behind the times

Confession: Until recently, I have only read the first book in The Hunger Games series. When the book first came out, I was so caught up in the hype and the excitement of family, friends, and the New York Times, I went and bought my own copy. As warned, I devoured it and became consumed by "the boy with the bread." I have always been a Peeta fan although I wished he would show some sort of backbone in the first book. A problem arose that kept me from finishing all three like a fiend because I only had a copy of the first book. I read with such vengeance that you would expect that I couldn't rest until I had finished the entire series. However, that was not the case. I don't know whether I was simply stubborn because I decided to go against the hungry crowd, lazy because didn't want to fight the library for a copy, or broke because I couldn't buy the next addition...Whatever the case, I didn't read the last two novels until about two weeks ago. Don't judge.

Another confession: The movie came out and everything changed.

I wasn't planning on going to the movie. Then, my friend Laura said it would be fun to go on a Tuesday when Century 16 has matinee prices in the evening. If I can get a deal and hang out with good company, hey, I'm in! My sister, Melanie, went for the midnight showing and LOVED it! She kept talking about it over the weekend and made me more excited to go. Once Melanie shows overwhelming interest in something, it's contagious! The movie came out on Friday and I went the following Tuesday. There went all my stubbornness of going against the crowd. Suddenly I'm a follower...

The hype was back in full force. The Saturday after the movie came out, I shanghaied Melanie into letting me borrow her Kindle and letting me read Catching Fire.  I spent most of the morning reading when I should have been doing a number of other things. It was past lunch when I decided to take a break and then I realized I had read until Chapter 12! Thanks to Jury Duty, I finished the book in record time. That night, I went and saw the movie.

The movie was AMAZING....if you've read the books. I sat between Laura and Shannon, neither of whom had read the books, and they spent the entire second half of the movie appalled. There were moments when I covered my eyes (Again, don't judge) because I don't like violence. I don't like watching people get hurt. "Then, Jenny, why did you go to the movie?" Um, I dunno. But I liked it. A lot. In fact, I would be more than willing to go and watch it again.

Now I have read the entire series. And I am a big fan. A BIG FAN! Forget Stephenie Meyer, (although I forgot about her years ago) read Suzanne Collins. I read this friend's blog and completely agree when she said that being an English major, you become a trained reader. I started reading for the thrill, which was great, but take a step away from that and really look at what the characters are, how they evolve, how Collins covers all possible complications, it makes the book even that much better. I know that most readers are disappointed in the third book, but I liked it. I liked seeing how the story unfolds when Katniss and Peeta are on opposite sides. I also love how Collins didn't miss an opportunity to play with Peeta and what happens when he has no choice but to let the Capitol change him. I loved everything, absolutely everything about the series, EXCEPT for the last 10 pages. I was sad at the climax, but, reading with my English novel-expect the worst for the better of the plot mindset, it made sense. What I wanted was another conversation between Katniss and Peeta. Personally, I felt like there were a few strands left hanging out in the wind. Did Peeta come back or doe he spend every waking moment wondering if life is real? I know that Katniss mentions something but I want to read it from his point of view. Then, all the sudden, Gale is in District 2. I'm not a Gale fan but that seemed awfully sudden. Overall, I hate how she closes so many major details in a simple sentence. Bah!

Dear Suzanne,
You worked so hard over three books to make such wonderful characters. Why are you selling them short?
Love me.

And yes, I plan on owning the entire series and adding it to my library of a bedroom.

Last confession: I am slightly obsessed with Josh Hutcherson's jaw....

kindred spirit

I hope you don't mind if I am a bit more personal today than usual. My heart is heavy. Today is a melancholy day. I don't have them frequently, but today deserves its due.

I have been working in Deseret Book Corporate Offices for almost three months now. In that time, I have made a generous amount of friends. They are some of the most amazing people I have ever had the privilege to meet and I am over the moon that I have the opportunity to "rub shoulders" with each of them. One of such amazing caliber passed away last Thursday night.

Pat Williams is one of the sweetest people I have ever known. For the three months I've known her, I have been blessed to see her smile and hear her sweet voice. For the past three years, she has been dealing with painful cancer and proving all her doctors wrong. She continued to come into work, even through the pain, until it took three of us to get her in the car to go home. Then the Executive Office told her no.

I was working as she left the office. No one knew that it would end so abruptly. She came off the elevator to wait for her sister to bring the car around. While she sat in her wheelchair, she cried for some help. I'm worthless because I cannot leave the phone. She suggested I call Cory and as soon as I mentioned Pat's name, he was ready to come down and help, no matter whatever else was on his plate for that day.

