things i love thursday

*red umbrellas

*crock-pot chicken

*Ingrid's new album Human Again

*Watching Beauty and the Beast in 3D with the fam :)
 I didn't miss an opportunity to remind Maggie of when we would sing this song as little girls. She would play Belle and I would play the Beast, though I secretly wanted to sing the part of Belle. I asked one day so sweetly that Maggie agreed to switch parts. Then I messed up the lyrics. I never had the privilege to sing Belle after that. Melanie and Carrie love this story so much that they remind me of it often. Maggie still claims to not remember it ever happening...

 

*Beginning to be able to "Name Drop" from my little spot here at Deseret Book... I met Ardeth Kapp today, although I have served her in the past as a Banquet Server. I don't think she remembers that.

* Sadly, tomorrow is the series finale of Chuck. Let's all wipe a tear. I suggest that you watch it! I have all four seasons if you want to make it a party!

*I am attempting to be a good little girl and not spend money outside of paying for bills. With that said,  I have been drooling over this website for weeks. If I were able to spend all the money in the world, almost all their merchandise would be mine.

awkward and awesome

It is time for another installment of Awkward and Awesome! Aren't you so excited?

awkward
- The elevator on the right keeps stopping on the first floor and opening for no reason. I didn't hit the button. Still, it opens and closes on its own. I think it is just trying to keep me on my toes.

- While sitting in sacrament meeting late in the afternoon and after not eating for six hours, my stomach audibly grumbles.

- Trying to downplay my grumbling stomach failed as the guy I was sitting next to whispers, "Was that your stomach?" ...no...

- Same sacrament meeting, I was sitting on one of the back rows. In the middle of the speakers, the couple in front of me began to get strangely affectionate. The girl pinched the guy's cheeks, stuck her finger in his ear, and I am quite certain she tried to pick his nose! I wouldn't have noticed except for the fact that this was going on right in my view of the speaker. I couldn't help myself. I laughed, though not out loud, thank heavens! The guy sitting next to me had an even better view! It got to the point where we couldn't look up or at each other

- After the meeting ended, a girlfriend of mine walked up behind me while I was still there with my friends. She touched my face and swept the hair out of my eyes and remarked, "You're so beautiful." Um, thanks...

- During a frustrating phone call, a friend walks through the lobby making me chuckle. The lady on the line asks, "Are you laughing at me?!" No!!! Oh shoot. Way to make a bad situation worse.

- Ward FHE: playing Glow in the Dark volleyball with a ball that no one can see...ends with poor Jenn (not me) getting a blow right to the chest from Jake. Whoops!

awesome
- There is an AWESOME view of the temple from my desk! You should all be jealous.

- I handed Alex Boye parking validations today. He is such a nice guy.

- Kinda awesome: Sheri (She is too cool to have a last name around these parts) walked through the lobby today. I've been here just over a week and this is the first time I've seen her. She didn't really see me, though. I think she has a one track mind.

- Did I mention the laughing uncontrollably in sacrament meeting? We really tried to focus on the speakers! Promise!  

- I've been listening to Jenny Oaks Baker's Wish Upon a Star cd for two days straight now and it is simply fantastic! You need this album.

- Brighton has officially begun and I couldn't be more excited! Spending a few days with the ladies in the presidency started my week out right. It doesn't matter what age you are, you can still giggle late into the night with the right people.

- I love working downtown! I love being a part of Joseph Smith Memorial Building and knowing my way around. I love walking past Temple Square every day and seeing the temple illuminated by the sunset. I have yet to eat at Blue Lemon with my employee discount, but I'm sure that is just a matter of time.

-Whoever is reading this- You're awesome!

tender mercies

(Allow me to preface: I meant to publish this yesterday. Monday was a surprisingly great day for me. Reality hit again this morning with money worries and everything else under the sun. Still, the euphoria of yesterday hasn't completely diminished...)


Isn't life grand???

(If you were to ask my mother and my sisters after our conversation yesterday, my previous question would surprise them. Let's just say, I was venting about a boy or two at the dinner table. A day later, I'm still confused, but they can do what they like...)

I simply can't get over how miraculous my life is. Everywhere I turn, I experience another tender mercy. For example, this morning I woke up with a nagging pain in my head. I wouldn't classify it as a migraine, but it was enough to make me want to stay in bed an extra hour, or three. It is gone and I feel just fine! No medication needed....

Rushing to catch trax, I was able to pull in right after someone pulled out of a prime parking spot.

I haven't had to refill my gas tank for a full week and can probably stretch it into two. Happy Day!

I work at Deseret Book! This is such an answer to prayer, you have no idea! The people are wonderful and a member of the Publishing Department already mentioned helping them in the future!!!

