Thanksgiving

My roommate Catherine and I decided to undertake the cooking of thanksgiving dinner this year. We had a great time! The turkey was moist, the potatoes were yummy and the pies were delicious! I will say though, after cleaning out the bird (or watching Catherine do it) vegetarianism didn't look too bad. Also, I had a lot more love and respect for my grandmothers who cook for four times the people every year.

We woke up early and ran a 5k so we were extra hungry for the feast. Very fun run!

Our table, I think we had enough foor for 30 people, only 11 came to dinner though. Luckily I love leftovers!

Catherine cleaning the turkey "Walter" what a champ.

I touched the raw turkey to help separate the skin... then washed my hands three times.

Carving the turkey was hilarious. We had no idea how to do it, but we got it done.



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From the iPhone

I just got it and I am having too much fun with the nifty little device. It also has come in handy for work. Really. I think it needs a name though... Here are a few random photos.













- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

People respond to incentives

The boots are en route. I met my goal. It was close. 40 seconds. Still slow but faster than the first.

And, Happy 50th Dad!!

Incentives.

OhIamtotallyfreakingoutrightnow!

Tomorrow I have to run 26.2 miles. I hope the downpour passes. I hope I didn't forget anything. I hope I finish in my goal time.

If I do, I get these:

That's right, I will be trading in my running shoes for much cuter rain boots. I have been swooning over them all season, and I feel like I need an award for the training. I better be careful with the rewards though, it might posess me to run another.

Wish me luck.

SunTrust Richmond Marathon

Sweet child

Today at the corner market I saw a woman with dreadlocks. Then I looked down and saw her daughter, about 9 or 10, sporting her own set of waist long dreads. I am almost positive this is the youngest person I have seen with this hairdo.

The life of a Secretary:

Caller #1

Me: Good afternoon MGF's office.

Sassy Caller: Is _________ there?

Me: Sorry, you have the wrong number.

Really sassy caller: How do you know?

I just hung up.

Caller #2:

Me: Good afternoon MGF's office.

Clueless Caller: Is this the office of __________?

Me: No, sorry you have the wrong number.

Caller: Could you look up the number for me?

Labor Free Weekend

Oh the joys of a three day weekend.


Saturday:

Beach day with delightfully perfect weather. A few friends and I spent the day working on our tans at Virginia Beach. I hadn't been there and I would highly recommend it. The day was wonderful and we didn't hit a stitch of traffic on the way there or back. I have a certain affinity for laying on the beach, listening to tunes, and munching on Wheat thins, all while catching up on the latest celeb gossip (though I was a little sad my current read The Sun Also Rises didn't make it into the car).


Sunday:


I met up with a friend from church and caught up. She made me lunch and we chatted all afternoon. It was a lovely day outside so we spent the afternoon on her glider on her porch. I then went to a friends house and played pool, which I am sure is a great Sunday activity, especially if you win two of three games, which I did.


Monday:


I headed to Harper's Ferry with another group of friends. Oh, I adore rural Virginia. It was so pleasant to get outside DC and explore. We spent the morning floating in the Potomac river on tubes, which was much fun, though a little overcast and cool, and in the afternoon we walked around Harper's Ferry and explored Waterford. Waterford is an old Quaker town consisting only of houses and one corner market. The homes are old and well preserved. Many of them were built before 1840.

Responsible, part II

Last weekend I dog sat the runaway dog again.

I made sure she was leashed and attached to me everytime she left the house.

No escaping now.

A week ago I finished up house/dog sitting for 9 days.

Both dogs (and a cat) are alive, well fed, happy and didn't leave the yard once during my caretaking.

Looks like I am capable of taking care of living things. Ha.

Howard County Fair

I spent Saturday night at the fair in Howard County, MD. It brought back memories of the Utah State Fair which my family frequented annually since my Grandfather served on the Utah State Fair Board.

I don't think I had eaten a corn dog for 15 years. Until Saturday night. Next time you are at the fair, be sure to get one. They are shockingly delicious.

Responsible?

A friend was out of town last weekend and I agreed to watch her dog. She lives down the street from me and I just have to run over and let her out, feed her and give her water. No big deal right?

I got home aroung midnight and I wanted to go to bed, but remembered the dog. I thought I could let the dog out into the little yard and she would come back in, that is what my friend does. I let her out the door. She was there and I told her to go to the bathroom and all was well, right? No. She decided to crawl under a car.

