Rockstar Makeovers

JD, Nikki, Ashley, and I had a lot of fun remaking our Rock Band likenesses.

A Grey and Tired Wintry Eve

Save for six other souls that each spent three seconds' precious communion with mine, I spent forty-five minutes alone and out-of-doors tonight.

My mind wandered and thought of such things as echoes, the sounds of airports, and the bipedal nature of humans.

After these contemplations, I reflected upon my day.

I departed my bed's warm embrace at nine in the morning. I spent an eight-and-a-half hour day at Convergys. I walked to Rand and Debbie's. I spent half of an hour entertaining cousins followed by two-and-a-half hours sitting with my bedridden and darling inamorata. I came home to Charlotte's, and began shoveling the driveway, walks, and street. A few minutes into the task, I saw her returning from a walk with the chihuahuas. She thanked me and I said, "Oh, it's no problem."

Upon finishing the internal recapitulation of my day, I thought to myself, "I wouldn't have done anything differently."

Valentine's Babysittin'

Ashley and I went to Harmon's to visit America First Credit Union and set up accounts there. We've got a savings and a checking account set up and put the last of our Blockbuster money inside. We then went shopping for some fruit. We got kiwi and three fruits we'd never had before: a blood orange, seven kumquats, and a quince.

The blood orange was delicious! It's got a gorgeous color (the color of blood) and it is less acidic than normal oranges. It's got a hint of raspberry to it as well.

The kumquats were strange. They look like itty-bitty oranges, and you eat the whole thing. The inside is extremely sour and the rind is sweet. I didn't like my first one, it was neither very sour nor very sweet. Also, orange rind texture doesn't very much appeal to me. My second had much stronger sour and the rind was much sweeter. This one was good!

The quince was interesting. Apparently, they are far too tart to have raw, so you cook them. They're supposed to turn pink when you do this (they start yellowish) but ours didn't even after forty-five minutes! We Googled it to see how the heck you were supposed to cook these things and picked a simple simmering method. Sidenote: quinces are supposed to make very good jelly. We simmered it in sugar-cinnamon water for three-quarters of an hour. It ended up tasting like cinnamon-covered apples. Rebekah said it tasted like honey. I agreed with my next bite.

After having a kumquat each, Rand and Debbie were off! Ashley and I had the wonderful opportunity to babysit so that Rand and Debbie could go out together. We had such a blast!

We served the kids a wonderful dinner consisting of ramen, mac & cheese, peaches, quince, and veggies. Adam ate a few forkfuls of ramen and then downed 4 or 5 peach halves. He'd finish his load of peaches and then just point and ask for more! He tried a bite of quince but promptly spit it out.



After dinner, the kids went on the porch to blow bubbles. Ashley cleaned up the kitchen while I cleaned up Adam. He needed a new onesie, new pants, and a new diaper. I picked pants that were too big, so he took them off and they stayed that way for the rest of the evening.



We watched Igor, which was really cute.

The kids then introduced us to the hat game. It involves putting them in jail while they try to save each other and steal our hats. It's exhausting. The rules also very much favor the kids to the babysitters.





The kids were crazy after the movie! It was a lot of fun though. Note: We did clean up afterward!



The night ended with an animal-sound card game. Once Rand and Debbie returned, the kids all crashed.

Ashley and I read six chapters of Ether (Book of Mormon) before I drove home to Charlotte's.

Bonus: Adam loved the elephant.

Bloggen Sie Zahl Drei?

Work started this week!
Woo-Hoo!!
Ok, not really.
It's pretty boring so far.
Learning all the rules and stuff.
We watch PowerPoint's for probably half the day.
We did get to build pretty sweet paper houses today though.
It was pretty much a party...
^That sentence is for Elder Ringle when he gets back from his mission and I tell him the link of my blog for him to go back and read.

So work is starting out pretty much as any other job. Except were supposed to be in training for like 5 weeks. I really can't imagine they have 5 weeks of PowerPoints for us... That would be really, really, really boring. But I get paid for it so can't complain to much. Also, its a job. And I do like working.

I'm still sick. It's starting to annoy me. The first few days I was just like, "ok I'm sick." Now I'm like, "really? still!?" But I haven't been this sick since like August so I guess it was time for a really good cold to hit.

I think Landon needed to put us the picture of us at the Draper Temple. I liked them. He on the other hand didn't because his shadow was on my face or something. But at least one of the two turned out good. Oh well. I'm sure we will have more chances for pictures there.

I talked to my parents today. Both of them. They sounded really happy about my job opportunities. My Dad was happy to hear me still motivated about my future and my Mom was too, although she laughed when I told her that my only form of entertainment all day is spinning in my chair. Sorry, I'm just not used to sitting in the same place ALL day. But I will just have to get used to it.

My Promised Blog

Maybe a few days later than promised, it arrives nonetheless!

I'll start with the Draper Temple picture Ashley promised.

We're not in it because the ones with us in it are stupid.



I'd love to take her here next January.

We drove up to Salt Lake City today to hear cousin Robert's farewell talk before he leaves on his mission. His brother and father spoke as well. All three talks were really good. It was good to see all the family again. We went to Kirk's and Colette's after for 3:00 dinner. Dinner was, of course, delicious. On the way up and on the way back, Ashley made sure to point out the Draper Temple.

I'm thrilled one of us finally got a job! I just need to find something productive(ish) to do until I get one too. Of course there are things like reading, doing art, and helping around the house but... um... I don't really have a good excuse not to be doing those things. If Ashley didn't mention it, I've got an interview at the same place this Thursday.

Ashley, unfortunately, has been sick for the past too-many days. It's evolving too! It started out as bad stomachaches and it has become more cold-like with headaches and coughs. It's really no fun.



She wore this for like four days straight. I know, it's sort of mean. I'm making a point though. She doesn't feel good.

The Best Friday Ever!

S0 today was a great day.
I am sick.
I feel yucky.
My tummy feels better but my head is all stuffed now.
But...
I have a job.

I went in for an interview this morning at a place across the street from my house and it took forever! I had to do some testing which took like 45 mins. But then I sat there for 30-40 minutes waiting for the man to come talk to me. I was so nervous. I just really wanted a job. Finally he came out to talk to me and he was scaring me like I was wayyy under-qualified for the job. But then out of no where he asked me to start on Monday.

So it's a full-time job and I start working Monday for 5 weeks Mon.-Fri. 8-5. After that my hours may change but I like that schedule so hopefully they don't change to much. The job is at a call center. So not the most luxurious job but its an answer to prayers. The best part is that after 60 days or so I can try and get health insurance through them which may turn out to be a good thing for the future.

Landon also goes in for an interview on the 12th at the same place except I am more of a Customer Service Rep and he is going in for Technical Support. Hopefully he has the same luck as I have though.


So far Utah has been wonderful.
Except for my dumb body that keeps getting sick.
I keep hearing it must be the change in the air and altitude.
Hopefully though it gets better.

On Monday we had the opportunity to go the Draper Temple open house. It was sooo nice. I loved it. Landon will hopefully post some picture tomorrow. It was really my first time even seeing a Temple in real-life. The location is just so amazing its like its on top of the world. The mountains in the background are just great for pictures. I really just love its location and everything. So far its my favorite Temple.

Anywho, Its getting late and I need to sleep! So that's all for now. We're going to try and update this more often, promise!