I am realizing that I know more about cooking than I thought. Last night, I cooked the majority of Sunday dinner alone. Mom still had to make the cheese sauce because that is still a little too much for me. Thinking about it gives me a twitch. In the past four days, I made a casserole and Sunday dinner and both were a success! (With a shout out to my mom! Thanks for helping me!) The casserole was for an LDS Living competition. On my first or second day, members of LDS Living came down to the front desk looking for people to participate and make the recipes that were submitted. I always love a challenge. On Friday, many people from the building met on the 8th floor and submitted their top three favorites. Mine won fourth place!!! *I know, right?!

Brighton 2012 has a theme!!! People are asking about applications! We had our Director Retreat and I can't wait for more. Things are starting to come together and I can stop losing sleep...

I am afraid of the moment when things start to look bleak again... I know it is coming. I hope that it remains at bay for a little while longer. I will not be brought down by some boy who chooses to be what my mother refers to as a "Duh-head."

what the?

Do you remember a little bit ago in my time machine when I told you about Margaret Owens? Well, I have an update. And it's something else! In the next week or two, depending on certain circumstances, I will begin working at Deseret Book's Corporate Office as the afternoon receptionist! Yes, it isn't all the way to a grown-up job, but it's close!

I spoke with Ms. Owens earlier today and was so excited about it. Then I remembered all the change that would follow and the excitement has calmed a bit for the following reasons. First, I feel like I'm bailing on my Dad but he said that this is what he expected to happen. If it were any other circumstance, I don't think I would feel quite as blue. I love my dad an awful lot and I don't want to disappoint him. I don't want to leave him in the lurch and there is a part of me that thinks that is what I am about to do.....

And second - as much as I complain about working at the Joe, I still love the other servers that I have the privilege to know and call my friends. I'm afraid that leaving and moving to something else will hurt that friendship. But other people have left and moved on and things worked out just fine. Dad always says that I worry too much. *sigh*

I have to keep remembering that change is good......right?

Dang! Why must dreams coming true be so complicated???

awkward and awesome

awkward
- Yesterday at work, I overheard a complete conversation about a coworker's problems with his intestine. No joke! That was five minutes I will never get back.
- running into things: walls, doors, other people
- Story: I was asked by Miranda, along with the rest of the members of the presidency, to teach a quick section of the Relief Society Declaration. My small part was towards the end of class and I was fully realizing how little time was left and how much I wanted to say. So I went for it. Going for it, while I teach, involves me singing. Loudly. Without realizing that that was what I was going to do... The sisters laughed and I just kept going. At least I am entertaining, I guess. I told my mom and sisters about it and they are still laughing.

awesome
- Any time the family is gathered around the dinner table, awesome things come out of people's mouths. Today happened to belong to my dad. Out of context, it may not have the same effect, but image MY FATHER speaking while plugging his nose. I know, right? Then, tonight we were talking about temple recommends and Dad was sure he knew what he was talking about, then suddenly exclaims, "Wait, who are we talking about?!"
- Sharing falling stories after Presidency meeting last night! I'm sure it involved my ugly laughing face.
- a day off to watch movies and sleep (while still playing nurse the the younger sister)
- reminders that friends are never too far away to care about me---thanks guys! You know who you are, and I think you're awesome!

pick me up

I thought we could both use a good pick me up after that last post. 

So here you are:

It doesn't get much better than two of my favorite singers:

Jennifer Nettles teamed up with Sara Bareilles!

And YAH, you better believe I saw this live when they came to Salt Lake! 

:) :) :)

reality

I'm not your biggest fan.

Here I am again, sitting in my cubicle, scanning files into cyberspace, listening to my iPod to break up the silence. It is another one of those days where the only way I make it through is by thinking about my future paycheck. Don't get me wrong, I really do like hanging out with my dad every day here at work, but he is currently away at the doctor's office and I am here scanning and struggling to make an Excel spreadsheet work. Computers are not my best friends.

The green monster of jealousy is on my heels today. I keep thinking of the "What if"s and  the "If Only"s and it isn't getting me anywhere. One day... One day, my job will be a career. One day, a man will think I'm pretty great. One day, I will feel completely independent. One day, I will have spending money. One day, I will travel back across the pond. One day, I'll be the cool kid on the block. I just hope that that "one day" decides to appear sooner rather than later.

Then I start thinking, "Who wants to know all of this?" With the new format of Blogspot, I can see the Viewing Traffic on my blog, and I would like to personally thank the few of you that choose to read my murmurings. These people with hundreds of followers help me realize how meager my little blog is. Maybe one day I will be a famous blogger and people will be inspired by me... Right now, I suppose I will have to be content to broadcast my randomness out into this cosmic void.


P.S. Apologies for the downer....