I called for her for a few minutes and couldn't find her ANYWHERE! It was past midnight, and I was standing outside calling for the dog, trying to be quiet so I didn't wake up and neighbors. After 15 minutes or so, I was starting to get worked up a little. I called, roamed the alley, and prayed. Nothing. I am really starting to freak out, and it has now been around a half hour. I left my cell phone at home, so it was all me, no calling for help to find the lost dog (I have NO idea who I would call at 12:30). By now, I am sobbing all alone in a dark alley looking for a dog. Silly, I know, but I had no idea what to do.

I saw people on their porch at the end of the Alley, so I thought I would go over and see if maybe they have a flashlight I can borrow to look under the cars and see if the dog is just hiding. I get to the porch, start talking to these three men just out enjoying a nice summer night smoking their cigars, and break down sobbing. They look at me like I am totally NUTS! At this point, I look like I am a complete crazy. Luckily, one of them says he will let me borrow a flashlight, and goes in to get it. The other two stare at me crying and I am sure are thinking I am a nutcase. I take the flashlight, and walk up and down for a while longer, then walk through a yard to the street and see a cop car.

I wave it down. I tell the cop what has happened, describe the dog (still crying, so maybe I get weepy when it is late and I am tired; or hysterical when I lose other people's animals), and the cop is really nice. He said he has 4 dogs and understands my worry, he also said that dogs generally will return home and it's okay. Not to panic. I thank him and continue yelling for the dog. It is now 1:10 am (I saw the clock in the cop car) and I have no idea what to do. I wander the alley some more thinking of my options: continue yelling and shining a flashlight in other people's yards (how have the police not been called on me yet??), go home and call another friend who has babysat the dog and see if he has any ideas (do I really want to explain that I lost the dog), sit on the porch all night long and hope the dog returns...

I start yelling again and wandering around the alley. I hear a baby start crying through an open window. I woke up a child. Oh dear. I still wander trying to be quiet, but still yelling. I hear a man yell "Quiet!" out another window and know that it is now probably 1:40 am and I am running out of options.

A man is walking down the alley and says "I think I saw your dog." I stood there with my mouth open and said "A small black and white dog?" He confirmed it and said she was a block away, he took me to her. She was in the bushes scared, and lost. I picked her up and took her home, We chatted the whole time, and I couldn't stop thanking him.

I asked him if he needed anything, after a minute he said "Do you have a cold beer? I have been doing work on one of my rental properties and that just sounds so good right now."

"I don't, but my roommates do!" Yes, I offered him my roommates beer. "Let's put the dog away, then you can come to my house and I will give it to you."

We went back to my house, it was now 2:15 am. (Note: Do not worry for my safety, this guy was really nice, 5 inches shorter than me, and I looked like a crazy disaster). I look in my fridge and there wasn't a beer to be found. Of course. I started offering him anything, my roommate had made brownies, I had Mango popcicles in the freezer. He took the mango popcicle and loved it. We chatted for 15 minutes about recent trips to Peru and then he went home.

The next morning I baked cookies for the guys who let me borrow the flashlight.

Thoughts

Sometimes I look at my bed and think longingly

We don't spend enough quality time together.

Letters

Dear Rain,

Go away. Don't come back for many many days. You have now ruined all chances of enjoying Saturdays outside before your cousins Heat and Humidity get here.

Sincerely,

Destiny


Dear _______,

Please quit calling me Sweetie. Dear, Hon and Cutie can go too. I am a 26 year old professional, not a 7 year old grade-schooler. In case you were confused.

Pleasantly,

Destiny


Dear Sarah Palin,

You threw your kids into the national spotlight. Expect them to be mocked. Especially your teen who became the national symbol of the problem with abstinence only education (which you paraded around the country). It isn't nice and possibly not fair, but you should have thought of that when you entered the national political arena. And, you just upped Letterman's ratings. Well done.

With regrets,

Destiny

Just a list

Thailand
Denver
Portland
Salt Lake City
Seattle
Hawaii
Montana
Boston
Vermont
Charleston
Paris
Vancouver
New Zealand

A reason to work out in DC

This morning on my bike ride into work I saw: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

power walking along the Potomac.Her security detail was a few steps behind her and there was a black SUV trailing.

A few months ago I saw:

hand in hand while I was running along the C&O canal on a Saturday morning.

Things I love Thursday

My Garden. It is my pride an joy right now. I built the garden box in my backyard a few weeks ago, planted the plants and it is growing like crazy. Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, carrots and spinach. Probably too much for such little space. When I trellised my tomato plants yesterday my fingers smelled like the juicy tomatoes that will be growing on them in a few months. I can't wait. Knowing that it is helping my garden grow has even made the rainy week more bearable.

