perfection!

2010-03-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Girl Scouts of America,

After putting your devilishly good Thin Mint cookies into my freezer to chill, and enjoying them with a glass of soy milk, after strolling around the Capitol Building, while watching the city lights start to twinkle, right after an amazing sunset...well it almost made me burst into a solo round of kumbaya!

Besides every guy this side of puberty trying to grow a nasty mustache for mustache March, you single handedly make March something to look forward to.

This weeks great unknowns

2010-02-19T09:08:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or does it seem like an off week? Here are a few things I'm perplexed by this week:

When did the Olympics turn into America's Next Top Model? Seriously is it just me or are all the athletes auditioning for magazine covers, catwalks, and movies; Vera Wang designing costumes? A little much, don't you think? More annoyingly the announcers focusing on what commercials, designers, and social lives the athletes have.
How did 13-year-old Nathan Flynn completely flabbergast the Legislature into not voting for House Bill 288? And why is everyone so adamant about hanging onto daylight savings? Lights are either flipped on in the morning, or stay on late into the night--Energy is not conserve either way, but my energy is sapped when overnight I loose and hour of sleep and it takes my innerclock a month to get it's bearings.
When was the last time Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow! That stupid groundhog always says: Six more weeks of winter!
And signs that Hell just might be freezing over—Octo-mom had a Valentine’s Day date, what do you say about that Punxsutawney Phil? 20 more weeks of winter?

McDonalds latest and greatest?

2010-02-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the commercials for the new McDonalds Mac Snack Wrap? It looks absolutely revolting!
One halved yesterdays beef patty, special saucue, bagged lettuce, hard cheese, wrapped in a stale tortillia instead of a bun!

I'm not a McDonalds fan in the first place, but anybody who thinks the new wrap looks tempting seriously needs to have a home cooked meal, call your mom or I'm game. If you're really desperate, you might be better off with something made out of road kill. The commercial for this reminds me of the worst parts of that documentary Super Size Me....okay, I'm going to be sick! Have you seen it yet? What do you think?

Dear Movie Trailer Makers....

2010-02-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE going to the movies. I HATE, HATE, HATE, it when I have seen the BEST PARTS of the movie in the movie trailer! REALLY, all of the funny parts, the shocking parts, the main points of the plot right there in the movie trailer?!?!?!? It makes me want to throw my $5 Diet Coke at the screen, and next time it happens I AM GETTING MY MONEY BACK!

Really? You really can't find a way to edit the film to be a teaser and not a synopsis of the ENTIRE THING! I am revolting and calling out to all movie goers who have ever gone out, paid their hard earned money, and have been completely disappointed! It is time to rise up and make some noise!

HOLLYWOOD CUT IT OUT! THIS IS SERIOUS NOW! I'M WATCHING YOU!!!!
(Blog inspired by the total disappointment I felt while seeing When in Rome...the movie trailor should have started with SPOILER ALERT!)

Bachelor Confusion

2010-01-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

So I'm a bit confused by the Bachelor last night. One of the giant, doe-eyed, super models was sent home for having "inappropriate relationships" with a producer and not focusing on Jake the bachelor. Chris, the Ryan Seacrest, of the show dramatically pulls her aside, tells her the producer in question was let go of the show, and she needed to leave. She confronts him (which I love because you can tell he did not expect it) and all he has to say (of course after the video editing crew as go to it) is leave now!
The bachelor is upset because he feels like he's been cheated on (what do the other 25 girls feel like after he makes out with all of them in one night) and since he gave her a rose, well that meant they were practically engaged. BUT, nobody ever said what said super model did, or even what "inappropriate relationship" actually meant...dinner and a movie? A pizza on those lonely nights Mr. Bachelor was wooing 20 other girls? A kiss? Really what was the big deal? All is fair in love and war, and you would have to believe that to even do a show like The Bachelor, and I love how nobody addresses the fact that Jillian the bachelorette of last season practically fornicated in the hot tub EVERY SINGLE EPISODE with 3 DIFFERENT MEN, and everyone chalked it up to she was serious about finding her soul mate and would do anything (literally) to put her heart on the line to find him.
Wow, I was bored! And it always amazes me how half of the women really think Jake is the one, and spill their guts out on national T.V. for nothing. It makes me wonder what their dating lives are like after doing a show like this, where you are at the mercy of the editing room and all of your secrets have been on commercial loop for good ratings for your family and ex-boyfriends to see.
There is my rant for the day, what do you think? Or am I the only one who even cares?

