Crazyland: Tales From The Motherboard

Crash! Bang! Boom!

2012-12-05T15:12:00.001-07:00

Thing 1, the 17 year old, wrecked the jeep on November 1st. We are still cleaning up the mess from that. It's been getting "fixed" since November 2 and as of today they still don't know when it will be done.

She is no worse for the wear. Other than a jacked up back and a mild case of anxiety. Thankfully they make herbs and oils for both ailments.

The jeep on the other hand? Well, it's seen better days.

The drive shaft, rear suspension, rear axle and 4-wheel drive were ruined. Along with the door, wheels and a plethora of other problems.

Apparently she has mad driving skills because everyone -- police, paramedics and towing company-- could not believe that she didn't roll that puppy.

Frankly, after hearing them all talk, I can't believe she didn't roll it either.

She said that she felt it go up on two wheels and the thought occurred to her that she was going to roll. Then the next thing she knew it felt like she was being yanked back down and she landed on the stop sign on the sidewalk.

I have my own theories as to what happened that morning and I thank the Lord constantly that the little stinker was protected.

As humans we have a tendency to hold grudges, be offended when no offense was meant and with hold forgiveness as a means of protecting ourselves. It's easy to get caught up in being angry and serving up our own version of Javert justice -- obsessed with proving that we are right -- that we neglect to see the amazing person Jean Valjean has become. Javert is only concerned with Justice, paying no mind to Mercy.

This accident reminded me of that principal. Accident's have a tendency to do that, don't you think? Remind you of what is truly important. It's not being right. It's not holding that grudge. It's the people that are in your life. It's forgivness. Its change and growth. That's what's important.

Proving that you're right is never the right way to be. It only sacrifices relationships and alienates people.

Thing 1 and I had argued that morning and I am eternally grateful that THAT wasn't the last memory I would have with my child.

"The Great Accident" of 2012 reminded me that the only thing that really matters in life are the people that are in it. Things are just that -- things.

Things don't matter. People do.

Dreams and Robbers

2012-10-30T10:40:00.000-06:00

The first thing you are taught when you are working with the public and money is "If you get robbed, give them everything they ask for. Don't panic. Don't be a hero. Remember everything."

That last part is easier said than done in the heat of the moment.

Unless you dreamed about it happening several weeks earlier. And then you remember everything with stunning clarity.

I had a dream that I was robbed at work. The dream was so real and vivid that when I woke up, I was in a total state of panic. My heart was thumping right out of my chest and my fight or flight instinct had kicked into high gear. I could remember every single thing that happened in the dream. The look on the mans face as he stormed through the doors, the tan pants and plain white wife-beater tank that he was wearing. He had a go-tee and walked with aggression.

In my dream I was absolutely terrified and I woke up with those same feelings pumping through my veins.

The next night at work, my friend came to me and said she'd had a dream about both last night. We were closing and a group of men tried to rob us.

I was stunned.

I sat riveted to every last word as she described in great detail the same type of dream that I'd had the night before. The man in her dream was dressed the same, but he had a posse of dudes with him. And hers ended a tad more violently than mine -- We got shot as they ran from the store.

We laughed it all off, but it was clear that we were both a little creeped out by the fact that we had both had similar dreams at the same time. Granted, minor details were different, but the subject was the same: We were robbed while we were working, right as the store closed.

For the next few nights, when we worked together we would joke about how we wondered if this was going to be the night all hell broke loose at Schmoles. We had talked through the dream scenarios several times, and discussed what we had done wrong in our dreams and what we "should have done" instead. Mostly we did joking with each other and to figure out how we could avoid being shot, which was what happened in my friends dream.

Several weeks after the dream's had occured (and we had stopped talking about them) I was closing the registers. The store was closed, but the doors hadn't been locked yet. I had the register open and was facing the window, counting it down when I heard the door open.

I glanced up and instantly knew what was happening.

A man with a go-tee dressed in tan pants and a white wife beater tank top was storming aggressively toward me. I pushed the register closed and stared at him.

I felt my heart sink and a lump form in my throat. I didn't just feel fear, I felt terror and it was pulsing through every inch of my body.

He snarled "You open?" as he aggressively approached me.

I was shaking because this was the point where he pulled the gun and demanded all of our money. If my friends dream scenario was followed, I would turn around and his posse would be behind me and someone was getting shot.

I looked him in the eye and slightly shook my head as I said "No. We're closed."

Then something different happened. The man deviated from both the dreams we'd had.

He stopped dead in his tracks.

He looked at me. Then past me, Then at me again.

Then he turned around and left the store.

I sat there shaking, trying to get control. My friend who'd had the dream about us was working that night with me.

In her dream it was a Wednesday night.

This was a Wednesday night.

Coincidence?

Maybe.

I honestly don't know what to make of it.

Was God warning us of something that might have happened?

Or was it all just a spooky coincidence?

I really don't know.

All I know is that it felt like something. And it felt like when he looked at me, he saw me something and that something changed his mind... changed him.

Whatever it was that happened -- a warning, or a coincidence -- I'm glad it turned out differently than both of our dreams. There are lessons to be learned from this, and I am sure tons of symbolism. The biggest being situations and circumstances can and are re-written instantaneously all the time. And when they are? Maybe its because God prompted a different choice to be made.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-10-17T09:00:00.000-06:00

Taken with my iPhone

No editing or filters used

Time

2012-10-16T05:24:00.003-06:00

About ten years ago, I had a falling out with one of my friends.

It was nothing exotic -- there was no fighting, no yelling or even hurt feelings involved -- we merely "grew apart".

This friend and I had met at a local scrap-booking store and we hit it off fantastically. She worked there and I would arrange to go to the midnight scraps she hosted because I knew it would be a night of laughter and release. We had a great friendship and I really liked this person.

She lived several towns away from where I was living at the time, and because of that, moving the friendship to "the next level" required work. I was young and inexperienced in the art of friendship making (and keeping).

This friend invited me over to her home. A lot.

And at first, I went. A lot.

And then slowly, I started finding excuses as to why I couldn't make our scheduled play dates. I really liked this person, but it was work and frankly I was lazy. And selfish. Candidly, I didn't even realize that I was pulling away until she started calling me asking me why I wasn't returning her phone calls anymore or not coming to our Midnight Scraps anymore.

I started giving her the standard excuses: "I'm super busy and I've got no time for myself anymore. My family, kids, church calling and job are sucking me dry. I'm just barely hanging on here."

And that was true.

I was in the RS Presidency at the time, I was working 30 hours a week at Schmoles. I was busy. My marriage was running a little rough, my kids were being kids and I felt like I was drowning. My natural instinct was to cut out things that were work, or took too much effort.

In doing that, I cut out a person who was my advocate. My biggest cheerleader. My friend.

A year or so later I got a letter in the mail from her telling me how sad, hurt and angry she had been with me. She didn't understand what she had done to ruin our friendship or why I had cut her out of my life. She understood that people can change and grow -- not be "compatible" any more -- and if that had been the case, she wished I would have just told her. She explained that she had spent an exorbitant amount of time trying to figure out what she had done wrong. She missed our friendship and couldn't understand what was wrong with her and why I wouldn't be her friend any longer."

My response?

"No! No! No! That's not the case at all! I do like you (which I truly did! She is a wonderful person and a blast to be around) I've just been so crazy busy that I haven't had time for anything or anyone. It's not you, it's me! You are a wonderful person and I do consider you my friend. I've just had no time."

And there they were: The time excuse. The too busy excuse. The family is sucking me dry excuse. The job is taking all my time excuse. The excuses.

We've all used those phrases a million and one times. But, really? All they are is an excuse. An easier way for us to say "You weren't a priority to me."

Think on that for a second while I tell you another story.

I had another friend who called me recently to tell me that she was feeling bad about our friendship. When I started offering her my standard "I've been super, crazy busy! I hardly have time to think! My kids are being emotional vampires and I am working like crazy!"

She listened nicely to me, and then said: "What you are really saying is that I am not a priority to you. Because Elisa we all have the same amount of time in the day, and we find the time to accomplish the tasks, or be with the people who are Priorities. I am not one of your priorities."

I was stunned.

How could she say that? Of course she was a priority, and when she called me on it and characterized our lack of interaction so boldly, it hurt. A lot.

However, she was right.

She hadn't been a priority.

When we say we "haven't had time" or "I've been crazy busy with X, Y and Z" what we are really saying is it wasn't a priority to me.

I say it to people all the time when they quiz me about how I am able to be involved with all the things I am. They essentially are giving me a compulsult -- a compliment that was really intended as an insult -- when they say they have "no idea how you find the time to be involved with all the things you're involved with. They can barely keep up on the laundry!"

My response is always the same: "You find the time to do the things that are important to you. If it's important enough to you, you will find the time to do it. It becomes a priority."

Priorities. That's really what all those excuses are about. They just weren't a priority.

People change and grow. Friendships change and grow. However, if you are a true friend, we make time for one another. We find the time for the things that are important to us: Our families and our friends should be priorities. People should be priorities.

Think about that the next time you find yourself responding with the standard "I didn't have time to get it done" response. What you are really saying is that task, that request, that person wasn't a priority.

Every time I have found myself saying "I didn't have time . . . " I have thought to myself "what I am really saying is it's not a priority to me." When I phrase it like that, it sounds selfish. That simple change in phraseology causes me to stop and evaluate the situation and circumstances. More often than not, I am the one that has the priorities out of whack. I need re-focusing.

I should never be too busy for my family or my friends. If that is the case, then I have some adjustment to do. In the final analysis, all I have when I leave this life are the relationships I have made and nurtured. And that nurturing takes work, effort and time.

