Confusion and Triumphs

This weekend was uneventfully eventful. I bought a bbq grill. I have missed homemade burgers, grilled chicken, and have found several new recipies that I want to try. Walmart had a sale on grills and I found a great deal. Now by no means is it an amazing grill but it is all I need. It is like a 'my first Barbie doll.' Its a beginners grill. I had a few clearifying questions on how to exactly grill, so I called my dad. He is a master griller and why not learn from a master? I was right on, on how to get the grill going. There was a scary moment after I poured the lighter fluid on the coals and lit the grill. I think I put TOO much lighter fluid on. I quickly ran to the kitchen and filled 2 large cups with water, just in case. Well I didn't have to use them but the railings on the balcony are a little brown. I hope a magic eraser will whiten them up. I made regular grilled chicken and it was great. I was proud of myself because again I did something I never thought I would ever do. No, not grilling but assembling the grill. It came in a box and I had to put it together. I will post pics after lunch, got to get them off the camera.

I do have a question for all though; all my life I have been told to stand up for myself, to quit letting people walk all over me or take advantage of me. I hate to cause a rift, so I let a lot of things go. Yesturday I couldn't take it any longer and expressed my feelings. And now I have become the bad guy. I stood up and put my foot down and drew the line. Now I am being ignored as if I am a horrible person. I just don't understand.
Another question: Sunday afternoon I recieved a text from a guy that I went on A date with. The date lasted 17 hours. Did I mention this was a FIRST BLIND date? Yeah. So he started to text me Sunday asking if I remembered who he was. My question is How do I attract all the creepies? I know I've said I'll date anything that breathes, but it was said in a joking manner.

Diane's Birthday

The Cake


Our friend Nick and Diane

My roommates Diane and Cindy

David, Me, Darrin

Last night we celebrated Diane's 23rd birthday. Instead of having a party she opted for dinner with a few close friends. We went to Outback. I was in charge of making the cake. I love watching the Food Network Channel. There is a show called Ace of Cakes (charmcitycakes.com). So I wanted to do a themed cake. Since it is May I wanted to do a beach or pool party cake, but Diane wanted a school. She just got a new job teaching at Lone Peak High(she stars in the fall). So I called my sisters asked for their baking supplies and went for it.

Why is it that people always see you at your worst?

Yesterday was quite the day, it would want to make anyone curl up in a ball and just cry. Let me start from the top. For the past couple of days I have been fighting a cold that i got from my boss. I don't understand how I can live with Cindy(my roommate, and 1st year 2nd grade teacher) who has caught every imaginable sickness, for the past year and never gotten sick, but I work at my new job for 2 weeks or so and I catch a cold. So I wake up not being able to breathe and thinking I should call out and try and get better. The workaholic in me, thanks Dad, made me get up put on a sweatshirt, grab a box of tissues, and walk out the door. I get to work and there's the 'how you doing, are you sick?' No, I just felt like looking like crap today! When people ask me if I'm sick or if I am tired I always think back to the movie Stepmom.

"Isabel: You look tired.

Jackie Harrison: I hate when people say that. It's like a polite way of telling you that

you look like shit. "

I made it to my office, which is always cold, maybe that's where I got sick. My job is pretty lax. I was checking my emails, and signed onto gmail, and msnbc. If I find something that is really funny or related to something we've joked about recently I will email it to Diane, who is usually on google chat. I first found a picture of Wolfman from American Gladiators