Word on the Christmas lit street is...

2009-12-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

I always wanted a brother growing up, even though all of my friends who had brothers said I was crazy! Now I have two, a little later in life (meaning I always wanted an older brother so I could date his friends-so much easier, or so I've dreamed) and they are definitely BOYS: basketball, skateboards, broken arms because of dares, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" jokes that make you feel like a total moron, and anything else they can think of to make me goes positively mad (and trust me they've gotten some great reactions from me).

So word on the street is my 12 year old brother, who wakes me and my ornery sister up every Christmas morning by doing a flying burrito on top of us (which always results in someone saying a word you shouldn't say on Christmas) and screaming at the top of his lungs ”GET UP!" Has a new plan this year...an AIR HORN! REALLY! THAT IS THE BIG PLAN?! Hmmm, which only means one of my parents bought him that horn!
Well they've got another thing coming, because Lindsay and I will be slipping the air horn out of his top drawer, just about the time Santa is slipping presents under the tree, oh say around 2:30 a.m. after we finish our Christmas movie, both brothers and my parents are in for the air horn of their lives to the tune of Jingle Bells!

Ah, I love Christmas, so much time to spend with the family and such great memories!

Christmas Traditions

2009-12-14T13:14:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-11-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-10-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

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?!?!

2009-09-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

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.

Life is Strange

2009-09-08T14:01:00.000-07:00

Seriously, the best moments happen when you don't have your camera, the battery is dead, or the picture just does not capture the moment. So let me try to explain the two oddest and most picture worthy events that have happened to me in the last 24 hours.

Exhibit A. Driving home from dinner last night, past Fashion Place mall, there is a young girl, probably about 15, riding her long board down the sidewalk with a baby car seat, with baby inside, over her right shoulder and a backpack and huge diaper bag over the left. Really?!? "Did all of you just see that?" And she zipped past us balancing perfectly on her board as if on the Santa Monica Pier. Of course we followed her because I am some what of a vigilante on the weekends and I was going to call the cops for obvious reasons, until we saw the baby was a doll and the girl was probably doing one of those school sex ed projects that makes you not want to have a baby after you have to take your "doll child" to the movies with you and your friends. Seriously though I almost had a heart attack!

Exhibit B. This morning a cute, old Mexican man was dressed up in full mariachi attire, sitting at the bus stop, strumming his guitar to pass time with bags of grocery's at his feet.

Sometimes life is just completely strange and makes me smile for the rest of the day. It's these moments when I wish I had the world's greatest camera, perfect lighting, and could capture the sheer weirdness of the moment.

Finally Fall!

2009-09-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

Being that fall is my favorite season, and in Utah you never know how long it is really going to last, here is my ode to fall:

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin stew, carving pumpkins, pumpkin seeds...you get the idea.

Red, orange, yellow, and brown colors everywhere, so when the leaves blow off trees you feel like you are dancing in fire--and the mountains look magical.

New school supplies. For some reason brand new number 2 pencils, spiral notebooks, and gel pens just seem to go with the crisp fall air ...it is always in the fall when I miss going back to school (and always in the spring when I think Suckers!!)

Football season, hot chocolate, Halloween, apple pie, apple butter, sweaters, new dark jeans, boots, taco soup, early Christmas shopping, thinking about what trip I should take this year, re-reading my journal from the past year to see how to get back on course :), tomatoes and squash from the garden...ah fall, the last days of the harvest, is it possible to feel more alive and happy then from September to November? Nope, and I am grateful for it!

Restroom Memorandum

2009-09-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

To: Coworkers

From: Scared in the next stall

It is time to have a little chat about restroom etiquette. Since all of us have to work together our professional relationship should extend to the restroom we all share.

