margaritas

Yesterday was Thursday and should have supplied a "things i love thursday" post, but let me be honest: yesterday pretty much stunk. Hardcore style. Today hasn't had much to lift the spirits either. So, in lieu of my usual post I wanted to thank friends for thinking of going out for margaritas.

I would try and explain but I hate being overly dramatic. Truly, I hate drama of any kind. All you need to know is that once again, I feel like I got the short end of the stick. I didn't know that sticks could have so many short ends, but thus, tis true. The best part of all of it is that you can drown away your sorrows in a delicious strawberry margarita. (Virgin, just in case you were concerned and thinking, "Jenny, margaritas contain alcohol.")

self-explanatory

(Just in case you need a little explanation: This is Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. The guys at work have been telling me about it for months. I found it by chance at Barnes and Noble and OMG, I get it. This is just a part of the wonderfulness that is a new favorite of mine. The music is great. The dialogue is hilarious. Neil Patrick Harris is the perfect love sick nerd. I didn't know  that Nathan Fillion could sing. He does have a crude line or two, but the similarities of Captain Hammer and Castle make me laugh. The thing I don't like about it is the ending... but, I guess it works. Maybe I'll be Penny for Halloween. Then again, maybe not.)

whopper ice cream

I didn't know it existed either. And let me tell you, I think it tastes better than actual whoppers.

Story: I was feeling homesick for my good friend, Pixel. It worked out last week that our schedules could mesh for a night in with yummy dinner and a movie. Doug didn't have to work so it was a great night of me hanging out at their place. You would think I would feel like the third wheel in this situation, but I don't. That factt makes me like Doug even that much more. I'm so grateful for their friendship!

The night was super chill. Pixel and I caught up about life.... And by that I mean that I talked while she cooked and Doug chimed in every now and again from the living room. I may be turning again to Mr. and Mrs. Hendriksen for dating advice. We ate dinner and headed into the family room to use their new projector for a movie when Pixel said that she felt in the mood for ice cream. Not even a block away, they have a small convenience store. At the moment, I can't remember what it is called.... The three of us walked over and got some delicious Whopper Ice Cream! You need to try this stuff. I'm serious!

When deciding what movie to watch, we found Some Like It Hot on Netflix. Pixel hadn't seen it yet so we preceded to laugh and giggle at Jack Lemmon as he and Tony Curtis play girls.

The night was simply delightful. It is unanimous that we will have to repeat it again in the near future!

back tracking

So much going on in the life of Jenny Hortin! I have missed my little blog here. Ergo: here's a little of the goings on.

As a Presidency, we decided that we would plan a little retreat for the sisters in our ward. The idea came from a stake get-together where we were talking to other Relief Societies about success stories. We headed up to Midway to the Davis cabin. It turned into another activity where I plan for a large number and we barely break 15. BUT, I still had a blast!

Our retreat was the 16th and the 17th. How perfect that the Holy War transferred over to the retreat since it was the night before the game. Watch out ladies....we know how this ends.

The weather was crazy the night that we drove up. Whitney and I had a moment or two were we stared, open-mouthed, at all the water on the road. Obviously we got there and back safely. Still, it rained all night long. We planned to have a fire with smores outside at the fire pit. Lucky for us, the cabin had a fireplace. Thanks to our resourcefulness, we still made it work.

Miranda and me...

Now that's what I call a s'more! "First you take the mallow..."

Kara and Rachel

Nicole, Kiera and Sister Wells

We had an awesome time singing and playing with the player piano in the front room. It is a little more tiring than I thought it would be. But still great fun! 

Sister Davis knew so many old time musicals and old songs. She is so sweet! I'm so glad that we get to work together!

 My great friend, Whitney, is an awesome photographer! Look how cool that is-

(No mocking of my pajamas....or my socks. You're all just jealous.)

 Oh, hello Whitney. That is priceless!

We had so much fun playing games and watching How to Train Your Dragon late at night. The next morning, just sitting around the table, I learned more than ever about the wonderful sisters in my ward. My favorite: Whitney asked everyone the weirdest thing they ever ran over while driving.... And what have you run over Miss Whitney?

On the way out of the cabin, I had too much fun taking pictures. I love the fall and the bright colors! Especially the fire orange leaves.

Before we headed out of Heber Valley, Whitney and I made a trip into Heber for lunch at Dairy Keen and shortbread cookies from Days Market. If you haven't eaten at the Dairy Keen, you need to! It is in the middle of Main Street. You can't miss it. And you shouldn't!

It had been awhile since I had been to eat there. When we walked in, they had these drink dispensers that are computerized. I didn't know that there were so many options for Diet Coke or Lemonade. I had way too much fun with mixed drinks.

Thank you, Brother and Sister Davis for letting us use your cabin. Thanks especially, sisters, for an awesome night!

a story or two

I have been thinking about this moment a lot in the past few days, but never more than yesterday during General Conference with so many references to The Book of Mormon. I love Conference!

Story: Last week, I was scheduled to work on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Laurel told me I wasn't, twenty seconds later, she said that I was and someone else wasn't. By the end of the day, I was thoroughly confused. Am I working? Am I not? When am I supposed to come in? Before I left, it was decided that I would come into work at 11. That was more than fine with me since that meant I could go to the temple with time enough for baptisms before. Hooray!

I woke up, had breakfast, threw on a skirt, and jumped in the car to be dropped off at the train before Dad headed to work. A few stops in, my phone buzzes with a new voicemail. (side note: I hate when someone calls me and my phone doesn't register the fact until I have a phone message. It is so irritating. I am not attempting to screen phonecalls, I promise. Oh, except for that one guy.) The message was from Laurel, saying that I no longer needed to come in at 11 but could I please come in at 3? This is one of the many things I hate about my job. It is like they think I don't have a life outside of work and because of that, I really can't have a life. When I think of all the friends with whom I have had to cancel plans, or all the things I would love to do but can't, I would be completely content to quit right away.