I then found a picture of some celebrities that she likes at the Utah Jazz game this past Sunday. So I went to The Salt Lake Tribune to see if I could find more pictures for her when I came across this article. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9197474?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com I made the mistake of reading it. The title interested me. But after reading I just felt worse. After work I went home a flopped on the couch. I remembered that I needed to go to the grocery store. I did not want to go to Walmart, which I probably should have gone to. But I thought it would be faster to go to Smiths(less for me to find and 'need' to buy). I got off the couch, with my hair in a messy bun, that had been slept on, my light grey LSU sweatshirt, black snake/gator shinny purse, and brown/gold flip flops (they were downstairs and I didn't want to put my tennis hoes back on). I though who cares, its Wed. night at 6:30, Nobody is going to be there. Well was I wrong I think everyone who stayed for spring/summer semesters were there. I guess I also missed the memo that Wednesday it Hot Single Guys Night at Smiths. I swear every which way I turned my head there was another one. I couldn't hide fast enough, so I just grabbed a few things to get me through the next couple of days and rand to the checkout. I couldn't get out fast enough. As I was jogging for the exit, with a defeated look on my face I ran into an old friend. He only saw that it was me because I was wearing the frumpy LSU sweatshirt. HE was like ugh Abby? My defeated look went to a mortified look, quickly followed by 'I'm fighting a cold.' He introduced me to his wife who was pg. She was the type of pg girls that look like they shoved a soccer ball up their shirt and if they turned their back to you, you would have no idea they were pg. There was the short so how are you, what have you been up to, and its crazy we live in the same city but never hang out conversation. After that I ran to the car and drove home. I walked in the door, put my groceries away and grabbed the ice cream. I know we all have different trials- my life isn't that hard compared to others, like the chic in china that could either lose her legs or live. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24613827/

But I have been thinking the past week or so, well ever since we moved into our new place, we have a basement and an elliptical. For Lent this year, I know I'm not Catholic, but I do celebrate Mardi Gras, and my thought are if you get to have the party(fun) you have to do the work. So I gave up Mt. Dew/carbonation for 40 days. I only slipped once and that was because I drove to St. George for the parade of homes and I thought it was better to drink the dew than fall asleep driving. I went to the doctor after the 40 days for a previous headache checkup appointment and she told me that I had lost 12 lbs. I wasn't even trying! That was the best news, since then I have started drinking soda again and have probably gained it all back, so.... with that long into my goal for the next 40 days. I think I do better with a time limit, is to Stop drinking Soda, quit eating fast food, and exercise on the elliptical for 30-45 min a day to start out. I want to start this and it seems that every time i want to start exercising I always get sick, and then I forget about it.

SO starting Saturday sick or not I am getting the elliptical in the basement and going.

Weekend

Last night Diane and I went to FHE, even though one of our favorite shows was on, American Gladiators. I hadn't been since last August. Let me justify... I took a class falls semester that met on Mondays, spring semester we never knew what group we were in, and we tried several times to figure this out. For the activity we played two truths and a lie. I am horrible at this game. I can never really think of anything so I was thankful Diane was there. For the lie I put down that I am extremely outgoing. When the Bishop was reading the 2 truths and 1 lie, people had a hard time figuring out which one was the lie. When I told the group that I am usually a shy person, the two guys that we drove up with (Rodney and Tom) made the comment that they didn't think I was all that shy. They mentioned that I was outgoing and talkative on the ride up. Our bishop lives in Alpine. Those comments only made me want to get to know more people after FHE was over. I had courage, and I didn't have to fully rely on Diane to initiate conversation with people and have me tag along.
Rodney and Tom live a few townhouses down from us and seem to be really nice guys. Tom is from Georgia, and is a true southern guy. It's been a while since I have been around a true southern guy and was taken a little off guard. Rodney seems like a nice guy too. He is from the Northeast, which as Diane pointed out in the car I don't like Yankees, but I do; I don't discriminate. He gave a talk on Sunday. Of course it was on mother's and women. His talk was really great...but that's whats hard about talks on Mother's Day in a singles ward. Do you go over the top and talk about how great women are and how guys should treat them? Do you only talk about your mom and sound like a mommas boy? Do you skirt around the issue and read scriptures from the BOM and Bible? How do you give a talk, as a guy, on Mother's day and not make it sound like you are boasting yourself up for dating prospects?
We also had a housewarming party this weekend and it was themed a dip party. I made apple dip and it was a huge success! Our house remains clean. We are thinking of painting an accent wall, well just throwing the idea around. We are also getting used to the midnight train horns and traffic.
I am starting to miss having school. I am taking the summer off and trying to find something to fill my Saturdays. It's weird coming home at 5 and not having class or a paper due the next day. I have hopefully 3 semesters left.

