NYC

We are on the bus to new York city right now. We got here too late to sit by each other and are across the aisle from each other. No one seemed willing to move for us.

Joke is on them. We both have head colds. Hope they took their airborne.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Favorite Christmas Song

I think this really gets the meaning of the holiday right, even if you aren't a Josh Groban fan.

Medical Experiments

Sometimes I get emails from people that have random home remedies for whatever ails you. I always want to try them out, but I generally don't get sick, and I would rather try them out on someone else.

Enter marriage.

Bryson got a cough last week the same day I got an email saying:

"During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.

Some of us have used Vicks VapoRub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks VapoRub generously on the soles of your feet, cover with socks, and the heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief.

My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes."

I think it was fate. It took a little (or a lot of) convincing and I had to go buy the Vaporub, but I got him to try it out. And, it might have worked. We weren't real sure, he didn't cough during the night and did feel like a warm blanket was enveloping him, that may have been the vicks he put on his chest though.

Next up: get him to try a netti pot. It might be harder than the vicks. When I emailed him this he replied "I hate netti pots. I don’t know what they are. But I hate them. They wronged me somewhere, sometime."

Football

Whew. Apparently it was the weekend of big games. Bryson explained how this weekend is also sort of a geography lesson with all of the rivalries. Sad Alabama lost. I love Tuscaloosa when I visited the town and fell in love. And I think the QB for Auburn is sort of a hoodlum (though the win today was really impressive, what a comeback).

And, for the record, not that I am in any way knowledgable enough to make this call, Ohio State should play Boise State. I am not a fan of elitism and any team who is undefeated should be eligible for the BCS championship game not just big conference teams. Go Boise State.

For the record, I haven't yet watched any football, but we talked about it a lot today AND I read an article about what the Ohio State coach (can you say elitest) said about Boise State having a chance at playing in the BCS championship game.

I think college football is going to be so much easier to get into than pro football. Drama, drama, drama.

Turkey Day

Bryson and I had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner. Really wonderful. Tom and Jenny, Colton and Adrienne, tons of delicious food; I love Thanksgiving.

On the way home we were talking about hobbies. Bryson and I are a great couple (if I do say so myself). We love hanging out, we have a great time together, and we laugh a lot. But… we have different hobbies. I spent a lot of time outside in Montana, fly fishing and hiking. I love skiing, running and cycling. Bryson loves sports. Really loves sports. He lived in a house with sports fanatics before we got married. I think maybe the only time I went over and a game wasn’t on the TV was during General Conference. And I am pretty sure a score was checked when the choir was singing. I don’t watch sports on TV. Life is too short to watch sports on TV. And football feels like a million hours long.

In our discussion Bryson reminded me of the bike he bought this summer to have a hobby we could enjoy together.

New goal: I am going to learn about football. Watch a few games (or parts of a game- four hours will make me want to give up the sport), read a few articles, learn about the players (more than just the players who have dated a Kardashian sister). Then I will make an educated guess about whether I really like it or not.

Honeymoon

When we fly we try to get seats in the exit row since Bryson is real tall. On the way back from the honeymoon we were sitting in our seats chatting with the man next to us about his home the Florida Keys. The flight attendant walked up to give us the rules and asked us if we were all willing and able to perform our duties if needed. We said yes and she said "And you are all over 15?" and looked directly at me.

Afterward the man next to us said "I wondered if you went out of the country on your honeymoon because you don't have to be 21 to drink."

Art

Bryson has decided he is an abstract artist. To envision where the TV will go on the wall he tacked nails where the corners will be. Since we do not in fact own a TV, he put a picture on one of the nails and hung another picture up next to our TV spot. He just told me how it is abstract art because marking where a TV will go and then putting up an unframed picture of nature contrasts rich and poor, and technology and nature.

Our most hilarious wedding gift

From Bryson's old roommate.

They will be in storage for a while.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Proud Almost Wife

I'm bragging about my soon-to-be husband on my blog. I am sure this is some sort of relationship step.

We spent the month of December apart while he was in Tennessee working on this case.