And time? That is something we all have plenty of . . . if it's a priority.

My Autumnal Ritual

2012-09-10T08:30:00.000-06:00

Every year about this time I get this insatiable craving for country music. It's actually really bizarre because any other time of the year, that crooning makes my eye twitch kick into over drive. And yet when that cool breeze comes floating in and I see my mountains littered with color, I find myself hankering for Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Trisha Yearwood and Faith Hill.

I even have separate pre-set country stations in my car that are used ONLY in Autumn.

I add Pandora Stations at the end of September and by the beginning of November I have deleted them all, returning to my usual listening habits.

I have vivid memories of my college friends and I taking many a road trip in September and October, which makes me wonder if that is why I always listen to country this time of year? We made day trips to St George, Jackson Hole and even one time flew to Portland to see a friend and then drove all the way back to Utah-- listening to Country the entire way.

In October.

It could also be that during the Fall while Jefe was in Law School I would take the kids on weekly --usually daily-- drives or "field trips." I didn't like to drive the country roads in the winter, so I would get my "fix" until the first snow fall, which was typically the first week of November. Then I would stay put for the long and dreary winter.

The cold weather makes me want to sing and honestly? My vocal chords seem to really dig these country tunes. They have deep, sultry sounds that my gravely voice can easily find the harmony to. I have my favorite ones that I've put on a disk and when I have a lot of errands to run or some distance to cover, I pull that baby out and sing to my hearts content.

For me, signing is cathartic. Healing almost. And, it makes me feel good. Alive even. A lot can happen in three and half minutes when you're singing a song. You're whole outlook can change in those few short minutes. That's the power of music.

Moxie has started crooning with me and it totally melts my heart. When I look in the rear-view mirror and see her sitting in her seat, belting out the tunes it knocks me flat. Then add into the mix her copying my idiotic dance moves while we do our errands? I'm out cold. She is her mother's daughter, that's for sure.

Her Dad commented about how she was singing at the top of her lungs one time with him: "Not only does she sing every single song that comes on the radio, she also knows all the words and inflections, too. And her pitch? It's dead on."

Yes. She is my child and that makes me feel all sorts of sparkly, gooey, fou-fou happy inside.

*Pulled from the archives. Originally published on October 6, 2011

Random Randomness and Then Some Tunes

2012-08-03T14:00:00.000-06:00

"The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age."

- Lucille Ball

My sons football coach was astounded last night when I told him I was Forty-One. I've known the man for several years, and honestly my age has never come up. When I told him that I was a Forty-Year old woman so OF COURSE I knew more about football than my son did. He gasped.

Hearing his gasp, I begin rapidly explaining how I really DID know a lot about football.

All he heard was forty-one.

He was shocked and actually argued with me that I couldn't be that old.

I was all "Dude. I have a seventeen year old! I was not a baby-mama! How old did you think I was?"

When he told me that he thought I was no more than thirty-five I may have said: "You have totally made my day and I just may have to kiss you now."

I didn't. Cause that would've been gross. And weird.

But I wanted to.

I don't look forty-one, yo.

Them's magic words right there.

***
I have been thoroughly enjoying this summer. The bohemian, gypsy lifestyle has meshed into my soul rather nicely. I haven't felt this relaxed and safe in YEARS people.

It's a good feeling, yo.

I have read more books in the past month than I have in the past two years and it has been delightfully wonderful. I have re-connected with old friends that have I missed and I am enjoying LIVING my life.

It's funny, you can get so caught up in social media and blogging that you can actually forget to LIVE your life. We write about all the things we're doing, read about all the things other people are doing, but the danger is when you get so caught up in what's happening in the Internets that you stop interacting with your peeps and interact more with the peeps inside your computer/phones.

I'm living life to it's fullest right now and it is delightfully wonderful. For the first time in YEARS I am actually not looking forward to all my people going back to school. We are all getting along so well (thank you to our awesome family counselor) that not having them all around will make me miss them. Sure my house will be quiet and clean most of the day, but I do enjoy the friendly banter and the way our family interacts with each other now.

It's a good thing, peeps. It's a very good thing.

***

Football season has started again. Oh my word peeps. I am in hog heaven.

This time of year makes me giddy with joy. I love football. I love that my son plays football and I love that we are a football family.

I love sitting at football practice watching the boys work. I love hearing them crash their pads into each other and seeing them push themselves a little harder to be a little better. This game is a game that teaches boys so much more than just football. It teaches them about teamwork, loyalty, and unity.

I never thought I would be a crazy football mom. But I am. And boy-howdy do I ever love it. Every single freaking second of it. I love it. I love how this sport is teaching my son more about the game of life than I ever could. He is learning that sometimes even though you work really hard, you get disappointments, but you pick yourself up by your boot straps and you carry on. You make the best of each and every play. Work your hardest, do your best and you can hold your head high, no matter what the outcome.

Life isn't a solo game, it's a team game -- it's the big game. And football is teaching him how to work with a team, be loyal and how to never give up. Not Ever.

I love how this sport is turning my boy into a man.

*****

I really like how this show turned out! We talked about social media (hobbies) and how that affects our marriages. It's all a delicate balance and it can be done, peeps. It can. This one turned out really great and I love the conversations that happened during the podcast.

Click over and listen to the podcast.

It has Cjanes husband in it and my favorite blogger Heather Johnson, who has the best job on the planet, yo. She is a professor and teaches her students how to have successful families and marriages. Something that I'm super passionate about right now.

Check it and love it. Love it real hard.

***

That's it for my randomness this week, peeps. I'm busy having the time of my life with my kids and Jefe. We've got plans. Big ones. And we're gonna be living them to the fullest.

Take care and catch you on the flip side.

Goodnight Hollywood Blvd - Ryan Adams
Romeo & Juliet - Dire Straits
Ohio (Live at Massey Hall) - Neil Young
How Do You Keep Love Alive - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
Ain't No Reason - Brett Dennen
Keeping Me Awake - Tarkio
Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
Boys of Fall - Kenny Chesney
Everybody Wants To Rule the World - Tears for Fears
Mercy - Dave Matthews Band

Bonus: You Lie - The Band Perry

Watching the World Pass By

2012-07-25T22:01:00.000-06:00

I have this tacky camping chair that I like to sit in on my driveway to think and watch the world float by. I can face the mountains and watch the sunset reflect off them, turning them various shades of pink and purple. I understand that phrase "Purple Mountains Majesty." It is a beautiful site.

The clouds started turning and moving-- doing an exotic dance that was entrancing and seemed to be only for me. I could hear them moaning and churning as they danced and if I listened carefully I could hear the low rumble of thunder trying to break free.

Slowly the wind met with the leaves in the trees and they started their familiar dance, singing a beautiful song. The sounds and sites were hypnotic as I sat in my chair listening to the world around me.

I listened to the distant crackle, pop and boom of fireworks while the wind and trees continued their dance. It would crescendo and decrescendo in such a mesmerizing way. I couldn't tear my eyes from the giant trees across the street. They swayed perfectly to the unheard song of their dance. It was if they were marrying themselves to each other over and over again and at the exact perfect moment, the sky exploded in a sea of color-- blues, greens, reds and yellows-- the perfect culmination of this forbidden dance of the wind and trees.

Then the rain slowly descended. It was refreshing, that smell from the rain, and it felt clean. I sat there and let the rain pour down on me as I continued to listen and watch the forbidden dance of the trees and watch the firework display in front of me. It was a perfect moment.

It was calming watching the world-- changing, growing, moving-- being cleansed and given a chance to start fresh. I love watching storms come creeping over my little piece of the world. It reminds me that I always have a new day and a fresh start.

Just like that, I can let go of my past, forgive myself and move forward. There is always a new beginning just around the corner.

*pulled from the archives. Originally published on July 25, 2011

Random randomness and Then Some tunes

2012-07-20T11:00:00.000-06:00

When this song comes on, I just can't help myself. I have to dance. And, not dancing? Well, that just makes the need to dance worse. There's something about that opening that just makes me start bopping my head to the side and once those trumpets start? I'm a goner. I'm swinging my booty and rocking to the beat. It doesn't matter where I am, when I hear that familiar refrain? It's all down hill from there people.

This song makes me feel awesome and want to do awesome things. I suppose its effect on me could be compared to be like those who drink alcohol. It takes away my inhibitions and I just don't care. I know I look like a lunatic dancing in the empty parking lot (or Walmart) but I just don't care. The beat calls to me and I can't help myself. Must. Dance. Now. Even after the final refrain has finished I often times find myself still swain' to the melody because it just makes me feel so dang good.

---

I have eclectic groups of friends. If you have a fun sense of humor and can banter back and forth with me then I can pretty much guarantee that you and I will be friends. Each group fills a need and I couldn't imagine my life without all of these amazing friendships, support and camaraderie that I feel with them. I love how accepting they are of each other and the lifestyle choices we have each individually made. I also love the fact that my friends challenge each other to do better and be better.

I had dinner last night with one such group of friends and it was so fun to sit, listen and laugh our heads off. We talked about crazy stuff and our conversations jumped from "So I was stuck in the bathroom stall and I couldn't get out ..." to us discussing heavy problems and challenges. The conversation was all over the board and we were teasing and encouraging each other to move forward and NOT accept the status quo as acceptable. While we live different styles of life, at the core we love each other and want what is genuinely best for each other and for each of us to be happy.

Isn't that what a real friendship is about? Just wanting your friend to be successful and happy?

eekk. i look like i'm on crack

---

I have been mulling something around in my brain for a while now and I want to throw it out into the universe for someone to catch and expound on.

Why is it that Anti-Mormon Rhetoric is the last acceptable form of bigotry and prejudice?