Color

Yesterday there was a great rain storm. It was loud and hard enough that everyone at the office went to the door and watched as the rain fell. It reminded me of home. There was a little flooding of the gutters and giant raindrops. The storm only lasted for about a half hour but was beautiful. When I got home from work, we went to the store to pick up some last minute home decor for our house warming party. Driving to the store I notice how much I miss Louisiana. The rain storm was one of those that nourishes everything. Every plant or tree or blade of grass was a deep rich bright green, and the fields that had just been plowed were a rich chocolate brown. Living in the 'desert' you appreciate color when you see it. The mountains, which I refer to as big piles of dirt and rocks were a vibrant green, with the way the setting sun was hitting them. Spring is here.
The reason for venturing out in the cold wet evening was to get some drapes for my bedroom. Don't get me wrong I love light but just not at night. I had never put up curtains but figured it wasn't that difficult. After about an hour and a few holes, I will have to putty, I have drapes. I did it. I love when I try new things and they come out successful. Lately I have tried several new things. I made a baby blanket for a friend, I hung heavy framed art, etc. I love that I can do things that I once thought I would need help with, or that it would be easier to go out and buy or hire someone to do it for me.
Monday was Cinco de Mayo. My roommates and I made anything mexican. I made my salsa, well salsa that I learned from an ex-boyfriend. It is very simple but gets the job done. I'll include the recipe incase anyone wants to make it.
2 large tomatoes
1 large onion
1 thing of cilantro
1-2 jalapenos
lime juice
garlic salt
chop, finely or not, all ingredients into a bowl. stir. then add lime juice and garlic salt to taste. The salsa will not taste right until there is enough lime juice and garlic salt. Its not an exact amount, its a recipe that has been passed down, so it more to taste. I usually add what i think is more than enough and taste it and then add some more.

The begining

I started this blog a few days ago, and I don't really know why. I guess I needed a place to put things so I could clear my mind. We have been told forever that we need to keep a journal and I just can't seem to do it. I think this might be because I have a great memory. I can remeber the smallest of details from years ago. Another reason I think I haven't started a journal is because I think 'where do I start?' 'Do I go back and give a brief history of my life, or do I just start with today? and when I think about all that I start to think about my past and realize a lot of the memories that I thought I would never forget are starting to fade and I do not remember as well. I also thought I don't want to compile a journal because I don't want it all to be about guys. Theres more to me than that. Since I don't know where to start I think I will just begin with today (the most recent things) and incorporate those items ferom my past in future postings.

Whats been going on? Well, I moved to a new townhouse in Provo. I love it. The place is new, clean, and huge-compared to other apartments in Provo. I've gotten a new job working as a personal assistant to the owner of a steel company. I used to work for a construction company, which I loved but was let go due to the bad market. No one wants to build million dollar homes when there is a fear of recession. I am in school and will hopefully graduate in August of 2009. I never thought I would be here. Never in my life had the idea of going to college and getting an actual degree entered my thoughts. In high school, when everyone was worrying about their grades and completing applications to their dream schools, I was dreaming of the perfect guy and life I would have in the years to come. When I was asked about where I was going to college or what I wanted to major in I avoided the question or changed the subject and made many of my career driven friends irritated when I told them I wanted to get married and have kids. Little did I know when I moved out to Utah the life and experiences I would have on my journey. No, I am not married, I do not have the happy little family I dreamed of, but I do have strength. I have motivation to make something of myself. I am independent. I can stand on my own two feet and say, very cautiously, 'bring it on.' I have grown in so many ways. I don't think the kids I went to high school would recognize me.

This past weekend there was a walk for babies. This walk was to inform and raise money for babies. There were posters of babies that had been miracles, some that hadn't made it, and some that we growing everyday. I tried to hold back my tears, for fear of being laughed at by my sisters. That's one thing I wish I could change. I wish I wasn't so soft. I wish I didn't cry at everything.

With moving into our new place, my roommates have granted me the job of decorating the apartment. I love this. I get to use a hammer, nails, and my measuring tape. It is still a work in progress and I will post pictures once I get batteries for the camera, finish decorating, and learn how to post them on here.