is hungry again.

I only ate lunch an hour and a half ago and I'm already hungry again, so I made myself a visual snack of all the things I could go for right now...


1. one grilled cheese, please, 2. Sushi Party!, 3. Hungry?, 4. Roast Turkey, 5. Pie-opener1.jpg, 6. http://www.flickr.com/photos/yusheng/479637484/, 7. red fruits cupcake 1, 8. Mango, 9. blackberries, 10. twinkie, 11. i ♥ homemade chocolate pudding., 12. Fried Egg On Toast, 13. Oreo Dunkin13, 14. Cheetos Puffs, 15. IKEA Meatball, 16. Chicken Nuggets

feels just a little safer.

For all who are wondering why I made my blog private, it's not meant to be exclusive by any means. I would love to have as many people read my blog as possible, but recently I've felt a little too "researched." Because my name is on the internet for my job, there are clients who search my name and subsequently read my blog as well. I don't know how I feel about that. So, for now, I am going to keep my blog private. If you know anyone that might like to be added as a reader, don't hesitate to let me know! I hope I haven't left anyone in the cold. 

Thank you dear friends for being so loyal. This is all between you and I now. Doesn't that make you feel better too?

doesn't want a doughnut anymore.

Happy Fat Tuesday everyone! In honor of this day of excess, I found a video of Paula Deen making a hamburger with doughnuts for the bun. Watch and revel in the disgustingness without the greasy aftertaste.

is a little too sensitive.

Okay, I have a problem. I have been going through deoderant like crazy and I can't find one that won't make my armpits itch.

Here are the culprits:

Deoderant #1 Dove powder scent

The problem with this one is, while it smelled good, it has aluminum in it and I'm concerned about that. It also turns all my white clothes yellow in the armpit area. After a while I get a little bit of a rash too, especially if I have just shaved. So, I discontinued Dove.


Deoderant #2 Toms of Maine lavender scent

I love the smell of lavender, but after only a couple days of wearing this deoderant, my armpits started to burn. I think that the lavender is just too strong. It also isn't effective enough at odor prevention and so I end up smelling like sweaty flowers by the end of the day and that just defeats the purpose.


Deoderant #3 Herbal Clear aloe fresh scent

I thought I'd found a winner with this one. The first day I wore it I thought, this has a good smell, and it doesn't itch or burn when I put it on. The second day was good too. Then, the third day, I noticed that I kept itching my armpit without noticing. Then, when I looked in the mirror that night, I noticed I had red spots in my armpit! No! So, even though I am currently wearing this dissapointing deoderant, it's time to make another change.



Will I ever find a deoderant that doesn't let me down? I think that maybe I'll try another scent of Toms of Maine for now. If that doesn't work, maybe I'll get one of those deoderant crystals, although I don't really like the idea of rubbing a rock-like thing in my armpit. I have also heard of people making their own deoderant. Do any of you know a good recipe?

can rest easy now.

The infamous glass pear is now at its new home. I'm glad it made it through the mail unharmed. Enjoy your terrarium Lisa!

P.S. Please excuse my raggedy hangnails. I will never have beautiful nails. ;)

has 14 reasons.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! 

And on February 14th, 1859 Oregon became a state, so Happy Birthday Oregon!

I also thought of 14 reasons why I feel loved...

1. When I had a nightmare last night I could wake up and listen to a tape my missionary sent me.

2. This morning I woke up to a pair of chewed moccasins, but only because I have a cute dogs who like to come in my room and try to wake me up (and sometimes get distracted and chew stuff).

3. I have good parents who care about me and do so many kind things for me I can't even list them here.

4. My siblings are my friends and I like spending time with them. I wish I could spend time with Paul and Jenna today.

5. I can pray and I know that it is heard.

6. I have seminary students who come to class and let me teach them (even though they are rowdy and I am tired and sometimes cranky).

7. I have kind coworkers who often give me hugs, pats on the butt, and candy (don't worry, they are all Russian women... wait, does that make it better?).

8. I have Ray LaMontagne's song "You Are the Best Thing" stuck in my head.

9. My sheets are red. Ooh!

10. I have good friends who contact me often and even when we fall out of contact, when we get together again, it's like no time has passed.

11. I have a blessed life that allows me to express my love for others and live in peace.

12. I can give service and I am often blessed with opportunities to reach out to others.

13. I am often the recipient of thoughtful service and kindness.

14. I know that there is a God who loves us no matter what we do because we are His children and he has given us a way to come back to Him.

has a Valentine.