I stood trying to comfort her, but it was useless. Cory came down and stood outside waiting for the car. I helped to push her outside and then Cory took over so that I could return to the dang-blasted phone. I sat here and watched the slow process of Pat going home. The next week, I heard that she wasn't coming back to work. She entered the hospital the next day.

This morning was her funeral. I wasn't able to attend but I like to think I worked so the rest of the office was able to attend.

I miss Pat. I miss our 5:00 pm chats. I miss her sassy attitude and quotable sayings. I miss her voice. I miss how she would smile and wave from the car as I left the office. I will forever be grateful that such an amazing woman came into my life, even for such a short time.

I love you, Pat. Keep them laughing on the other side. :)

To see her obituary

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=patricia-kay-cluff-williams&pid=156775939

weekend

(Catch up is coming as soon as I get to a camera/computer cord.)

I hope that this blog finds you in the pleasant nostalgia of General Conference weekend. I think I'm suffering from post-conference blues, but then I'm not sure that there is such a thing.

I love Conference! It feels like Christmas to me. This past weekend was no exception.

President Thomas S. Monson is one of my heroes. Every time I saw his face on screen, I remembered his face when I sang in the DMC choir this past Christmas. That man loves music and he grinned from ear to ear like a child when we started. Thinking about it still sends a thrill through me. I know he is a prophet. No doubt.

Along with all the wonderful talks and music and everything that I was able to experience, this talk stood out. Of all the questions that I needed answered, I feel that Elder Andersen had me in mind in his preparations. Listen, watch, read, or do all three!

*sigh* My heart is full. I hope the talks healed your heart the same way they did mine. That and increase my desire to be even that much better. How grateful I am for the gift of General Conference!

the view from my iPhone

 

Jordan River Temple

I hadn't been to this temple since I was a young woman. It is still as breath-taking as ever.

 

This is the delicious treat that my friend, Boyd, provided. He was out on his occasional chocolate run and came back with a treat for everyone that was in the lobby, myself included. He is a head honcho with the Publishing Dept. and any sign that I am on his good side is wonderful. Everyone in the Publishing Department are so nice! I hope they like me...

This was the view a few weeks ago in the crazy rain/wind storm. I may hate riding the train, but this shot was totally worth it.

Story: I was delivering packages to the different floors at the end of my work day and happened upon this poster by the Music Department. I don't fully know what they are trying to say with this poster, because as I understand it, the majority of the building is dedicated to Mr. Fredette. This makes me think otherwise....Anyway, it made me chuckle, so I had to document.

 This was from my last reception while being captain. This is what happens to my servers. I work them to the bone! (JK, he was actually running on three hours of sleep due to a midterm earlier that morning, but still. If Amy had walked in, I would have been highly chastised for letting my servers sit on the job. I say, "Hey, lady. He's been working a double for you. Give him three minutes and he'll be fine. The best servers are happy servers."

Do you remember my episode with the roofers? Yup. This was that same morning, running from my house.

Down the block and around the corner, to H&M I will go...

Thank you, City Creek, for claiming half my paycheck. Hopefully, I maintain my self control.

Back from answering to Prom.

Yeah, we are that cool!

awkward and awesome

awkward


- My house needed a new roof. Therefore, my parents have been in contact with a company called Jasper Roofing for a few weeks now. Yesterday, we had our entire roof re-shingled. (Actually, it was re-everything-ed.) It wasn't all that bad except for the pounding, the walls shaking, the loud footsteps above my head, the Spanish that I couldn't understand, and the fact that we have a sky light in our bathroom. All my childhood fears of someone being able to see me through that skylight were realized in one morning. Allow me to clarify: I don't think the man saw me, but I most definitely saw him. The whistling above my head whilst getting ready for work was enough to shake me to the core. For the first time ever, it was a relief to leave my house. Yesterday morning was the epitome of awkward.

- Is there a possibility that there is a full moon tonight? Because all the crazies came out of the woodwork this afternoon. A man waltzed into the lobby claiming that we must be 15 E South Temple. Please look at the large numbers on the front of the doors, sir. We are not. I attempted to keep my cool and guide him in the right direction, but that seemed to frazzle him further. He decided he was going to ride the elevator until he found his contact. I asked if he had a key card and was authorized to ride the elevator because we are a secure building and the only way that you get up the elevator is through me. Well, you can imagine, I was not the high light in his afternoon. Still, I feel satisfied that I didn't let him pass me. Sir, I'm tough. Deal with it.

- When I talk on the phone, I feel super awkward. I was talking to a new staff member for Brighton and she laughed and laughed. I wasn't necessarily trying to be funny, but my mind runs like crazy and my mouth usually follows it. I hope she doesn't think I'm certifiably insane...

awesome

- For all you romantics out there, especially romantic readers, I just found you the greatest book. It is a must read! It will be published next month through Shadow Mountain. Do you remember when I posted so that I would distract myself from reading? Well, this is that book. Let me tell you, it is a good thing I waited as long as I did. This past weekend, I didn't want to do anything else.
Watch out for Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson.