Think about that.

When people make comments about Blacks, Hispanics, Gays, Jews or Native Americans that are derogatory we are called on the carpet, called bigots and told that we are prejudice.

Hate speech of any kind towards other races, religions or cultures are not accepted or tolerated.

Except when it's Mormon rhetoric.

Then everyone laughs, slings some mud and then turns and ignores it.

It's OK to be a bigot and prejudiced against Mormons? Why?

I could no more get away with saying every southern person is racist pig or that all black people are thugs, Hispanics are all drug dealers and Jews are all cheap; Lesbians are angry men haters and Gays are all effeminate. Making fun of Jewish culture is out of bounds and mocking the Italians will get you whacked.

(see what I did there?)

Anti-Mormon Rhetoric is not only tolerated, it's accepted.

We claim to be such a civilized culture. Yet, are we really?

Throughout history there has always been a need for society to have a group of people to scorn and mock.

Think about it.

Egypt held captive the Jews. Whites and Native Americans. Whites and Blacks. Whites and Hispanics. Germany and Jews. The world as a whole and Germany. Heterosexuals and Homosexuals. Always, there has been a scape-goat. Some group of people that we as a society have used to whip, mock and torment. To be prejudiced and bigoted toward.

As a society, we really haven't changed. Not one little bit. I find myself wondering if we truly ever will change or if this is just how it goes... claiming to be a civilized society that is accepting of everyones religious, political and sexual orientations.

Except for them.

You can say whatever you want about them. They are free-game.

Don't ever talk or act like that about any of these groups of people, but them? Go for it.

Don't all of these groups of people who have experienced the bigoted rhetoric see the irony?

Why is Anti-Mormon rhetoric not only tolerated but accepted?

WHY?

Bigotry and prejudice of any kind is not OK. Ever. Period.

---

Riddle me this Bat Man: Why did I wait so long to drink the Koolaid that is Breaking Bad?

Good gravy! That is a good show!

It's Jefe's favorite show and he's been talking about how awesome it is for years. I decided last weekend when I was laying around sick that I would give it a whirl.

I got stuck in a Breaking Bad time-loop and I couldn't get out. Before I knew what had happened I had watched 24 episodes. TWENTY-FOUR. Twenty-four episodes people. That's like 24 hours of TV.

I just couldn't stop myself.

It's amazing TV. Watching it so fast is fascinating because you see the decline of Walter White who starts out morally good. He's this timid High School Chemistry teacher and he just wants to do what is very best for his family. And, through a series of events you can see him slowly decline into pure evil.

It's been said that one specific choice can set your path in motion and it's fascinating to see the specific choice that Walter White makes and then consequently how multiple smaller choices catapult him to where he currently is: The creepy, scary dude who comes banging on your door in the middle of the night. With a gun.

---

I may have gotten locked in a bathroom stall last night at the place I was eating dinner. And, I may have rattled the door and considered talking to the person in the stall next to me begging for help. Then I may have considered texting my friends who were still eating and begging them to come and help me. Because HELLO! I WAS STUCK IN THE BATHROOM STALL AND I COULDN'T GET OUT!

And I may have started panicking a little and started rattling the door sort of hard in a desperate effort to get out and in that desperate effort finally yanked the door open and nearly fall back into the toilet.

Then while I am washing my hands and giggling hysterically I may have done a spastic weird dance in front of the paper towel dispenser because the paper towels would only come out 1/2 inch at a time.

And then I may have looked back to see that the bathroom was full of people waiting in line, watching me wide-eyed. And laughing at me.

Or not.

---

That's it for me this week. I'm fixin' to sit in the sun by the pool all weekend long. I have a good book that is calling my name and desperately needs my attention.

Take it easy and I'll catch you on the flip side!

1. Put the Phone Down - Wooden Bones

2. Any Other Name - Thomas Newman

3. Talk - Coldplay

4. Picture (featuring Sheryl Crow) - Kid Rock

5. Be Here Now - Ray LaMontagne

6. Black or White - Michael Jackson

7. Stars - Grace Potter & the nocturnals

8. One - U2

9. Deep Draw - Genuine

10. If You Leave - OMD

Bonus: Come Home - Ryan Adams

Hello My Pretties

2012-07-18T09:41:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of every summer I feel mounds of trepidation. I get used to the schedule and consistency that the school year brings -- Up and going every day by a certain time. Dishes and dinner done every morning with the house all shiny and clean. Routine is my comfortable old worn coat and it makes me feel safe and secure.

Summer means the end of that blessed schedule and we all turn into free stylin' gypsies.

We have migrated into our gypsy lifestyle rather seamlessly this year. We've stayed up late and slept in. We've had cheesecake for breakfast and omelets for dinner. We've spent our days next to the pool and our nights riding the Merry-Go-Round. We've caught ourselves up on our favorite TV shows, watched the latest blockbuster movies and read a library full of books. We've taken nightly walks around the neighborhood and have a worn path that is a friendly reminder of where we've been and how far we've come.

It's simply perfect.

I forget every year that when it's all said and done and the transformation is complete this Gypsy lifestyle fits me rather nicely. Taking that first drink of Koolaid is scary but once I do I remember how much I love it and how liberating this lifestyle really is.

With the metamorphosis complete, I find myself taking a deep breath and saying "This. THIS right here is the life" and that familiar feeling of peace slides over me and I recognize it. My old worn coat has returned.

Life is good. Summer is good. We're good.

The TeXt Files

2012-06-06T14:17:00.000-06:00

Here's my most recent conversation { inspired by this.} with my 16 yro daughter and I think it's probably my most favorite teXting conversation.

EVER.

It's best read OUT LOUD.

pinky swear.

you need to read it out loud.

And, don't blame me if you spew Diet Coke.

--

Me: How did Moses make his tea?

Me: Hebrews it.

Thing 1: Wow. That's so funny I forgot to laugh.

Me: Now. Now. Don't be Russian around being a hater!

Thing 1: I was trying so hard to think of something punny to say that Iran into a door.

Me: I Caanan tell a lie: That Made Me Snort.

Thing1: Well, that's what French-ip is all about.

Me: You Turkey.

Thing 1: Ha Ha. I'm Hungary. What's for dinner?

Me: Chile.

Thing 1: I think I might Peru-se the library before I come home today

Me: Now you're Babylon

Thing 1: Sorry. I thought I'd Czech with you to make sure it was Okay

Me: Maybe you need to Persia your bag first. You know. To make room for more crap.

Thing 1: I China get irritated but I think you just insulted my organizational skills.

Me: Irish you could see how hard I laughing.

Thing 1: Iraq my brain so hard every time people start one of these conversations with me and it always gives me a headache.

Me: So what you're saying is I'm Ghana win?

Thing 1: Nether... lands.

Me: Jamaica me crazy, girl.

Me: Kenya say: Mom's rule and Thing 1's drool?

Me: Oman. I'm on a roll!

Me: Should I give you Samoa?

Thing 1: Oman. That is quite possibly the most inaccurate statement ever.

Me: Uganda give me credit . . . And you can't use the same one twice.

Thing 1: NOT COOL. Gabon Man. You stole mine!

Me: {evil laugh} Yemen. I rule. You drool.

Thing 1: Laos - er. You're doing multiple at once. The world is only so big.

Me: Geeze. Quit having a Macau.

Thing 1: Just come get me, okay?

Me: Kuwait for me outside.

---
You're Welcome and Have a Nice Day.

Ear Candy

2012-06-06T13:07:00.000-06:00

My new addiction is Live from Daryl's House. It's real, authentic music played by musicians who are just jammin', having a good time and I can't get enough of it. I made a playlist of all my favorites from his 40+ episodes and it streams while I work.

I'm in hog singing heaven, people.

Srsly. Turn up your speakers. Close your eyes. I triple-dog-dare you to not start swayin'. Or dancing. Once the moves have been busted out, the words will beg you to be belted out. Singing along to these familiar tunes is medicine for the soul and will cure any bad mood. Or sad idea. Trust me.

Confessions of a Self Narker

2012-05-24T11:42:00.006-06:00

I hope you have your spoonful of Nutella and your Diet Coke (with the good ice) handy because I have a story to tell you. It's a good story-- maybe even a funny story-- but mostly it's a story that showed me who, at the core, I really am.

A Self Narker.

It's true.

I am a total self narker.

I can try my hardest to be dishonest, but it starts gnawing at me. Right there at the back of my brain and it gnaws and gnaws until I can't stand it and I nark myself out.

Always.

It eats at me until I have to come clean.

Big stuff and little stuff. I just can't do it. It eats at me until I just can't stand it anymore and I blurt it out and I have to come clean.

Jiminy Cricket would be so proud of me.

I have a very healthy conscience and at times I think it works overtime.

Take for instance when I was at work the other night. A yellow bracelet that I was jonesing for hard core was on sale and I had a coupon and store credit. I also found a jacket (cause I was freezing) that I planned on buying on my break.

I bought the items and I wanted to wear them the rest of the night so I proceeded to show the other employees my receipt so they wouldn't think I had stolen them. They all looked at me as if I was crack.

One of my co-workers looked at me funny and said "I would never think that you stole that, Elisa. I trust you."

The manager laughed at me and said "I trust you Elisa. I know you wouldn't steal."

They both said the same thing and I never wanted to give them a reason to not trust me. So I showed them all the receipt anyway.

That's important to me, people being able to trust me. I am a trustworthy person and I never want to anything to make people not be able to trust me.

Now to the point of this post.

I went shopping unexpectedly yesterday. Jefe left his laptop at home and so I happily volunteered to take it to him.