PLEASE do not look under the stall to identify each person’s shoes who are in the stalls next to you, call us all by name, and then proceed to strike up a conversation about staff meeting, when you are taking your next break, your son’s little league, the cookies that are going to be on your Christmas goodie plates this year, or the black bear you called animal control on this morning. THEY CALL IT A POTTY BREAK FOR A REASON!
Making a phone call or answering your phone while doing your thing is first of all revolting, and second makes me jump every time—just STOP! The person on the other end will thank you.
Rinsing out your bowl after Spaghetti O’s and chicken noodle soup in the restroom sink is vile! Notice how the noodles can’t get down the drain? Soap and water only please!
Touching up your perfume that has the distinct scent of lavender, battery acid, and goat urine. Trust me it was too much when you put in on this morning, it is too much in a room that does not have air flow!
Leaving a bag of greasy Burger King, along with an open coffee cup on the sink is a bit Neanderthal. Does it even bother you how many people use this restroom a day, or how many micro-critters are dropping like dead flies into your coffee? Second, nobody can wash their hands with your make shift picnic spread in the way—Take it to your desk first!

Happy Trails!

D.I. is not just for Halloween!

2009-08-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

I am on a framing kick, trying to get some of my own art up on my wall. Do you know how expensive it is to have anything framed?!?! So, I get an idea...what about D.I. (Deseret Industries)? Usually I go there at some point in October to try to throw together a few Halloween costumes, but Saturday I thought--What the H, I might get the swine flu, but it might be worth it. So Mom and Lindsay said they would come, and we hit a few. Here are the treasures I am now proud to be the second (or third or fourth) owner of:

Ten piece Fondue Set ($3)
Four very cool old frames ($1.50 a piece)
One hideous bat picture for Lindsay ($2)
Two orange throw pillows ($4)
Two red and white heart place mats ($1)
One pink fur, mafia-style jacket for Lindsay ($6)

Laughing hysterically as we search through rows and rows of "treasure" ($Priceless!)

Though we all slathered on hand sanitizer in line, we have started a new tradition to hit up a new D.I. one Saturday every month.

What I've learned in 30 years.

2009-07-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me an ABC's getting to know you and I am turning it into what I have learned in 30 years, since my B-day is on Monday and I like to spend time reflecting on the past year, here goes:

A: Ask: I never really grew out of the kid stage of asking how come? But why? Do you really have to do it like that? Are we there yet? I think I am really lucky that my brain wants to always question everything, and I am not afraid to ask.

B: Be Yourself: It so much more fun to be who you naturally are, rather than what everyone else wishes you were or expects you to be. This is one thing that took me a long time to learn. It also took a long time for those around me to realize I was not going to back down on this, but it was worth it.

C: Character: You’re character is defined only by how you treat your family, act around your family, and serve your family. You can put on an act for anyone else, but your family knows you, remembers you in braces with giant 80s hair, and will call you out on anything and everything (well mine does), this also builds character.

D: Day of Choice: Thursday, it is before the weekend starts so you get to savor the fact that you have three days of fun ahead of you.

E: Essential Items: Pen and paper, water, a full moon, and lipstick. (Also sounds like and interesting date).

F: Favorite time of the day: There is nothing better than a warm summer night full of stars and stillness, or a cool fall night with a full moon and black silence.

G: Go: I hate sitting around and I am not a huge waste-my-time-watching-T.V.-person—I love to always be on the go. There is always something to say yes to instead of no, and some of my favorite moments have come when I chose to live outside my comfort zone and Go!

H: Home: I love to be surrounded with interesting things at home. Someday I hope to have the Beauty and the Beast library in my house and a reading room that consists of one of those giant gymnastic pits with foam shapes to lie in and read. I would also like a restaurant style kitchen to make meals for family and friends, and a window to look out and see the ocean….ahh, that would be the life!

I: Indulgences: chocolate, Greek and Indian food, reading all day long, double features at the movie theatre, jewelry, and cooking new recipes.