So there I sit, trying to get a hold of Laurel because I cannot work. There are many things that I have to cancel, but I will not bail on Institute unless I am sick and cannot move. Missing Institute throws my entire week into a downward spiral. There went my temple plans because if she called back while I was in the temple, I won't get it and that would cause a whole number of problems. I decided that I would walk the few blocks to the Gateway and wander, just in case my phone rang. I needed a pair of brown heels, anyway.

To say I was irritated would be an understatement. I walked with my head down, mumbling internally about my situation. Suddenly, I heard a foreign voice calling to me through my disgruntled haze. I looked up and saw a young Asian couple walking towards me. She wanted to know where they could find a place to shop. Funny, I thought, since they were walking away from The Gateway. I pointed them in the right direction and tried to describe how to get there but different cultures were an obvious hindrance. Since I was heading that way too, I mentioned that I could walk with them to make sure that we all ended up at the right place.

Off we went while she translated our conversation to her boyfriend. After she finished, I tried to start friendly conversation to make walking a few blocks a little less awkward. I asked if they were from the area or if they were here on vacation. She told me that they had a long layover. She mentioned that they had seen the temple. I asked if they had been around Temple Square and she said that they had been to the house on the corner. It made me smile that she didn't know the name of it. I asked if they got a lemon drop at the end of the tour. I love those lemon drops but I had forgotten that they might have stopped doing that. Shame.... Still, she looked at me with a puzzled expression and then said that the ladies at the end of the tour had given them something. She looked to her boyfriend and asked, "A Bible?"

I was so excited inside. To clarify, I asked, "They gave you a Bible?" She answered with enough clues that I knew she meant The Book of Mormon. Then, in the next 30 seconds, I bore my testimony and told her that reading it had changed my life. I further encouraged her to read it, but she just smiled and nodded, in a way that I figure she was blowing me off. Maybe not. Maybe she read it when they were back on the plane. Maybe she will decide to change her life. Just maybe.

My mess of a day was completely turned around in those 30 seconds. If Heavenly Father's purpose was to place me walking towards The Gateway at that very moment to meet those very people, I'm okay with that. Thinking about that experience, all I remember is the joy I felt in sharing the Gospel with strangers.

things i love thursday

late night movie parties with the sisters

new high heels (and two pairs for $20!)

wandering around Forever 21

Barnes and Noble

watching The Lion King in 3D with my family

Brother Anderson's institute class

the friends I refer to as "the Sandy Crew"

President Uchtdorf's RS address! oh my...

GENERAL CONFERENCE in two days and I don't have to work!

Step Up 3! 

(I wonder where this movie has been all my life. Luke/ Rick Malambri? Hello!)

shout it to the sky

It is a well-known fact that I am a Ute Football fan. A big one. I have been looking forward to the game on the 17th for weeks! The day before, my work schedule went all over the place. For the first time in six years, I was unable to watch the football game that, in the past, I wait all year to see. Trust me. I was peeved. But such is life. It doesn't always go the way that you plan.

Still, this year's experience proved to be one of a kind. I was in the kitchen by 4:30 pm and would be there until 11:15 pm. I worked a function with Michelle, Alicia, Shelby, Cheryl, and Phil. Phil, crazy man, was the only cheering for BYU. I learned through the night that he is as intense of a fan of his team as I am of mine, but he is a bit more vocally aggressive towards the opposing team when his is losing. I have my moments, but I try not to be as vocal in public. We turned on the radio at kick off and heard bits and pieces as we went in and out of the kitchen. Whenever something big happened, we passed it around the room so that we felt somewhat attached to the game.

When BYU made a touchdown and the score moved up to 10 to 7, Phil really let us know it. I was really depressed and nervous for my team. My tables were crazy and the night was moving extremely slowly. I was afraid that the game was further along than it was. Dad texted me and let me know it was only the middle of the 2nd quarter. Sigh of relief :)

I don't know how the timing worked out so well, but the group of us were all standing in the kitchen, hanging onto the radio announcer's every word, praying that Utah could make a come back. I felt like we went back in time, before television existed, and we were all huddled around a radio. We heard the touchdown that led Utah to take back the lead and hold it for the rest of the game. We made such a racket, I'm sure the people in the room heard us. I jumped up and down, like I do. Michelle went and tried to give everyone a high five. When she got to me, I even surprised myself at my excitement. I hit her hand and completed the high five, but the motion got the better of me and I proceeded to smack her in the face! She was shocked. I was shocked. I apologized and we laughed. I don't think that I hit her terribly hard, just enough to surprise us both.

Morgan was helping us and witnessed the whole thing. She completed the moment by asking, "If that is how Jenny reacts to Utah scoring, look out if BYU scores again!" It is true. I resemble the Hulk. The girls were hoping for BYU to score again, just to see what would happen.

So, I would have loved to watch the game. Listening to it on the radio is so hard because every play seems to be a surprise. I don't like being a step behind. I want to watch every step of a 62 yard run by Jon White. Next year, I'll take care to have a ticket. I guess I better start saving today!

GO UTES!

Way to Represent!

P.S. I asked Dad to keep me updated on the status of the game because I didn't know until I arrived at work that I would be on the 9th floor. After we had a significant lead, Dad became quite creative with his nicknames for the team down south. "BY Boo Hoo..." was his favorite and it kept me laughing.

*The photos copied from The Deseret News

Stories about the "Pepper Lady" to come later...