Hello. He works next to City Creek. Why wouldn't I want to take him his laptop? I could love on him for a few minutes and then I could happily wander the shops. Which is my new favorite past time. Maybe I could finally buy those aqua and orange pants that I have been wanting.

Once the eagle had landed and the package was secure, Moxie and I headed out on our adventure. We played on the playground. We counted the trout in the pond and creek. We went into every. single. store. kid and mommy alike and we shared an awesome almond vanilla steamer from the Nordstroms E-bar.

It was an afternoon filled with sheer nirvana.

I admired the colored skinny jeans and Moxie hung out at the jewelry section. It was a shopping companionship made in heaven! She would tell me what necklaces I should buy that would match my pants and I would buy her lip gloss and feather hair bands.

When we finally got to our intended destination, I was elated to find that both colors of pants I wanted were there. I immediately started trying on shirt and pant combos, coming up with amazing color blocking creations that would rival any fashion week runway model.

I tried on every color of the rainbow and Moxie and I were having a ball. Well, at least I was having a ball. She was happily watching a movie on my phone.

God Bless iPhones and Netflix.

I purchased my new found treasures and we headed homeward bound.

We chatted all the way home about all the fun things we saw -- she loved the orange pants that were her size, the fountain that sprayed to music and all the fishes in the "lake".

All in all it was a good day.

Until I got home, that is.

Upon getting undressed to get ready for work I realized that I was still wearing a tank that I had tried on earlier. I have to be honest: when I realized I had it on I gasped with horror and actually threw the shirt away from me -- as if just holding it was going to condemn me to prison.

Jefe's told me all about what prison is like from when he was a Federal Defender. I know from his stories that it's a place I never, ever want to go. I have a healthy fear of police and jail.

I started doing my famous panic dance and was mumbling "Oh no. Oh no. Oh no."

Peeps. I was horrified.

Images of prison whizzed through my head which made my panic dance even more epic. I am sure if it would have been recorded, it would leave the So You Think You Can Dance judges amazed and dazed. And wanting the thief's autograph.

Holy! Freaking! Crap! I'm a thief. I had stolen something.

Accidentally? Yes. But I had not paid for it, so technically it was stolen.

I was getting ready for work and I had exactly 90 minutes before my shift began. I was sick, people. Sick to my stomach and completely freaked out. I was trying to use all the amazeball skills my counselor has taught me over the past year, but it wasn't working.

As I stood alone in my closet, using my new-mad-skills, I found myself thinking a myriad of thoughts:
"No one would know that I had stolen this tank. I would be late for work if I took it back. It was an accident. They probably didn't even notice, either. Besides, it was an honest mistake, no one would ever know and God would forgive me. He always forgives me."

And that's when I made my decision.

I got ready for work and I drove back to Salt Lake to return the "stolen" tank.

I hurried into the shop and found the employee that had helped me earlier and explained what had happened. She proceeded to look at me with a puzzled look. "You mean, you brought this back? We didn't even notice it was gone. You didn't pay for it and you actually brought it back? Why?"

Yes and yes. Because it's the right thing to do.

She looked at me and said "Thank you for being honest."

And that's why I did it.

Not because of what some other person would think about me, but because it was the right thing to do. I knew I hadn't paid for that tank. And further, God knew. It doesn't matter a lick what others think, it matters how I feel about myself and how God feels about me. I couldn't live with myself if I had not taken it back.

Besides, this is who I am. At my core I am honest -- A Self Narker -- and sometimes I'm honest to a fault.

People have a hard time with me because I don't talk circles or spin webs. If you ask me something I will respond honestly. There's issues? Lets discuss them honestly and not beat around the bush. If I hear someone has an issue with me or said something false, I will talk to the source and correct the facts. Nothing good ever comes from being dishonest. Never.

The best part of the story?

I was only four minutes late for work.

A good day indeed.

Random Randomness and then some Tunes

2012-05-11T13:00:00.000-06:00

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!"- Friedrich Nietzsche

You can follow my instagram photos via the Instagram app -- I'm Motherboard -- or on webstagram

I was interviewed this past week by a reporter from a German Newspaper, and according to my brother-in-law, this paper is the equivalent of being interviewed by The New York Times.

Yeah.

I nearly peed my pants, too.

My brother told me that little nugget of info and then promptly asked me to change my name back to my maiden name.

In my defense, I'm an easy interview. I can talk to anyone about pretty much anything. I know a little about a lot of things and am nosy and willing to ask questions to get people chatting about themselves.

They wanted to chat with me about my other blog, Mormon Mommy Blogs what it is, how it started and what it's purpose is. I suspect it's because of "The Mormon Moment" that my church is experiencing right now, what with Mitt Romney running for President and all.

I'll be totally honest with you here: I was skeert out of my wits and it was hard for me to figure out why. I mean, I have been interviewed by ABC Nightline for Google's sake, so I why was I freaking out about The National German News?

Because I don't speak German.

They could very well post a rather lovely picture of my friend DeNae and I and we would think it was all perfectly fine. However in German they could be telling everyone how crazypants we are. I really hope that's not the case and that they will be nice to us.

The reporter asked me to bring along some bloggers with me if I wanted to, so I picked ones that I knew could stand on their own feet and answer any question that was thrown their way.

I picked good, lemme tell you.

*****
I'm pretty quick witted and I can think fast-- that's something you have to learn how to do when you are missionary for my church. I served a mission for my church for 19.5 months (most girls serve 18 months. I asked to stay longer). I actually called off a wedding -- to someone else, not Jefe -- and went on a mission instead and it was seriously the best decision I ever made. Not a single day goes by that I don't think about my mission, or use things that I learn on my mission.

I don't regret my decision to serve a mission one tiny bit.

I'll link you to the article when it comes out. Lets all hold our breath, cross our pinkies and toes that they portray DeNae and I in a good light.

*****

All photos used with permission and courtesy of Bryce Olsen Photography

Did you see my show Tech Savvy? Episode 2 is up now on the site and I have to say it's pretty freaking awesome!

In this episode I was able to talk with Linda & Richard Eyre -- Yes. Best selling authors, public speakers and parenting gurus -- Those Eyres. Not intimidating in the least little bit, either.

I also had Ken & Katie Craig -- who are not only the kindest people on the planet, but one of the funniest couples I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! I am so excited about this episode and how it turned out! I mean, how could they NOT be funny? They met at BYU when they were in an Improvisational Comedy Troupe. Good grief. That has comedy written all over it!

All photos used with permission and courtesy of Bryce Olsen Photography

The team that works on the show with me is super great to stop and teach me things to help me be better and I am so grateful for it! After each show we film, I ask everyone individually for feedback on what I can do better. I tell them I am a sponge and I will absorb all that they will give me.

So far so good.

In this episode, we chat about how you go about parenting in the Tech Age. I think the stories that are shared are not only funny but an excellent way to teach and give us ideas on what we can do to be better parents in this Tech Age. The video clips are gnarly and I really like the direction that our shows are going. We have a fantastic little rhythm going and I think each show is getting better and better!

*****
I filmed more episodes for Tech Savvy last week, and I am SUPER excited about these episodes! They are going to blow your mind! When I say that I love the direction the show is going, I really mean it. We covered topics this past week that are going to attract a lot of attention and you are going to be blown away with the stuff that we present. Srsly. Such. Good. Stuff.

photos taken with my iPhone and posted on Instagram

Besides. How can you argue with a girl dressed like that? The only sad thing about these pictures is that you can't see my smokin' hot yellow heels or turquoise and red flats. Yes. I am having a total blast doing this, thanks for asking.

*****

Someone said to me recently that I was in a totally different place today than what I was one year ago, and it was a good place.

Boy is that ever the truth. 100% the truth.

I am in a different place. A better place. A happier place.

I am happier than I have ever been and that's the honest to goodness truth. My family is happier than we have ever been, and there is a total different feeling in our home. Peace. For the first time in years there is a constant feeling of peace in my home and it is oh so nice!

I can't believe how awesome things are right now. And what's even better is that for the first time in like ever, I'm not holding my breath waiting for a bomb to drop. That's saying something, people.

The children are loving on each other, on Jefe and I and just want to be with us. Jefe and I are in a really good place in our marriage and in our relationship. I can honestly say I never knew that marriage -- or family life -- could be this fantastic.

We have worked very very hard and it wasn't without hiccups in the road, however, I can say this: Looking back from the other side of this mountain that we have climbed as a family, I am so very glad that we didn't just throw the towel in and give up. We hung in there, worked through our junk and have emerged on the other side. And this side of life? It's pretty damn awesome. We did it. We are victorious. And I am so glad that we fought that fight, it was most definitely a good fight.

*****

That's it for this week peeps. Take it easy. Enjoy the weather. Kiss your kids and snug your spouse. Life is too short to not appreciate the people that are IN your life.

I'll catch YOU on the flip-side!

Can't You See (ft. Kid Rock) - Zac Brown Band
Your Hand In Mine - Explosions In The Sky
Best For the Best - Josh Ritter
How Do You Keep Love Alive - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
Sweet Disposition - The Temper Traps
From Finner - Of Monsters & Men
Welcome Home - Radical Face
Kids - MGMT
Dog Days Are Over - Florence + the machine
The Weight - The Band

Bonus: Tripping Billies (live 1999) - Dave Matthews Band

Random Randomness and Then Some Tunes

2012-05-04T10:51:00.000-06:00

Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes. - Jim Carrey

Sometimes I get hair-brained ideas. Actually, if the truth be told, I get hair-brained ideas all the time.

Some of them are dumb ones that I would like to forget and flush down the toilet to never be seen again.

Others?

They are actually pretty freaking amazing.

And then sometimes those amazing ones morph into awesomesauceness.

Which is what's been happening 'round here.