J: Journals: Old journals are sometimes the best books to read…I did what? No wonder he didn’t call. I am one of those people who never remembers the sequence of any events let alone five years ago, so when I need a change of course I always go back and read my past so I can keep moving forward and history won’t repeat itself.

K: Karma: I am a firm believer!

L: Life is Incomplete Without: Laughing until I cry at least twice a day and of course people to laugh with, art, writing, the colors red and purple, family-especially my sisters, really good food, traveling, things kids say and how they view the world, and Sunday naps.

M: Money: It does not matter what I make I always still live paycheck to paycheck. One of my goals this year is to add to my savings account. I saved up $500 and was so proud until I just spent half on a plane ticket...but it was a really good deal and it was nice to have the money there and ready to spend.

N: Notebooks: I am obsessed with composition books, someday I hope to write a best selling novel, but until then I write down everything that interests me including: thoughts, bits of conversations I overhear, random facts, interesting pieces of history, books I want to read, funny quotes friends, family, strangers, or I say, poetry ideas, book ideas, clip outs from magazines...it all might sound pretty boring, but I have hundreds of composition books waiting to be filled and just when I thought I had enough--school supplies are back on sale at Wal-mart :)

O: Ocean: The ocean is the place that recharges my soul—I should buy a sailboat …

P: Poems: The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe and The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost are the two reasons I was first inspired to be a writer.

Q: Favorite Quote: Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.—Dr. Seuss

R: Reasons to Smile: I actually like getting older, you gain the gifts of wisdom and perspective and the future still holds so many firsts, which when I was 17 I thought my life would be over at 30, but it is so much better.

S: Scriptures: Between learning where you came from, your purpose here, and where you are going, the scriptures have changed my life and helped me be a better person.

T: Traveling gives you back your child like awe, it is magical for me, quite addictive, and pretty dang expensive, but there is no better way to reconnect with who you really are.

U: Unknown Fact About Me: I am a hopeless romantic, a lot of people think I am cynical because I am so carefree and sarcastic.

V: Vacation: I’ve been to Europe a few times and have my favorite spots, and Greece and Costa Rica were amazing, but I feel like I will not be complete until I experience Asia.

W: Worst Habit: Taking on way too much and then procrastinating.

X: X-periment: Your taste changes every 7 years or so, I recently tried strawberries, rice, and popcorn again for the first time in 10+ years and I actually like them now. The point: are you sure you really still hate spinach, corn tortillas, lemon cake? Give it another try it could change your life.

Y: You can always change your course. Sometimes I get these crazy ideas and start out doing them and realize it is not what I thought, or what I wanted it to be. I have stopped feeling guilty for not finishing because it would only have been a waste of time and life’s way too short to not be doing something you love all the time.

Z: Zodiac Sign: Leo

Things I am sick of this week!

2009-07-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

In light of recent events it is time to vent some things that I wish would go away!

1. The word "Staycation" seriously it is everywhere! I don't know who coined this phrase, but it needs to be vomited out of everyday use! Vacation originated from the word vacātiō meaning freedom from something, so if you are sticking around town to do something with the family it is called quality time--let's take a vacation from the word staycation!
2. The Michael Jackson pseudo-love. Okay we get it! He was an Icon, yes he was a weirdo later in life, and it was only the other side of 6 months ago that half of today's t-shirt wearing, post-death-cd-buying groupies were accusing him of being a predator. So we get it! You 're trying to jump on the hearse--hoping it is still the band wagon, but for the rest of us it is tiring.
3. Cellphones in movie theaters. Would I rather hear a ring or mid-movie be blinded by five people in front of me opening their phones and blinding me with blue screens. If you are that addicted to text messaging, wait for it on video so I can enjoy it!
4. The dog in the neighborhood who is always off his leash, who always chases after me and my dog walking, and who's owner always comes out after he hears me yelling to say, "How did he get out here?!" Look I get you don't want to pick up the crap from your own backyard, so you let the moose out and act stupid if you get caught, but gigs up--Catch on!

On a brighter note: Harry Potter 6 was awesome! The director got it really right this time, including tons of humor and an enchanting way to pan between and switch to different scenes!! And I made three cloaks for me and the group to wear in one night! It was a Christmas miracle.