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/10/08/sidley-lawyers-save-innocent-man-from-life-in-prison/

Well done team Sidley.

And, we are getting married in 8 days. I thought I would get more nervous, but nope, just more excited. We move to our new apartment tomorrow. I keep quoting Monica from friends "I have to live with a boy!" except, I GET to live with a boy. I can't wait. For those who think the idea of us living together a week before the wedding is a little off, don't worry. We will be spending the last week of singleness all cozy on our roommates couches. Our things will reside at the new apartment and we'll move in together when we get back from the honeymoon.

IE = Incredibly Exhausting

Internet explorer won't load. I am using Firefox right now. Although it might be a better browser, I think my computer is sick and needs some tlc.

Help me. Thank You.

Chippy

When I was young I chipped my tooth. I had it fixed by a nice dentist a few years back, but unfortunately part of the filler chipped off again last week. Bryson has been calling it chippy and said chippy isn't invited to the wedding. Tomorrow I am getting it done. This might be one of the last tasks I have on my to do list before the wedding. How great is that?!

By the way, we get married in LESS THAN 4 weeks. WHAT?! I told Bryson if he had a list of things to do before he gets married he better get on it. He probably doesn't have a list, but I do. Do you think Bryson would notice if I took a little backpacking trip across Europe before the wedding?

upcoming marriage= busy busy girl (and boy)

There is a lot to do. I have no idea how people put on their own weddings. I have hired people to do the busy stuff and I still feel like I am running around frantically trying to check off boxes on an unending to-do list.

When I started looking at bridal magazines I noticed a rather large number of checklists. With a large number if items on each of them. I think I have made more decisions in the last month and a half than I have in my adult life. I tend to shy away from decisions.

We found an apartment yesterday. The wedding is planned (it will be lovely, fingers crossed). Bryson and I are totally solid (he is a gem, I have been a crazy person).

I now am going to spend the next 6 weeks until we get married (!!!) figuring out how to go from Ms. to Mrs..

Oh so happy

Have you ever had a moment in life that is so wonderful you want to hit the pause button and sit in that feeling for a few more hours (or days)? Last night I definitely wanted to press pause. Luckily this morning I woke up in complete bliss, just happy. I think this feeling will be sticking around for a long while. This morning, thinking of it, I get so happy I can't stand it.

Bryson proposed. I had no idea it was going to happen. No clue. I thought (and hoped) it would happen eventually but no clue it would be last night. He picked the perfect spot, somewhere meaningful to us (the site of our first kiss), said the perfect words and (of course) I feel it was absolutely perfect. (Thank you to the Anderson Family!!) We then went to dinner and I couldn't stop beaming. They printed Congratulations to Destiny and Bryson on the menu.

Not knowing if I would be dressed up enough he also talked to my roommate and had her buy me shoes, dresses and waterproof mascara in case I needed them (Thank You Katie!!). He talked to my family by getting numbers from my phone, got the ring (Thank you Joe and Jeni!!) and I had no clue. It was perfect. I can't stop staring at my hand. Really, I can't stop thinking about Bryson.

We don't have a date yet. We'll be getting to that soon....

The beginning of the trip....

Madrid Airport in customs line after an all night flight

B: Look there is Miley Cyrus (chuckles)

Me: Oh, yeah, it is

B: Destiny I was just joking

Me: No it really is. That is her.

B: What? I really was just joking.

Then we saw her get taken to the front of customs.

Apparently she had a concert in Madrid that night.

Back

Just got back from Spain/France last night. I am worn out. I think the computer screen is burning my retinas. On my run this morning I realized the USA is giant. The streets, the cars, the stores, the space. All giant.

The trip was Awesome. Wonderful. Beautiful. More on that coming soon. With pictures. A lot of pictures.

We were in route back to the states yesterday from noon in Barcelona until 11:00 pm here. That is a total of 17 hours. The flight was delayed, the customs line was moving slow and the shuttle to the car was late. Oh, and I paid for the Dulles toll road in pennies. All pennies. I had no other change except Euro's and I don't think that would have worked. Luckily it took pennies. The car behind us had to think it was hilarious to see me throw at least 5 handfulls of change into the bin. Bryson and I thought it was hilarious.