So Are You to Me

"As the music at the banquet

As the wine before the meal
As the firelight in the night

So are you to me

As the ruby in the setting

As the fruit upon the tree

As the wind blows over the plains

So are you to me"

-eastmountainsouth

So I got my valentine. :) It was a good one. This is one photo of him at a train station. The little pictures are "love tokens." There were fourteen in all, one for each day leading up to Valentine's Day. I can't wait to see him again. Only 281 days to go. Maybe 10 months sounds better. 

needs a Valentine.

I've been mailbox watching lately, which always makes me on edge. I am in need of some love, especially with Valentine's Day around the corner. Last year I heard John Denver's "Annie's Song" playing in a grocery store and I nearly lost it. I hope that doesn't happen this year. 

is an old couch.

This is how I feel at the moment:

Pulse: 78 beats a minute

Mental state: brain dead

Cleanliness: showered yesterday, but put on deoderant today

Work ethic: can't even put it into words, it's that bad

WPM: it took me a full minute to type this sentence

Weather: foggy (I wrote that as "foddy" first)

Gas gague: almost empty

Lunch: microwable pizza (360 calories... I know)

Letters: it's been almost two weeks... I need one stat

Credit score: no idea

Weight: also no idea, and I think my guess is depressing

Currently reading: Specials (Extras is next on the list)

Quilt progress: 13 squares done, 12 to go.


I need a nap...

whining over.

is Lars.

I catch on to things about a year or so late as a rule. I'd heard about Lars and the Real Girl from a friend of mine and filed that thought away until I saw it for sale with other movies for Valentine's Day. So I bought it and brought it home. I am glad I did. It's a simple film about Lars, a late-bloomer who seems impossibly shy, even afraid of relationships (and people in general). He lives in the garage of his parents' house and keeps to himself. He's never shown interest in having a relationship, which worries his brother and sister-in-law. One day his love arrives. By mail. She's a lifesized doll he ordered off of the internet, but he treats her with the utmost courtesy and affection. It turns out he's having a delusion, but people around him still treat him with kindness and even warm up to "Bianca" his doll. In the end he grows out of this delusion and the beginnings of a relationship with a "real girl" are present.

I think I identify with Lars's character because there are times I've been almost this delusional. I am not a hermit, but I have my moments. I have also been in love with people that aren't real. I'll admit, I've fallen in love with many a delusion, not to say that the people underneath the delusions weren't good people, they were great people, but not exactly who I thought they were. I worry that I create too much meaning in my mind in relationships. It just comes so natural to me to imagine. This isn't really going anywhere significant, but hey, I liked the movie and haven't we all been a Lars at some point?

Here are some entertaining quotes too:

Gus: Pretend that she's real? I'm just not gonna do it. 
Dagmar: She is real. 
Gus: Well... 
Dagmar: She's right out there. 
Gus: Right, right, I get that, but I'm just not gonna, you know... 
Dagmar: You won't be able to change his mind, anyway. Bianca's in town for a reason. 
Gus: But - but... 
Dagmar: It's not really a choice. 
Karin: Okay. Okay, all right, we'll do it, whatever it takes. 
Gus: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And everyone's gonna laugh at him. 
Dagmar: And you.  

Kurt: Listen up, Margo, those action figures are very important to me. They're worth a lot of money. And if I don't see every damned one back on my desk pretty soon, then, you can tell your teddy to watch his back. 
Margo: I'll return them, one at a time... You going to Cindy's party? 
Lars Lindstrom: Oh, no. 
Margo: I was hoping you would. I really wish you would. 
Lars Lindstrom: Do you think I could bring my girlfriend? 
Margo: Oh, um, yeah, yeah, I'm totally bringing somebody 
Lars Lindstrom: Hm. 

Hazel: Well that's how life is, Lars. 
Mrs. Gruner: Everything at once. 
Sally: We brought casseroles. 
Lars Lindstrom: Thank you. 
Lars Lindstrom: Um, is there something I should be doing right now? 
Mrs. Gruner: No, dear. You eat. 
Sally: We came over to sit. 
Hazel: That's what people do when tragedy strikes. 
Sally: They come over, and sit. 

is in print.

The long-awaited day has come (at least for me). The online edition of Segullah Fall 2008 is up! Remember all those bad drafts of a mission story I posted? Well, it's all polished up now and published under the title "Finding Courage" in this issue! Maybe I'll pull myself together and try to get published again next spring. The theme is "Dating, Courtship, and Marriage." I think I can handle that... at least the dating part. Any suggestions on a topic?