I love technology!

2009-07-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

So, I stumbled across the greatest invention since flavored honey! I love pictures and have taken a million over the years, and have kept all of my negatives in a shoe box hopeing someday to win the lottery so I could preserve them (Do you know how expensive that is!!!). Anyway I was looking on the sale racks at Target and found a machine you can hook up to your computer that will turn your negatives into digital pictures!!! My life is complete, but watch out Facebook friends those Halloween parties we all attended and Provo parties could be surfacing soon. "How bad can it really be?" you might be wondering right about know, trust me on this!

4th of July!!

2009-07-09T15:37:00.000-07:00

I love fireworks!!! The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays,and I thought I had ruined it by opening my big mouth a few months ago and letting a friend know the Jonas Brothers were playing the Stadium of Fire event--tickets were bought almost immediately and Sherri made me a cd-a-la-Jonas which and I listened to once...

So Saturday night almost everything that could go wrong did as we were attempting to battle the lines of traffic to arrive, park at the Glenwood (the old stomping grounds) who got smart this year and charged $5 for parking. We walked with the crowds and I just hoped it would get dark soon.

We entered the wrong side of the stadium and Sherri stopped to make a key chain, poster, T-shirt combo purchase, when an erruption of screams started and lo and behold the Jo Bros surrounded by police walked right past us--they looked like scared 9th graders, but it was still fun to see what we paid for up close.

Shedaisy performed first, I forgot how many of their songs I liked...good start :) Then the Jo Bros took the stage, sang their hearts out, and did a kick-A rendintion of "Sweet Caroline". Fine! I air guitared once or twice. Fine! I ate half of my sisters tiger blood snow cone and felt like I was in Jr. High again, and FINE! I admit the Jonas Brothers were actually pretty good, cute for being barely 20, and we had a blast! Final note: To the odd couple in front of us that sang louder then the entire stadium combined with their zoo smelling breath...thanks for sharing the moment with us, almost whipping us with glow sticks and sitting on our laps during the fireworks...we couldn't have enjoyed it without you :)

You spent tax money on what?

2009-01-08T15:02:00.001-08:00

Yes, we are in an economical slump and I think it is very apparent that those funds we have been saving for a "rainy day" are officially not going to be used for a fun vacation this summer. It is exactly times like these when I am not pleased to really find out where my tax dollars are going?

On www.ksl.com today, I found the following article: Cities' salt budgets running out

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (AP)--Several Utah cities have already exhausted their salt budgets for snow-and ice-covered roads this winter. West Valley City has spent the $105,000 it budgeted for salt. The Salt Lake City suburb bought 5,500 tons of salt and has another 2,000 tons in storage...The Utah Department of Transportation expects to spend about $6.5 million on salt this winter, up from $5 million last winter, because of increased prices.

Are we not called "Salt" Lake City for a reason? Am I mistaken or do we not have giant salt sculpted landscape just west of the city?

As a frustrated tax payer, who is longing for somebody in a position of governmental leadership to step up and make important decision, greater then what sandwich they would like served at the next lunch meeting, I propose the following solutions:

Start harvesting some of our own local Utah salt, yes friends the salt flats may be used for more then racing and filming Pirates of the Caribbean 3, we have probably sold all of this land to Morton, but there has to be some "salt land", still owned by the state that could be used...and here is a business idea, sell it to other states, helping to cover the cost of harvesting while receiving revenue...it is all about supply and demand people and we have plenty to supply. If we are buying it from "ourselves" at this price it is time to take a look at this process.
Do as the ancients did, dig giant holes, fill with salty lake water, wait for water to evaporate, and walla salt. Obviously this wouldn't work well in the winter, but come spring it is time to whip out some backhoes and dump trucks.
Shoot the remainder of the 2,000 tons of salt still left in storage into approaching storm clouds for the rest of the winter, covering more area and bonus, the remainder will fall where it may-hopefully onto the freeway and not onto vegetation...sound unreasonable, a little crazy? So does spending 6.5 million in tax dollars on salt, in a desert, with salt flats!