This is my Garden three weeks ago on day 1:

Hot Yoga. I love it, love it. I even wake up at 5:45 am twice a week to do it. This is a big deal, because I also love sleep. I feel so strong yet peaceful after the class. It also has really helped my running and tight muscles.

My new Ice Cream maker. Apparently tart frozen yogurt is all the rage right now, and I am also mildly obsessed. I found a recipe for it so feel free to stop by for a taste. Topped with fresh berries and it is delish. Tastes just like Sweet Green/ Pink Berry/ Ice Berry. I also tried my hand at pistachio ice cream and loved it, thought it isn't quite as healthy at the fro-yo.

Etsy. Sometimes I look at all the homemade goodness and am thoroughly impressed by creativity. I wish I had time to sew (maybe I will try to take it up between gardening and ice cream making). Here is a little sample:

Yoga Wisdom

This morning at yoga class my teacher said this:

"Take a moment to consider that right now, at this moment, everything in your life is how it's supposed to be."

Decisions

Sometimes I wonder if we worry too much about making the right decision, when we should actually just make a decision and make it right.

All Things Southern

I fulfilled a longtime dream last weekend. I spent the Weekend in Alabama. I really have wanted to visit the South for a long time, and since my good friends Roz, Thad and Michael now live there, I thought it was the perfect time to go. The trip was wonderful from the time I left DC to the time I got back. Here is a quick recap:

On the Train to BWI I sat by a lawyer from the DOJ who told me there was a shooting right by the Ghetto Shoe store that morning, about an hour or two before I was there. An avid Science Fiction junkie and Roller Coaster enthusiast sat across from us and I learned that Babylon 5 (B5) is the best science fiction series because of the Spirits and the Rangers and that the Millennium Force roller coaster at Cedar Point is "not for the novice." I would ride the train again just to sit by her.

On the plane to Alabama I chatted with the nicest Southern man the whole ride. He told me many highlights of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham and this is where I decided that I would probably be eating my way through the state. Which I accomplished nicely.

Michael picked me up from the airport and we drove to the Gulf Shores. On the way, needing sunscreen, we stopped at... WALMART. I gave up shopping at Walmart around 7 years ago, and haven't gone back since. But, I figured since the theme of the weekend was "All Things Southern", it wouldn't be complete without a trip (and it was the easiest store to find). It was as dingy as I remember.

The beach was wonderful. The water was perfect and the white sand beach was beautiful. At this point I was ready to move to Alabama. I was really enjoying it there. After the beach we stopped at a Gulf Shores staple, Lambert's Cafe "Home of the Throwed Roll." The walk around with huge homemade rolls and if you want one, they toss it to you. Or they will throw it from across the room, you just catch and eat. They also serve unlimited side dishes such at collard greens (the only southern food I didn't like), friend okra (mmm!) and sweet potatoes. I happily tasted everything.

On our way back, we were driving at night. We were trying to be careful, but unfortunately after coming around a bend, we saw an armadillo in the road. Poor little guy, we tried to swerve around him, but...

Heading back to Tuscaloosa was great, especially great to see Roz and her new home sweet home. We also met up with Katie and Nikki and took a tour of town and the town's religious institution, the University of Alabama. Seriously, the football stadium is more like a shrine.

Katie and I decided to play a little football in front of the stadium. I don't know if we will be recruited anytime soon. We also got to hug our favorite (?) past Alabama football coach, Paul "the Bear" Bryant. He is kind of a big deal in Tuscaloosa. He also brought back houndstooth. Tuscaloosa is a great city with such southern charm. And good food. I also ate grits and Dreamland Barbecue where you dip wonder bread in the BBQ sauce. Luckily we also found a running path through the woods. While running, we heard a noise, looked down and there was a little family of armadillos hanging out just off the path.

This is a statue of Big Al, the Alabama mascot. He is fierce.

Freegan Lifestyle

I read this article about the freegan lifestyle and it brought me back to my college days. Freegans are "radical environmentalists (typically vegan) who reject our wasteful consumer culture by living almost entirely on what others throw away."

At USU, we were friends with an apartment of guys who weren't freegans, I think they were just cheap. One night we were hanging out and they said they were going to get free chips and goodies at the Hostess bread store in Logan. Apparently this store threw out all of the damaged goods into a dumptster behind the store and our friends would go get free bread, chips and Ding-Dongs (my personal favorite Hostess treat) out of said dumpster. They told us this, and while all of us girls turned up our noses and were a little grossed out at the thought of eating out of a dumpster, we still decided to go along for the ride.