Atlantic City

We took a much needed road trip to New Jersey this weekend. DC is great but I needed to get out of here. It has been busy lately. I have been house hunting and selling my room and it has been a tad stressful.

Atlantic City is one of those places I have wanted to go for a while and it reminded me of a smaller Las Vegas. Unfortunately we didn't walk the boardwalk (it was late and dark). We did see The Fray in concert. Great show, small venue, great vocals. Wonderful (and tall) company.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Why I don't like talent shows

In third grade we had a talent show. Everyone had to do something. Being someone without talents that are done on a stage, I rollerbladed. Seriously. On one foot even. Embarrassing. I am still scarred.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

This makes me giggle.

Wake n' Bacon

Who doesn't love waking up to the smell of bacon?

Yum. Bacon sizzling next to your head in the morning.

So I blogstalk. Is that a problem?

It generally happens like this: you go to a friend's blog, you click on the links to theirs friends blogs, you find one you like and you are then reading it far too often and know too much and are stalking people you have never met by reading their blog. You know their kids names, they have an affinity for Thai food, they don't get enough sleep, they are redecorating their kitchen. If you actually met these people you would be great friends because you know all about them, but instead, if you saw them on the street you would feel like a celebrity gawker. True TMZ style. You continue to go to their blog because they are great writers. The stories suck you in. We all have embarrassing moments, but they have a gift with words and their life seems so much more interesting to yours.

Then, out of nowhere, they make their blog private. WHAT?! How are you ever going to know how their vacation went? Or if they got the new job? Or how they feel about the health care bill?

Question is: Do you request an invite to view their blog?

Favorite time of day

Just after my morning run and eating cereal out of the box. Great way to start the day. And it's only going to get better.

Documentary Review

I am sitting on my couch watching Life with my roommates. We recorded it from the Discovery Channel. Reptiles and Amphibians is currently on... In a word: Amazing. Giant bullfrogs, geckos, horned lizards, turtles, frogs. It is incredible to see how different forms of life survive and have adapted to survive. I am really excited for the next installment Sunday night.

Two weeks ago I saw the Oscar winning Documentary The Cove. It was playing at the National Archives. I didn't know much about the acquisition of dolphin's, but after watching the documentary I felt much better informed. The documentary was partially made in a late night covert mission to uncover the murder of hundreds of dolphins a day in a secret cove in Japan. It was very sad to see.

I also have been fortunate enough to watch Planet Earth. Again, it is amazing to see how animals have evolved over time to be able to survive in diverse habitats throughout the world. The camerawork is incredible as is seeing animals in their natural habitat's. I think the segment with the elephant migration is my favorite.

Useful

In case you are in need of one stop shopping for Pizza delivery and a limo service we got this flyer today:



Carryout, delivery, and a posh ride. I wonder if they deliver pizzas in the limos.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Springtime

Spring is here. Our tulips are coming up and I have really fallen in love with fresh everything. My newest gardening experience are these:




My herb garden. Rosemary, cilantro, chives and basil. Really i am not sure if these are great ondoor plants We'll see how they grow, hopefully well. Fresh herbs are far better than dried.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pretty please?

Dear Mother Nature,

I hear you are letting Rain come see us this weekend. I think you should blow her over to Las Vegas. I think they need her more than we do. You were kind enough to give us record amounts of snow last month, and I think we are still drying out from that (I know in my house we are, my poor roommate was out of her room for a week with a nasty leak in her wall).

Sunshine is here now and we wouldn't want her to cut her stay short. Plus, I think a few of us (me) are lacking Vitamin D exposure from being inside an office all day. Please don't rain out the weekend.

xoxo

Destiny

today

My boss walked into the office looked at me and said "You look like you are ready to go to church."

My co-worker and I looked at each other confused.

What does that even mean?

I'mTotallyFreakingOutRightNow

Memorial Day 2010

Barcelona, Spain

I can hardly contain myself.

I am making a paper countdown chain in my room....