Hiking on Mars

2008-10-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend was spent hiking around Moab! I know the first question you are thinking is, "Tami hikes?" Yes friends, I do and I love it! And what better place to go then in our own gorgeous state. Thursday, my aunt, sister, and some of the cousins headed down and hiked to Corona arch, one I had never seen. It was probably only about 71 degrees, but in a dessert landscape, surrounded by rock it felt like 171 degrees. This was the first time I have busted out the Camelbak, since a friend gave it to me as a birthday gift to climb Mount Timpanogous ...the bait should have been Moab:)

Afterward we met up with the rest of the group and checked into the hotel (sorry no hiking and camping trip combinations yet) and went to a local Mexican restaurant! Homemade salsa cannot be beat!

Friday we hiked about 8 miles of rugged terrain, first up to Delicate Arch, one of my favorite hikes...it was gorgeous, the sky was cloudless, and there were of course crows...how does that always happen? :) We decided to hike to Sand Dune Arch, which is a short walk and very secluded and we decided somehow to climb on top of this one, let me just say I have a new found respect for rock climbers, and that I almost fell to my death, well at least I almost fell to a broken femur a few times, but pulled through...by pulled through I mean literally my sister and two nice guys helped heave me up before I lost my grip.

After lunch we headed to the Double O Arch trail, there are a few along here, Landscape Arch, which has to be the longest, Wall Arch which just collapsed this August, forcing you to now climb up a huge rock to the east of it which pre-collapse you mentally assessed as, "So glad I don't have to climb up that way!". This hike also offers views of picturesque giant red rock fins, and miles and miles of glorious nothing. I am not kidding these views are so grand they look like Hollywood movie sets, but better.

The thing I determined I love most about Moab is that there is a "purpose" to every hike, meaning really...it is worth every sweating, straining moment it takes to reach some of these arches.

Saturday was the Fiery Furnace trek. I love this place, because it is quiet and grand and just makes you think that if you ever landed on Mars it would almost be disappointing because you would feel like you had already explored it. There are cool arches, secluded sand dunes, and amazing views. Plus the possibility of falling to your death, being the target of a search and rescue team, and going where no man has explored before just makes it that much more magical.

Highlights of the trip:

I started a game called, "Subaru!" a take on the good ole' "Slug-Bug-punch-your-car-companion-in-the-arm" game. You can't even imagine how many Subaru's with Colorado plates, and passive aggressive Eco-friendly bumper stickers there were, let's just say my left arm is pretty sore.
The orientation video to obtain a permit into the fiery furnace/ the catch phrase in the video, something to the effect of "Don't destroy the silence".
The constantly on edge Ranger's that are oddly passionate,have great poker faces and evil eyes, and make sure you foot never lands on cryptobotic soil crust!
Hot tubing every single night...who needs Ibuprofen after that!

It's Finally October!!!!

2008-10-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

It seems that my new October tradition is to go to a play with my dad. Last year we saw, "Paint Your Wagon", Saturday we took my brother with us to see, "My Fair Lady", one of my favorites! It rained all day, just like last year (I am pretty sure this is a good omen, since 2008 has been the greatest!) There was the token chronic cougher, the handful of people that came, just as the "Get in your seat" bell was dinging, and the rush of people stepping on toes, and grunting their way through the darkness after the first scene had ended, but I loved it. The costumes were so amazing that in a couple of the scenes, when the curtain raised, the audience audibly gasped. I definitely think that there is no better way to spend the first Saturday afternoon of October.

The rest of the weekend was pretty festive too, the hunt for Halloween costumes continues. I think next year we should see what is available instead of choosing the group costume in July. Do you even have any idea how hard it is to find a Cat in the Hat, hat in this town!

Some of the Logan family came down in between General Conference sessions for food and airport runs, and we made Carmel apples...to which I have found a new respect for the craftsmanship of the hundreds of perfectly coiffed apples at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory!

Welcome to the 21st Century!!!

2008-10-03T15:06:00.000-07:00

I know, I know!!! After years of procrastinating this moment I started a Facebook page and now a Blog all in one week! All right, I am feeling overwhelmed at the moment....more to come.