We piled 8 or 9 people in a car (we all had cars of our own, but the more the merrier right?) and set off. We turned down the alley to get to the dumpster and got pulled over by a cop. No we weren't drinking. Yes we knew it was illegal to jam that many people in a car. And, yes we were college students going dumpster diving- which is also illegal. The cop told us to go home. That was the end of my freegan lifestyle.

Success

Last fall my co-worker Olivia and I spent a day planting tulips. We waited eagerly all winter to see the results and it was a definite success. Everyday we get to work and go look at our beautiful flowers blooming. I think I have tulip pride. We keep getting compliments on them. The UPS man said "You have the most beautiful yard on Constitution Ave, and Constitution Ave. is a looong street." I heart him. Our next door neighbor said "I saw your yard and it inspired me, so Saturday I did some weeding and planted a few things." Today we were upstairs eating lunch and I looked out the window and saw a lady stop, look, and then... she pulled out her camera and took a few photos of our blooms. We were totally overly excited. Unfortunately these photos don't do it justice. Apparently, there is an inner gardener inside of me just waiting to come out.

Current Obsession

+

= afternoon delight

*just in case you get hungry at your desk around 3:30 pm every day like me

Gifts.

I was given a bag of Starburst Jelly Beans today from a kind person who knows how much I enjoy them and also knows this. Would it be inappropriate to re-gift them to, say, the first person who responds to this post or a homeless man on the street?

What a Week.

Monday: I locked myself out of my office and had to call my coworker (who was home sick) to let me in. Not one of my finest moments.

Tuesday: Started my day with a trip to the dentist. Then when I got home I was greeted by a ticket in the mail. One of those camera tickets. Argh.

Thursday: Caught a grungy man breaking into my Boss's car. I walked down the street yelling "If you ever come back on our property I will call the cops!" Luckily he got away with only a few quarters. He left a set of keys behind. When he is locked out of his house, maybe that will teach him to brake into cars that don't belong to him.

Raw

I read this article on the wonder that is raw milk. I learned that in Pennsylvania it is legal to sell it, so I think on my next trek though PA, I should partake. I do think it would be pretty cool to be an underground raw milk consumer though (meet my, uh, dealer in a dark alley, wear all black, grab my goods out of a cooler...). Unfortunately, it is illegal to bring it across the border into other states, so my consumption will be limited to PA (unless I am feeling particularly edgy, and like the taste of course). Maybe they sell it in Dutch Country and (after Lent) I can eat a whoopie pie and chase it down with a tall glass of raw milk.

Who's in?

Weekend Fun

Since Washington Dc is finally getting warm, I was finally able to go on a bike ride. A few friends and I rode the Mt. Vernon Trail that leads from DC to Mt. Vernon, it was great. Afterwards we (Tom) made breakfast, and then spent the rest of the beautiful day playing tennis.

The Blue Team:

By the Potomac, across from the Monuments:

Our post bike ride breakfast:

Thought of the day

"I have the most liberal sentiments, and feelings of charity towards all sects, parties, and denominations; and the rights and liberties of conscience, I hold most sacred and dear, and despise no man for differing with me in matters of opinion."

The Prophet Joseph Smith

Lent

I am giving up sweets again for lent this year. I binge for 325 days, and give them up for 40. Perfect. I have heard without sugar you are supposed to have some sort of heightened mental function; remember things better, more energy, etc. I have been more of a space cadet than usual lately. The only thing that is heightened thus far is my irritability from lack of sugar.

Saturday Night Live - Don't Buy Stuff

The wisdom of SNL.

How to fix a slow computer

1) Turn on computer, wait for 5 minutes to bring up any program.
2) Google what could be wrong "slow computer"
3) Call a computer place, download (more) virus and spyware programs, run them, notice slight difference.
4) Yell at computer, say things you will regret, and threaten to punch it in the screen
5) Reboot, hoping it will magically fix itself
6) Back to Google. While waiting for it to load, go for a run. When you get back, page is almost up.
7) Determine this is fate telling you not to apply to grad school
8) Ctrl Alt Delete
9) Notice CPU is running at 100%, don't know what that means, google will tell you.
10) Apparently that is not good. Find out why. More google.
11) Bring up faulty program, uncheck a box, reboot.
12) Computer works like new.