Awesomesauce has been evoloving and I'm so excited to be able to finally share it with the tens of tens of you that still read my ramblings.

Peeps. I have a talk show.

Me sitting in the host chair on the set of Tech Savvy. All photos courtesy of Bryce Olsen Photography

I know right?

I told Veronica a while back that I really wanted to host my own show. I was thinking podcast (think radio programs that you can download and listen to whenever you want). I pitched it to someone I knew who worked at The Mormon Channel and he loved it.

He pitched it to someone.

Who then pitched it to someone.

Who then called me and had me come meet with him and a producer and re-pitch the idea.

The next thing I knew I was helping to write a TALK SHOW with video.

VIDEO PEOPLE.

ohmygoshtheresvideo! I have video.

I host this freakin' awesome Talk Show now called Tech Savvy and it airs on The Mormon Channel, on HD Radio around the country (KSL 102.7 channel 2 in SLC), on YouTube and on The Roku.

Peeps.

It's so dang awesome and I can't even begin to tell you the kinds of fun that I am having!

Jefe was having a hard time wrapping his brain around what I was up to, so I took him to the studio so he could see my set.

Tech Savvy Set. All photos courtesy of Bryce Olsen Photography

I have my own set. {insert evil laugh} And I freaking LOVE it.

When we left the studio he looked at me and said "I can't believe this. You're like legit. I thought you were doing one of your hair-brained ideas out of someones garage."

Nope. My hair-brained idea turned into something freaking fantastic! This is WAY cooler than anything I had dreamed up in my wee little brain and I can't even begin to tell you how high on cloud nine I'm floating right now.

There were cameras, directors, make-up artists, producers and "big-wigs" from The Mormon Channel there to watch the initial filming. They all made me feel like a million bucks and really took the time to teach me. Guys. I've never hosted a TV show before. Heck. I've only been on TV a couple of times, so this was a whole new bag of tricks for me. I am pleased with how the shows turned out and even more pleased with how I have been able to take their advice and grow into something better.

I brought a fantastic photographer named Bryce Olsen with me to document the entire two day shoot and I am so glad that I did. Bryce took the most amazing photos of everything, and created a way for me to remember the day my dream came true!

Veronica & Elisa All photos courtesy of Bryce Olsen Photography

My e-bff turned in-real-life BFF,Veronica, was on my pilot episode which aired this past Saturday and you can tell by the video and the photos that we had a total riot!

Yes. That is totally Jay McFarland from KSL Radio's The Browser.

Guys. I was a total and complete goof-ball when I met him that day. Srsly. He probably thought "what in the Sam-Hill have I gotten myself into" when he met me. I was falling all over myself, getting pictures because I listen to his show religiously. He had no clue who I was, but was gracious enough to agree to be on my show. I think the fact that my producer (eekk! yes. i totally have a producer) contacted him and the email came from a "legit" email address had something to do with it.

Veronica actually turned me on to The Browser, and I listen to it all the time when I'm working. I talk back to he and Amy all the time and in my head we are total BFF's.

It was so comforting to have her there on all the shoots. When she walked in the door I looked at her, gave her a big hug and said I'm so glad you're here! Now I can relax and be myself.

She later confided in me that when I told her what I wanted to intially do -- the podcast -- and that I had pitched to people she thought I was crazy. And not just crazy but crazy-pants-crazy. I laughed so hard, but then she grabbed me and said "But you did it and it is amazing! I am so proud of you."

Peeps. That made my day.

And you know what? I did do it. I had a dream. And I decided that I was the only one stopping me from accomplishing this dream so I went for it. I would only be a failure if I didn't try. Just taking the step to pitch the idea made it a success because I tried. The gravy of the whole thing? That they actually not only bought my crazy idea, but they ran with it. Boy howdy, did they ever run with it.

I have a page on The Mormon Channel. I have intro music. I have a producer and a director. I have sound guys. Light guys and an awesome makeup girl.

Yes. I am in hog heaven and I am loving every single second of this adventure. If and when it's over I can look back and tell my Grandbabies "I had this crazy dream once and I went ball-busters after it and I accomplished it."

That's the biggest thing that I have learned from this year: You are the only one stopping you from accomplishing your dreams. You can accomplish anything that you set your mind to. I'm living proof of that.

Check out my show and see what you think. It's only be on the channel for a week, and I am thrilled with the response so far. Seeing the clips that people are watching is helping me know what kind of shows to do in the future. I'm gonna ride this ride as long as I can. Come join me, won't you?

Have a great weekend peeps and

I'll catch YOU on the flip-side!

It's Time - Imagine Dragon *my new favorite song I've had this album for a year and it's fantastic!
Hallelujah - Ryan Adams
Sacred Vision - Iron & Wine
Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones
Heart of Gold - Neil Young
Dance All Night (Must Love Dogs Soundtrack) - Ryan Adams
Cold Desert - Kings of Leon
Mykonos - Fleet Foxes
Middleman - Bright Eyes
Soul Suckers - Amos Lee

Bonus: Picture (Live) - Kid Rock

Random Randomness and the some Tunes

2012-04-27T10:34:00.000-06:00

"The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn fool of himself." - John Ciardi

I was driving down the interstate with my girlfriend a while back when she came up with this hair-brained idea for a post, and dare I tell you that I nearly crashed the car I was laughing so hard? She grabbed a piece of junk mail off the floor of my van and quickly started scribbling down what we had been laughing about.

And then I forgot about that brilliant post idea because I lost the envelope in the sea of junk squatting in my van.

However.

I have since found that envelope and it made me snicker all over again. You see it was entirely based on us seeing a 65+ year old man writing REPENT with his Red Solo Cups in the overpass chain-link fence.

Totally serious.

Repent. In the chain-link fence OVER the interstate.

My girlfriend and I raised our eyebrows, cocked our heads to the side and we both turned to each other with our mouths gaping as if to say "wha the wuh-wuh?" at the exact. same. time.

Which is what nearly caused me to wreck the car.

The dude was greyer than Gandolf the Grey and he was punching those red solo cups into the fence with such fury I thought the fence was going to fall over. He was spelling out Repent. Now, it's quite possible that his message may have included more, but I only saw the repent portion.

Which it seems was a gift from my Muse because the ideas started flowing like Niagra Falls.

*****
In the mall by my house there is a Kiosk that sells Dead Sea Facial rubs. It's run by a bunch of obnoxious kids. They see you coming and start walking towards you yelling all the reasons why your skin is in dire need of their product. I will go to great lengths to avoid the Dead Sea Kiosk because it's just awkward. They don't take no for an answer and will actually follow you along if you aren't rude.

Which I am rather adept at being, but I am trying to be a better person and not be rude.

It's hard people.

Thing 1 and I were at the mall shopping and I forgot to tell her to not look them in the eye or even acknowledge them. If you do? You get sucked into the never ending schpeel of why your face is going to be ruined for eternity without the mud from the birthplace of our Lord and Savior.

I held my head down and quickly made my way past the kiosk. I turned to say something to her and she was nowhere to be found. I assumed she had stopped in the teeny-bopper store we had passed, so I sent her a text and told her where I was heading.

She promptly sent me a text back saying the Dead Sea guy had stopped her and she needed me to come back so he could tell me about all the products she needed for her face.

My response?

"I am not coming back and turn around right now and run. They will hold you hostage. RUN! Run for your life, sweet child 'o mine. RUN AWAY!"

I know. I am so mean.

Then I did a little covert action and watched from afar as she tried to worm her way out of the clutches of the Dead Sea Kiosk hairy dudes.

It was awesomely funny. Because she could see me, but they had no clue that I was her mother so they ignored me and kept pestering her. I wish I could explain the death glares that child of mine sent me. It was the most entertaining thing I had seen all week!

Now when we are at the mall together walking down the Dead Sea hall? We both pretend to talk on the phone. TO NO ONE. They start approaching and I mouth "I'm on a business call, sorry" and keep on walking discussing the ever increasing cost of rice from China and just keep walking.

My tip to you? Don't make eye-contact and pretend to be on the phone. Otherwise you'll get sucked in the Dead Sea Vacuum and the only way you can escape is by paying them $34.99 for MUD.

I'll sell you mud from my backyard for that price. Sheesh.

*****
I have a neighbor that mows his lawn three times a week.

Totally not exaggerating either.

His garage is also spotless.

I fully expect one of these days to come home and find him laying on his belly with a ruler and scissors to make sure his grass is all equally cut and symmetrical.

I wonder how I could get him to channel his OCD over his lawn into MY yard.

{the wheels are turning now peeps}

*****
I cannot wait for this movie to come out. It looks fantastic!

*****
I can't wait for this one either!

*****
That's it for me peeps. Have a good weekend and I'll catch you on the flipside!

Random Randomness and Then Some Tunes

2012-04-13T12:49:00.001-06:00

"All God's children are not beautiful. Most of God's children are, in fact, barely presentable."- Fran Lebowitz

My peeps from Schmoles and I have a tradition of hitting Applebees after work for their half-priced appetizers. I actually really dig this little routine because hello Mr. won-ton chicken taco for $3.99! We always get the same waiter, Tony, who now knows us as his "regulars" and knows what we want to order and drink. It's actually quite the comforting thing-- this being known thing-- and I find it cathartic to walk into a place where everyone knows your name and what you like.

Tony brings us various drinks and appetizers and then we all sit and chew the fat. It's fun for me to see how complete strangers can come together and just be themselves with no judgement from anyone else and we just gab for an hour or so and then head out on our various ways. I love it.