Snow

We are supposed to get the storm of the century tonight/tomorrow.

People are going nuts. I went to the store and the lines were to the back of the store.

WHOLE FOODS RAN OUT OF PRODUCE.

I gained an understanding of food storage.

*Don't worry Mom, I have rice and frozen veggies to last for days. And a full tank of gas.

**I keep talking to UT friends and we think these DC people are soft. I mean, who hasn't lived through 2 feet of snow overnight? Do we shop like this in UT when we get this much snow? Do people go nutty there too? I couldn't remember. Maybe Utahns have a bunch of food storage in their basements so they don't have to shop more or worry. The only thing crowded on snow mornings it UT are the canyons to the ski resorts.

***Why is Alta 2,092 miles away???

Urban Dictionary: destiny

Urban Dictionary: destiny: "Life is not merely a series of meaningless accidents or coincidences. But rather it's a tapestry of events that culminate in an exquisite sublime plan. If we are to live life in harmony with the universe, we must all possess a powerful faith in what the ancients used to call fatum, what we currently refer to as destiny."

Urban Dictionary: Destiny

Urban Dictionary: Destiny: "A simple yet complex girl who is Beautiful inside and out. Her loving nature and kind hearted spirit tend to have an effect on the opposite sex.People usually gravitate toward her and some may be jealous because da[ng] she's on top of her game. Basically; Destiny is [incredibly] DOPE &you're just not on her level.

Woman of Action

That was my New Year's Resolution. Become a woman of action.

I think it is a good one for me, it came about after this conversation with *ahem* a good friend:

Him: "I am a man of action"

Me: "I am a woman of lists."

Eek. I have things and places I want to do and see but I felt like I was s l o w l y becoming comfortable. Life isn't comfortable. It isn't supposed to be. Likening it to food, I don't want to eat plain oatmeal every morning. Nope, I like cinnamon, blueberries a little flax seed and make those steel cut oats thank you. Life is supposed to be spicy and juicy. Let's all be honest, we dream of a life worth being gossiped about. Whether it is our awesome job or our latest adventure overseas or even our random encounters at the grocery store. We want something to talk about.

So I am making these things happen.

And whenever I forget I am reminded "That was the old Destiny, the new Destiny is a Woman of Action."

Thank you.

*Making it happen moment of the week: I started Calc. II and I rearranged my room. I felt I needed new perspective.

Oooh I love running.

Anyone that really knows me may be a little shocked by the title of this post. I generally say I don't like it at all. 2 marathons, a half and a few relay's under my belt and I still could take it or leave it. Before my run. Afterwards though I am all hopped up on endorphins and I think to myself "that was great."

It's been a long week. Taxes, lobbying, Calc II, lack of sleep, life and simple carbs.

But I have been running. And it feels good.

This morning's run was frigid (24 degrees?) but lovely. Jenny is my running partner and she is a peach. She is faster than me, so she pushes me in a "you can do it" sort of way. She is consistent and always at my door at 6:30. On off days, I try to get up, and my body refuses to leave my bed before it is absolutely necessary. Forget morning workouts. But with Jenny there, I just can't let her down. And she lets me talk. I mean, we both talk, but she is a great listener. It is nice to get in some early morning therapy and exercise at the same time.

So today, I love running.

Simple Carbs

My stomach hurts.

I went a few days (it was supposed to be a week, but who is counting?) without anything processed and then I caved. And by caved I mean I have been eating anything with simple carbs in sight. I just really like them and it has been a long week and I have been doing taxes. So don't judge.

I began this morning with a run and the thought "Eat healthy all day!" I did really well until the drive home and a few cookies that were left in the glove compartment. And then it went downhill fast. And now my stomach isn't singing me the same praises my tastebuds are. Well even the tastebuds might be overwhelmed.

Yeah, I keep (well kept) cookies in the car, in case of emergency, you never know when you are going to get stuck in your car, but really they were left in the car so they wouldn't tempt me while at home or in the office. Maybe I should take the bus. Or not buy cookies.

Or print here that sweets are off limits for a week. My tummy will thank me.