Note: Due to slow computer this process might take a month or so. You may have to repeat steps 1-9 many times. Or you could take said computer to a computer person and pay a lot of money, and save a lot of time for them to uncheck that box.

Resolution Fun

So, I am really trying on my resolutions.


I found this website with Geography games to learn where countries are located. I am at 50% right now (already stated I am bad at Geography).

I picked up a volunteer application.

I still don't make my bed every day.

I have been riding the bus to work to get in more reading time. Anyone have any good book recommendations??

When DC freezes over

Snow on Tuesday.

The great freeze on Tuesday Night.

I saw this on my way to work Wednesday morning:

Chopsticks frozen to the cement.

Someone (me) needs to buy an ice scraper. I used my credit card (good idea Callie) to chisel ice off my car a few nights ago. I also learned the value of ice melt so clients don't fall and slip on their way to the office. I hope DC defrosts soon.

Innaguration

This post is a little bit late, but I have been a busy girl.

Last week I was ever so grateful to be a resident of the District of Columbia. Yes, it was out of control busy, but I also got to roam the streets with millions of strangers who had united with a common purpose and excitement.

The inauguration festivities started off on Sunday with a concert at the Lincoln Memorial celebrating the President-elect Barack Obama. I was standing with friends between the Washington Monument and the WWII Memorial, with thousands and thousands of people in front of us. It was freezing cold, but totally worth standing outside. The concert was great, which we mainly watched from the huge screens put up on the mall, but the excitement in the air was incredible. Chants filled the mall "O-Ba-Ma," there were readings from Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and Reagan's (?) speeches.

Monday night I volunteered at the New Mexico State Ball. It was held in the Native American Museum. I met new friends there and had an overall wonderful time participating in a ball. There were a total of 14 bolo tie sightings and a woman who made her dress completely out of Obama signs.

Tuesday my roomies and I woke up early to leave our house at 6:00 am to get to the mall and in our places for the inauguration. The crowd was ridiculous, there were people everywhere and it was fabulous. It again was brutally cold and it took us 3 hours to get through security. Many, I am told, didn't get in. I have never seen that many people united for a single purpose. Tears were shed by many as President Obama took his oath of office. We were fortunate to be in a decent standing section.

My favorite thing about our new President is his ability to unite people. He has a gift of getting people to be active in their communities and I feel he has the opportunity to mobilize people to help themselves and each other. I feel he showed this during his campaign and I hope he can continue to motivate the Country.

I really liked this line from President Obama's speech:

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

My weekend just seemed to keep getting better, and after the inauguration I had the pleasure of meeting two prominent church leaders. It was amazing to see the shift in power of the President of the United States, a government leader, and then have to opportunity to meet spiritual leaders.

I feel for you man. I really do.

Today while walking to lunch I saw a man pulling his van to the side of the road. Smoke was pouring from the hood of the van and anti-freeze was pouring from under the car, leaving a green puddle on the cold pavement.

This immediately made me think of car troubles I have had. And there have been many. In high school I drove a 1982 VW Quantum. We called it the Maserati. Yes this car was older than me, and no, it did not perform like its namesake.

Once while driving back from lunch in high school, the clutch pedal broke. Leaving me in a near death situation trying to slow the car down. We somehow coasted into this nice Latino family's driveway and they let us use their phone (this was pre-everyone has a cell phone craze).

The final breakdown was very similar to what I witnessed today. I was driving to school, when at the stoplight before the parking lot, my car filled with smoke and icons lit up the dashboard. I parked the car, went inside and called my dad, and went to class smelling like anti-freeze. At least it has a sweet smell, right?

9 for '09

Here they are. I am posting these here, because frankly I need some accountability. Last year I made a sorry attempt at completing my short list, I think I barely etched by on one goal. So here goes:

1 Learn a new language. I took a french class last year, I will continue the study this year.

2 Save money. I am thinking of a number... by the end of the year I want it to equal my savings account balance.

3 Bike a century. 100 miles. This will probably take me three days straight, but so be it.

4 Read a certain book every day.

5 Travel somewhere new and exciting

6 Volunteer.

7 Make my bed every day. For anyone who has lived with me, yes I do know how to do this.

8 Read 50 books. I read that G.W. Bush read 40 last year, I assume he has a tighter schedule than I do, so I'll add a few more.

9 Be able to point out where 90% of the countries in the world are on a map and be able to state each of their capitols. I am terrible at geography, and I think this will help me improve.