One night we went in and there was a new group of people there. I kept wondering why I was hearing a buzzer, like one I would hear at a basketball game. I stood up to get a good look at the new crew and realized that they had a jumbo-- and I do mean JUMBO -- big screen TV that they had brought WITH THEM into Applebees. Along with a portable DVD player.

I thought it was probably just a bunch of high school coaches scouting out their next opponents. Which I'm totally OK with, that kind of coaching makes sense to me. We all agreed that it was probably a bunch of coaches and then went on with our B.S session.

We were wrong. Like WAY wrong.

Tony made a bee-line to our table and gave us the low-down on the new regulars.

See they are dudes in their late 50's who like to play church ball. And they record themselves playing church ball. Because that's what cool dudes in their late 50's do-- record themselves playing church ball.

But wait. There's more.

After the game is over, they head over to Applebees where they get a pint of brew and watch the entire CHURCH ball game all over again. Where they drink beer, and pause the recording of the game THEY JUST PLAYED to let their pals know exactly what they were trying to accomplish but didn't actually get accomplished.

You see the irony, right?

"See that? Right there I was trying to go up for a slam block, but Garth totally elbowed me in the face which is why I missed it. See? Right there... there's the elbow... And... there's when he made the basket."

Totally not kidding.

I nearly peed my pants when I heard that conversation and Tony AND the manager came over and gave us blow-by-blow details from all their conversations.

Well. I of course did what any responsible blogger would do. I took a picture of them so I could ~~mock~~ document it.

photo taken at super zoom on my iPhone and edited on my iPhone

*****
I said to my pal Veronica the other day that I was feeling pretty good about my life and that I could see that I was in a totally different place this year than where I was this time last year. "For the better?" she asked me and I replied "Oh yeah! Totally!" She started to giggle and said "I think so too, but you had to say it first!"

Yeah.

It's true. I am in a totally different place this year and it is a very very good place. I feel at peace and that is something that I have been craving for years. I feel peaceful and content. And, I like that feeling.

I like where I am and who I'm with and I don't really care any more what other people think or say. I have this silly mantra that I say to myself when I start obsessing about the fact that people "don't approve of me" or don't like me or whatever.

"Those that matter don't care 

and those that care don't matter." 

And you know what? It's totally true.

*****
Freaking Mother Nature needs to get back on her meds. She clearly is not ready to be off that dang bi-polar medication. One day its nearly 80 and the next its in the mid 40's??

What the crap?

Not cool Madre. Not cool.

*****

That's it for this weeks randomness.

Have a great weekend, peeps and I'll see YOU on the flip side!

Honey I Been Thinking ABout You - Jackie Greene
Kissing the Lipless - The Shins
Please Do Not Let Me Go - Ryan Adams
Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
Can't You See - Marshall Tucker Band
Little Talks - Of Monsters & Men
Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine
Welcome Home - Radical Face
Intro - The Xx
Getting Old - Hellogoodbye

Bonus: Strange Days - We Are Augustines

A Conversation with Sister Julie B. Beck

2012-03-30T17:02:00.002-06:00

My interview/discussion with Sister Julie B. Beck, the General Relief Society President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints finally went live today on The Mormon Channel. She is the president of the worlds largest women's organization and it was a humbling experience being able to meet with her. She is an inspired woman, who cares for the women of the world deeply.

I wrote about my experience meeting with her on my other blog, MMB and if you're interested you can click over there to see what other things I had to say.

For me the some of the biggest things that I took from these meetings with the General Relief Society President, Sister Julie B. Beck, were:

1. The ways we can utilize the war chapters in Alma in raising our families in “enemy territory”. I felt a call to action to learn those chapters and learn them well. They should be every mothers blue-print as we raise our families in enemy territory.

2. We discussed at great length our duty as Latter-day Saint Women Bloggers to be women like Abish—leaders in our own little blogging communities, leading people to righteousness. In fact when I left my first meeting with Sister Beck, I asked her what she would have me do, and she said “Be a woman like Abish and lead people in your own way to righteousness.”

3. The heavy burden that is Sister Becks of being the steward of all the Women and Children. That is a heavy burden to carry. I saw the tears in her eyes as she expressed her love and concern for the women of the church.

4. Her desire for us to all get along and stop being our own worst enemy. We as women can be quite mean to each other. We “war and jangle” with one another—are critical of the choices that each other is making—when we should be the safe place for us each to land. If we were the safe places for each other, then our Relief Societies would be places where we could ask questions, express sorrows, and request help without feeling like we are being judged.

5. That sometimes when we look to our peers for answers to our questions we are just flaming the fire. We need to look to the women in our lives—in our past—to find the answers to the questions that really plague us. Look at the “Grandmother” figures in our wards and search them out and learn from them. Age brings wisdom and they can shed a different light on the issues we are struggling with because of their life experiences.

The experience I had while waiting to meet with her each time was deeply personal. I had the spirit of the Lord strongly present in my life as I read the comments and questions pouring in-- and I had the constant reminder in the back of my mind of the spiritual gift that the Lord has blessed me with. He is a wise one, the Lord, and he knew that this gift-- the simple gift of knowing-- would be the best one for me. I don't need to speak a million languages or see angels. I just know. And that knowing allows me to see, hear and understand all sides of the equation without it damaging my own faith.

Take a listen and see what you think.

I learned some things that blew my mind.

But mostly? I'm proud to call myself a Mormon Woman-- a woman who is strong, educated, progressive, dedicated and an individual.

Which is what my religion is truly all about-- its an individual experience.

Random Randomness and Then Some Tunes

2012-03-30T10:53:00.000-06:00

"The average, healthy, well-adjusted adult gets up at seven-thirty in the morning feeling just plain terrible." -- Jean Kerr

Except Moxie.

And then you wake up raring to go and ready for a party. At 6:30am. Even if Mom was up half the night working.

****

I love it when I stumble upon amazing finds and this one is my newest, greatest, latest find: Live from Daryl's House.

Peeps.

It's freaking amazeballs!

It's all the Hall & Oats songs from the 80's remade with hot new artists in Daryl Halls HOUSE!

I wish I could just be a fly on the wall and sit and watch. Maybe if I was quiet enough they would indulge me and let me sing along. Just for one song. Or maybe two. You can tell that these musicians are having the time of their lives just hanging and playin' tunes with each other.

My favorite find so far? It's a toss up between Kiss On My List with Rob Thomas and One on One with Cee Lo Green.

Whoa Nelly. These are freaking amazing and I could listen to them over and over.

Oh wait. I already have. Never mind.

It's raw, real, pure music in its absolute finest form.

Heaven peeps. Heaven.

Now I just need to figure out if I can download all this in either Spotify or iTunes.

You listen and tell me which ones you're diggin' more.

Great Balls of Fire!

I'm in love and have a something new that I'm obsessing over. Which will make Jefe happy so I'll quit bugging him about the "fix it list" that is now a mile and a half long.

*****
I turned the comments back on.

Just to test the waters.

Please be nice to me.

*****
I'm heading to SLC tomorrow for a huge get together with a bunch of bloggers at the SLC Public Library.

If'n you're wanting to come and hang with the cool kids, that's where we'll be. From 9:30 - 5:00pm There's food, fun and yes. I'll even be listening to General Conference to see what sort of changes come about. I hear there are bunch of peeps going out to dinner after, too. You could maybe tag along with us. If you're so inclined.

Get more deets here.

*****
I love it when I find a good book to read, too. And boy howdy do I ever have a good one right now! I have been basking in the sun outside while Moxie chalks the crap out of the driveway and I read and read and read. The book is over a thousand pages and I am in sheer hog-freaking-heaven.

This is the first book that I have ever read of Steven King's and I pink sparkly puffy heart LOVE it. A lot.

I am NOT a fan of horror. AT. ALL. But this? It's fantastic.

{i loved his made for tv movie The Stand, too. it rocked my world. and still does.}

*****
Do you Spotify?

Man alive. I do. I LOVE Spotify. More than Pandora or iTunes.

It's freaking awesome and I love that it's all at my finger-tips and ripe for the pickings and I just have to pay a small monthly fee instead of buying every freaking damn song.

I want to marry Spotify.

I wonder if Jefe will mind ?

*****
I have been non-stop listening to the Live from Daryl's House for the last few days, and decided that I will break the rules today for the random 10 and pick my favorites from what I have heard.

I"ll link to their videos for you.

Cause I'm a giver like that.

Prepare to have your minds blown.

Catch ya on the flip side!

Here Comes the Rain Again - Dave Stewart & Daryl Hall
Kiss On My List - Rob Thomas & Daryl Hall
Private Eyes - Mayer Hawthorn, Booker T & Daryl Hall
One on One - Mat Nathanson & Daryl Hall
She's Gone - Rob Thomas & Daryl Hall
Something to Talk About - KT Tunstall & Daryl Hall
Past the Sleep - Company of Theives & Daryl Hall
Ain't No Sunshine - Finger 11 & Daryl Hall
Sara Smile/Ooh Ooh Baby - Smoky Robinson & Daryl Hall
Adult Education - Neon Trees & Daryl Hall

Bonus: Family Man - Chromeo & Daryl Hall

Random Randomness and Then Some Tunes

2012-03-23T10:42:00.002-06:00

"A good listener is usually thinking about something else." - Kin Hubbard

The sun is finally shining here in Crazyland and it feels mighty fine. I spent the better part of the day sitting in my tacky old camping chair, reading a book and watching Moxie Pants draw with chalk and chase birds. She was hell bent on catching one of those singing birds on her finger so that she could put it in her back pack to take her BFF's house to show her.

It was delightfully perfect. I had the sun beating down on my mug, and my baby chatting my ear off about birds and chalk towns.

Nirvana, it was.

And, I just might do it again today.

As long as the wind stops and the clouds go away, that is.