Here is the book trailer. I watched it and it made me giggle as I saw the Utah version of England resides in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The accent wasn't the most believable either, but don't let that dissuade you from reading. If I could find a man like that, I'd consider myself a lucky girl.

- Have you ever noticed that your voice changes when you talk about sacred things? This past Sunday, I was asked to give the closing prayer. I didn't think much of it until a friend told me he had to open his eyes to make sure that it really was me talking. And I think it's awesome.

- Sitting at the reception desk has a few perks. Every now and again, I'm offered free food. Most times, it is a cookie from Hagermann's that other associates don't want to eat. [Side note: you should try Hagermann's chocolate chip cookie! At least that is what I think it is called. It has oatmeal in it, so it may have a different name, but it's delicious! Not as good as the Dutch Chocolate, because, like my Oma always says, "You ain't much if you ain't Dutch!" Just so happens, I'm half Dutch. ;) ]
Back to my story- A few days ago, Keith came through the lobby and offered me his chocolate chip cookie from lunch. Turned out that he was given two for the price of one, so I suddenly had two cookies on my hands. I ate one, but had the other just sitting on my desk, tempting me. Cory walked through after a meeting and I asked him if he would like it. He surprised me by taking it. My small act has now turned into "our thing" because yesterday, he came all the way down to the lobby to offer me his extra cookies from a meeting. I asked him, "You came all the way down here to offer me a cookie?" He said, "Well, you were so nice yesterday, I thought I would return the favor." I always knew I liked him. There is a great bunch of people that I have the privilege to work with, but Cory is among my favorites.

- Brighton's Welcome Party is THIS SATURDAY! I'm super excited! And then today, suddenly, I got really nervous. Shoot! I'm Director?

happy march

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much has been going on in this little life of mine. I've been trying to work three part time jobs and get Brighton up and running at the same time. The stake activity that took months to plan is over and done, accomplished with flying colors. The Relief Society Presidency is working on our RS Birthday activity in two weeks from yesterday. My social life has taken a little bit of a hit but never fear, things are about to calm down, although just a little bit.

This Saturday is very likely my last day working as a JSMB banquet server. I finally pulled the plug. With all of the events that are scheduled during Saturdays for the next few months, there is no way I can do both. Even without Brighton coming into play, it was really becoming too hard to keep going. I felt disconnected from the other servers by working one day a week and every time I did work, I felt a little rusty. I was disappointed with myself after every shift. I am slightly worried about the money situation, but the answer, I hope, lies with my dad and being more responsible in my hours at MassMutual. Everything works out, right? Right.

I went into Laurel's office a few days ago. I still can't believe how nice the supervisors become when you start threatening to quit. She complimented me again and again and said how much she has loved working with me. I wonder what Amy would have said if I told her that I was done. Interesting...

Brighton is just about to be in full swing. Tomorrow is the official Kick-off with the Brighton Representatives and then next Saturday is our official Welcome Party. I CANNOT WAIT! Our staff is going to be amazing this summer, no doubt about that. Change is going to be a good thing for camp. Not that we are changing a whole bunch, but we are updating a few things and getting rid of the needless stuff. Zim is such a wonderful president and she has truly looked over all of camp and seen what we need and what we can do without. I've been waiting for this for months and I have to pinch myself to realize that it is actually happening.

With all of the excitement of Brighton starting and the staff that we do have, there has been a surprising amount of pain caused by the staff that we don't have. I knew that saying no to wonderful girls would be difficult, but I didn't realize that it would be this difficult. I have already learned much as Director. The biggest lesson learned is that I can't personally fix everyone's problems. As much as I love these girls, I can't take the hurt away. I can't place the responsibility on my weak shoulders, as much as I try to "bear one another's burdens." My lesson in the past two weeks is that bearing one another's burdens does not mean that I have the power to solve them. I only have the power to send them to the source that can lift their pain. I have felt the Savior's love in a completely different capacity than I ever have before, and for that, I am grateful.

The past few weeks have definitely been a rollercoaster, but I wouldn't trade it. Life is still amazing, even with little hiccups every now and again.

Disclaimer: This post was written to distract myself from reading at my desk. Heidi brought me down my own FREE copy of a book that is coming out through Deseret Book next month and I know once I crack the binding, I won't be able to put it down. Then, there were multiple free books up in the break room that were up for grabs. Guess what I'm doing every spare moment for the next few days... :)

Remember how much I love my job? Free books and just because? Yes, please!