*****

Need I say more?

*****
I watched my kids yesterday, happily interacting with each other it made me soar further into my happy place. At one point the two oldest actually embraced in a heartfelt hug and I nearly died from happiness. Everyone was running around, laughing, playing, joking and I just wanted to pause the moment and bask in its perfectness. This, this perfect moment of everyone being happy and playing together, is the moment that will be seared into my brain forever. It's the moment that we have been tirelessly working towards.

Yesterday it finally showed up and I damn near died from the sheer joy of watching it unfold.

This past several years have been rocky, rough and frankly like walking the seventh rim of Hell. Truthfully, I didn't think that we would ever survive, let alone find ourselves surfing the Nirvana waves like we were yesterday. I can honestly look back to where I was last year, and the year before and I don't even recognize not just the person that I was, but that family we were. We have all changed, and it has been for the better.

It's costing us an arm, a leg and a couple of ear lobes to facilitate these changes, but you know what? It's money well spent. At the end of the day stuff is just stuff, but people and relationships? They mean WAY more than just crappy old stuff.

For the first time in YEARS my family is happy. And that makes this Mama very happy.

*****

This song makes me want to go do something AWESOME.

*****
Interested in winning a $100 Visa Gift Card or one of two $50 Visa Gift Cards? You can and it's freaking easy, too. All you have to do is hop over to the 1940's Census blog and then download the Indexing software and do a practice batch.

That's it.

Indexing is cathartic. It's easy and a way to loose yourself in your thoughts while you are doing something worthwhile.

Heck, you can even index on your smart phone.

Which I do at church all the time if the lessons or speakers are boring.

Don't judge.

I'm making my kids do 30 minutes of Indexing every day this summer before they can have Internet, TV or Video Game time. It's an easy way for them to do something good, use the technology that they like and not lose brain cells. Besides, it's serving and they just might find that the actually like it.

Shhh. Don't tell them.

Let's let it be a fun little surprise for them.

{insert maniacal laugh}

Anyway.

I'm sort of excited for the 1940 Census to come out because I'm hoping to find both sets of my Grandparents names in the Census. Not for any other reason than I miss them and it will be very cool to be able to see a brief snap-shot of their lives at that time.

We all know someone who was alive during the 1940 Census so Take 30 minutes and index a practice batch. You never know, you may decide you like it. Besides, anyone can do it. You don't have to be a specific religion to want to know about your family line, or to even Index so take the time to learn how to find out more about YOUR family. Knowing the stories of our family can help shape the people we, and who our children become.

*****

That's it for this weeks randomness, peeps. I hope you have a fun filled, sun filled weekend in your future.

It's amazing what a little sunshine can do for the soul, no?

Catch ya on the flipside!

I Love You but I Don't Know What to Say - Ryan Adams
Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Sideways - Citizen Cope
Never Satisfied (revisited) - Jackie Greene
Get Up, Get Up, Get Up - Barcelona
One of Those Days - Joshua Radin
Blue Mind - Alexi Murdoch
Jolene - Ray LaMontagne
Wishlist - Pearl Jam
Hearts a Mess - Gotye

Bonus: Oh - Dave Matthews Band

Unfiltered Thoughts of a Three-Year-Old (who is really four but doesn’t want to be four. EVER.)

2012-03-22T15:43:00.001-06:00

Moxie is at the age where she says pretty much everything that comes to her mind and it keeps us not only on our toes, but laughing hysterically.

She notices everything and comments on it all. Sans a filter and I sort of love it.

Because this kid?

She’s funny.

Peeps.

Her sense of humor is strong and prevalent. It’s one of the things I love about her! She’s only four, and she has a super quick wit and wry sense of humor. It makes me excited to see what it evolves into the older she gets.

Take for instance these conversations that she had with me and her siblings. We were chatting in bed the other night—because “she found her words and they needed to get out” – and she was jumping from one train of thought to the next faster than a speeding bullet.

We would barely get registered the funny things she was saying, and she was off again on another brain tangent.

I love it when my kids are this age. Every single one of them has had these verbal purge moments and it completely melts my heart and is the highlight of mothering for me. They say basically everything that comes to mind—and yes. Sometimes it’s even inappropriate.

{ Why is that man so fat Mommy? }

{Why does the birds sing like that Mommy?}

{What is that man’s name Mommy? No. Really. WHAT is his name [this is when I make up strange names and stories about the people she wondering about, just so that she will move on to the next thought] }

It always makes me sad when they grow out of this stage because this is the best one of all. We can listen to them say everything that we are thinking, and they can’t get in trouble for it ‘cause they’re too dang cute. And further, we can join in and be silly with them and not even bat an eye at the awkwardness that is the conversation. Those are the best conversations ever.

Take these most recent ones:

Me: Where’s my phone?

Moxie: People’s makes lots of calls, huh Mom?

Me: Yeah.

Moxie: Well. The man says ‘One Call, and That’s All.’

Me: {gut busting laugh} YES! Yes He. Does.

Moxie: And you know what Mom?

Me: What?

Moxie: I thinks he’s right. Peoples makes too many calls. One is enough.

*****

Me: Want some fries?

Moxie: Yes.

{Silence while fries are eaten}

Moxie: Mom?

Me: Yes?

Moxie: Did you know that Unicorns live on Mars?

*****

The day we move into boring, regular every-day conversations is the day I start to mourn. She is my baby. My last. The end of the awesome, off-the-wall conversations spurred on by sporadic, uncensored, unfiltered thoughts.

I loves it and I will miss it.

Song Lyric Fail

2012-03-20T16:10:00.000-06:00

*Pulled from the archives. originally posted on July 26th,2011*

Recently I was with my friend and we stopped at McDee's to get ourselves a Diet Coke so that we could continue the amazing conversation that we were having-- and not get parched as we talked the night away.

One of my favorite songs-- and apparently her's too-- came on because we both started singing at the top of our lungs together. We were in perfect synch as we were waiting for our turn to pay and get our drinks. Bouncing along, singing-- It was absolutely perfect. It's times like these that make up my Kodak moments of life-- complete with a soundtrack.

And then my friend started singing the last verse. Or what she thought was the last verse.

Just as the McDee's Man opened the window he heard TWO versions of that verse.

Mine of course, was the correct version because we (the McDee's man and I) both at the same time said to my friend "What did you just say?"

She looked at me, scrunched up her nose and said "Stop it! I sang the lyrics."

I looked at the McDee's man, who was laughing, and said "Uhhh... No you didn't. Sing it again."

Which she did.

And it was wrong.

In so many ways, it was wrong, wrong baby, wrong.

Me: Did you just say "like a hair on your untrimmed chest?"

Friend*: Yes. Shut up! That's the line in the song.

Me: And then what did you sing?

(McDonalds man is still listening. AND LAUGHING)

Friend: Like a bird in your vagina.

Me: Uhh.. Yeah. That's not how the song goes.

Friend: Yes it is. Stop being such a prude.

Me: Seriously. That is NOT the lyrics to this song.

Friend: It is too.

Me: WHY for the love of all things holy would you put a bird in your vagina? For hell's sake, REALLY? A BIRD? In your vagina. Wuh the wuh-wuh??

(McDee's man is wiping the tears now as he listens to this gift I am giving him).

Friend: Uhhh. I thought it was some weird sex thing.

(McDee's Man starts laughing even harder)

Me: Seriously? Think about it. A Bird. IN your vagina. For reals? WHY?

Friend: I dunno. Maybe not?

Me: That's right. Positively not.

Friend: Ok, Smarty Pants. What are the lyrics then?

Me: LIKE A VIRGIN, YOU'RE MADONNA.

(McDee's man bursts out laughing. Again.)

Friend: Shut up. Both y'all.(points to the McDee's man and Me) I'll never speak to either of you again if you tell anyone it was me that sang it this way.

Me: Oh. For sure. I'll never tell a living soul. Pinky Swear. **

And I turned to the McDee's man, and said "You're welcome and have a nice day."

And now You're Welcome, and I hope YOU have a nice day.

You will never be able to sing that song again without thinking of me. And my ~~dumb~~ cute friend.

*identity kept a secret to protect the guilty.

**she is aware of this post and approves of it. sort of. in an anonymous sort of way.

An Open Invitation

2012-03-16T16:22:00.000-06:00

Random Randomness and Then Some Tunes

2012-03-02T13:10:00.002-07:00

"A strong positive attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug." - Patricia Neal

I give my teenage son and his friends (and my daughter, too) a public service announcement every time I see them and twice a day when I drive them all to school.

It started as a joke at the beginning of the year I would greet them with a hearty "Hello Children of the Corn!" and then snicker all the way to school because they had no idea what I was saying.

That lasted all of two days when one of the smarty-pant boys got in the car and said "I Googled that and I know what the means now. You're calling us killers."

So, I added something new that day to my routine.

I greeted all of them with the same hearty hello and then sent them on their way with a rousing "Don't kill anyone today! Make good choices, and just say NO to drugs and porn."

When I pick them up from school I ask them all how their days were, and specifically ask "Did you kill anyone today? Smoke any pot? Looked at any naughty pictures?" When they all responded with a resounding NO! I break out an enthusiastic round of applause and yell "YAY! You did it! You had a super successful day! Great job guys!"

At first they were horrified that I would say that to them.

I mean what Mother in their right mind would openly talk to their kids like that about killing, drugs and porn?

Me, that's who.

For the longest time, they didn't know how to handle my little PSA announcement as they were dropped off and picked up. Honestly, I think I scared them for a while. They just didn't know how to take me.

Whenever my son would have his friends over, I would make sure that I said that my mantra to all of them. I wanted them to know what my "expectations" were.

It's funny to see how it's now turned into something that my son expects of me. He had a friend over spending the night and as I wandered off to bed, I told them my abbreviated mantra: "Make good choices tonight guys and just say no to porn!"

Thing 2's friend looked shell-shocked and as I headed up the stairs I heard him say "What the heck did your Mom just say?" Thing2 proceeded to tell him that I always tell him that "Make good choices and just say no to drugs and porn" He then said "she sometimes throws other stuff in there too, but she always reminds me to say no and make good choices. She just wants us to be good."

And that right there warmed my heart.

That really IS all I want.

I want them to make good choices.

I want them to say no to drugs and porn.

If I say it enough, maybe when they are faced with a choice, they will hear me in their heads warning them to "make good choices and just say no."

I like to think that it's working, too. One summer we spent the entire summer, every chance we got, pounding the story of Joseph who was sold into Egypt into their brains. He was faced with a choice-- a naughty girl wanted to do naughty things with him -- and he turned around and ran. He ran so fast out of there that he left his coat. THAT HE WAS WEARING. That's high-tailing it out of Dodge pretty dang fast, if you ask me.

The pounding of that story into their brains is working -- along with my daily mantra -- because one night Thing 2 came home from a sleepover at 1am. He hummed and hawed around and finally told me that the boys were doing and saying bad stuff, so he told them to stop and they wouldn't. He asked again, and they still refused and he remembered Joseph running away and Me always telling him to make good choices, so he packed it up and WALKED HOME.

He made a good choice, peeps. He did it. He was successful.

The boys from the carpool have asked me to add one more thing to my daily mantra: Don't steal anyone's soul today.

I will gladly oblige and say it over and over again if it will help them all to keep their noses clean.

"Make Good Choices, people. Don't kill anyone today and no stealing people's souls. And remember: just say NO to drugs and porn."

If you can do all that, you will have a successful day!

*****
That's all she wrote, peeps.

I'm working on a super fun project that's keeping me pretty busy-- and you can join me if you want.

Catch ya on the flip-side.

Dear Chicago - Ryan Adams
A Punk - Vampire Weekend
Colors - Amos Lee
Sex On Fire - Kings of Leon
The Shadowlands - Ryan Adams
Smile - Mia & Jonah
No Ones Gonna Love You - Band of Horses
Heart Skipped A Beat - The Xx
Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye
Free Fallin' (live) (acoustic) - John Mayer

Bonus: Grace Is Gone - Dave Matthews Band

The Notebook(s)

2012-02-28T17:07:00.001-07:00

Writing in my journal has always been an important part of my life. I carry various notebooks with me everywhere I go and write down the thoughts and feelings I have. Sometimes I am able to go weeks without something needing to get out, and other times I can't seem to write my thoughts down fast enough-- hence my blog.

Typing my thoughts out is much faster than taking pen to paper.

However, I literally have hundreds of notebooks and journals floating around that contain my thoughts, struggles, trials, Quotes and words of encouragement that I hear from others. When I am really struggling, my notebooks are ever present and I record everything that pricks my heart and helps me feel like I can move forward.

Recording the stories of my family is important to me and I hope that my children and grandchildren will thank me one day for taking the time to capture them. I know how I feel when I am able to read the private thoughts of my Grandparents-- It makes me feel connected to them and I understand myself more when I am able to read their words.

My Father took the time one year to transcribe my Grandmothers journal and then had it bound for all of us as a Christmas gift. I promptly sat down and devoured every single word. She had a hard life and yet she never lost her faith, in fact she lived by it. She never said an unkind word about anyone-- a trait that my Father inherited.

My Dad did the same thing with my Grandfathers journal and when I saw my Grandpa's handwriting, tears sprang to my eyes. He had beautiful handwriting, which I think was rather common place in the 30's and 40's. His journal was full of poems-- some silly, others serious-- and it just fit that his journal be filled with these things. I remember him always telling us poems and stories and how much I loved hearing them. He was a jokester and had such a healthy sense of humor.

Reading my Grandparents journals did for me what the man in the video said it did for him-- it helped me understand myself better. I am stubborn, so is my Grandmother. I love to laugh, joke and tease, and so did my Grandfather. Understanding who my ancestors were is helping me to understand better who I am. And, who I have the potential to become.

I love hearing the stories of "the olden days" -- stories that my Grandparents would tell, and also the ones that my parents would tell. Some of my fondest memories involve me and my Dad sitting around our kitchen table and him telling me stories about what it was like to grow up in Randolph, Utah.

The coldest place on the face of the planet. And a place that time forgot.

Recently Family Search asked me to help them write on their blog about the 1940's and as I have been researching it, reading about it and frankly learning about my own personal heritage, I have felt my heart being pricked yet again.

I know that I want to do it -- gather my family's stories -- and the Spirit is speaking to me, but keeping that fire ignited all the time is hard. The fire comes and goes in wanting to collect the dates, but the gathering of stories is something that has always been very important to me.

Truthfully, the stories are what we fall in love with-- not obscure dates-- and the stories are what helps us power through the difficult trials that we may encounter in life. At least that's been my experience while working on this project.

Family Search is looking for Blog Ambassadors to help rally the troops and get people excited about not only the 1940's but helping execute the largest community service project ever recorded -- Indexing the 1940 Census. Anyone, from any religion, can help be an ambassador (and win swanky cool prizes) and anyone can help index the 1940's Census.

Heck. They've made it so easy to participate-- you can even index from your phone, iPod, iPad or iTouch now-- because there's an App for that!

Guys, this is a good thing to be involved in. Think about the people in your past that you love, and the support, comfort and help they have given you. Digitizing these records will make it possible for other relatives to connect with them and feel these feelings as well.

At the very least, the documents that are being digitized could be what your posterity needs in order to feel like they can "carry on in this little trial".

Click here to participate in the Blog Ambassador Program and click here to help in the 1940 Community Project.

Random Randomness and Then Some Tunes

2012-02-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." -- Soren Kierkegaard

Somewhere on my body is a magnet that attracts crazy people.

I'd really like to find this magnet and have it uninstalled because I'm not exaggerating in the least little bit when I tell you crazy people are attracted to me. In part, it is my fault because I am a chatty patty. I am able to chat with anyone. Crazy people love the fact that someone actually sees them and will carry on a conversation with them. If the conversation lasts less than two minutes, then I'm OK. It's when it goes on for long stretches -- and then they won't go away -- that it makes me squirm.

Like the lady who comes in every night to work to read my palm and predict how many children I am going to have. I am not kidding. She also likes to tell me how long I am going to live and what kind of problems I can expect to face in the next five years, and then gives me a box of chocolates. Every single time she comes in to the store.

Me thinks I'd rather not know what is coming my way if they're anything at all like she says is coming down my pipeline.

Then there was the Vietnam Vet who had to tell me all sorts of slap-stick jokes while he proceeded to pee his pants in front of me.

Yes he did. TOTALLY peed his pants right in front of me. I promptly picked up the phone and called "Housekeeping. STAT."

SO. GROSS.

Then there was the man who brought his bike into the store and wanted me to not only watch it -- because it is so cool everyone wants to steal it -- but put a tracking device on the shirt he wanted to buy NEXT MONTH. And, it couldn't be just any shirt that looked the same as the one he was holding-- it had to be that exact one.

There was also the lady who could hardly walk, let alone shop with her kids, because she had shot up on Meth in the bathroom.

#True story.

Or the dudes from Turkey who were trying to convince me that I needed to give them the "tourist" discount because they were hot Turkey Men. I told them I would if they would give me job-alimony for the rest of my life.

People. The moon is forcing the crazies out of their caves and they are flocking to me like I am their leader and Schmoles is their mothership.

What does that even mean?

*****
Hindsight it always 20/20 and I have a tendency to be way too trusting. I would never purposefully hurt someone, say something degrading or a half-truth about someone to other people. I have a tendency to give people the benefit of the doubt over and over again until I have been burned so bad it is beyond repair.

Is that a good quality or a bad one?

I don't know.

I just know that even when I am faced with the truth that people are blatantly stating untruths about me, I can't bring myself to "argue" the facts. It's exhausting and people will believe what they choose to believe and that's that.

People may say that they never believe anything they hear is actually an incorrect statement. People may think they don't believe it, but their opinions are being molded by what they hear others say. That is just human nature.

Communication is a tricky skill, and I think people -- me included -- would be surprised if they could hear a recording of the conversations they are saying happened and realize that things are actually much different than what we both remember.

*****
Yesterday was Jefe's 41st Birthday. I was talking on the phone with my friends (we do free conference call.com so we can all talk together at the same time-- its a total blast!) and was posting a video to his Facebook wall when we got the crazy idea that I should post 41 birthday videos to his wall.

We then spent the next 30 minutes coming up with crazy Happy Birthday videos for Jefe. Want to know what they were? Cause peeps. They were HILARIOUS.

No?

Too Bad.

I'm gonna tell you anyway:

I think I broke his phone as all 41 Facebook notices hit his phone at the exact same time. During a business meeting.

Yes. I know. I totally need to get a life.

*****

Have a good weekend peeps. We're hanging low and calling it good.

Catch ya on the flip side.

1. Night Drive - Gotye
2. Let Go - Frou Frou
3. When the Roses Bloom Again - Billy Bragg & Wilco
4. They - Jem
5. The Stars Just Blink For Us - Say Hi To Your Mom
6. Lights (bassnecter remix) - Ellie Goulding
7.Orange Sky - Alexi Murdoch
8. Wake Up -Arcade Fire
9. Ghostwriter - RJD2
10. Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix) - Two Door Cinema Club

Bonus: Learn to Love - Ryan Adams