The most popular girl on the plane

I brought my new Kindle on the plane and I think I might have sold two of them. My seatmate and several of the flight attendants were full of questions and two said they are going to buy one before the $50 coupon on Oprah.com expires tomorrow. I wonder how I can get Jeff Bezos to give me a commission? Or at least a free book? Anyway, love the Kindle. LOVE IT!

Hawaii is wonderful - a little cloudy but low 80s and lovely. Today was grocery shopping, WalMart, doing math homework with almost 10 year old McKenzie and helping at Nathan's class. I spent an hour showing kindergartners how to make spiders out of pretzels and marshmallows in a non-air conditioned classroom. Good times. We're going to trunk-or-treat at the church in a couple of hours. Tomorrow? Not sure. Maybe the beach.

I haven't taken a single picture yet. Will tonight, for sure!

Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me*

* Name the Primary song and get a gold star! ETA: I just realized the actual song title...ding dong! I remember it as the first line...sorry for the lack of challenge!

A few months ago, I bought a ticket to spend 10 days in Hawaii visiting my sister Jenilee and her family and I leave later this week. Saturday night, Jen called and she sounded funny - like she was trying to be more upbeat than she felt and she was talking fast. She told me she had some news and that she had prayed for me before she called.

Uh oh.

Jen and Matt have Army friends who need a place to stay ASAP and Matt invited them to move in this week. Jen and Matt live in a smallish townhouse with their four children. Add the Army friends and that makes 8 people in the townhouse, not including their super cute dog. Check out her Halloween costume.

I told Jen I had to think and that I'd call her back on Sunday. I immediately felt like I should postpone my trip. Besides the obvious space issues and me wanting to have the "perfect" vacation, I'm selfish. I want my sister and her family all to myself. It just made sense to postpone my trip until after the holidays when there'd be more room at the inn.

After crying most of the day, I called Jen Sunday night to let her know my decision and before I could tell her, she said she had more news. She had just gotten home from church where she had been asked to sing during her friend's Gospel Doctrine class. She received many compliments, including one from a woman Jen has been slightly irritated with (a long story that I won't get into here.) Jen started telling this woman about our predicament and guess what? This woman has a studio apartment she needs to rent out and the Army friends can move in whenever they want.

So, to sum up, I'm still leaving for Hawaii this week, Jen's friends aren't homeless, Heavenly Father loves me and he answers prayers even for silly things like my vacation.

To treat myself for spending most of the weekend crying, I bought a Kindle.

I've been wanting one since they came out but had exercised significant restraint for several months now. Then Oprah had to come along and send me over the edge with her extra $50 off deal. I also took advantage of the free trial membership for Amazon Prime to get $3.99 overnight shipping so it'll be here tomorrow. I am thrilled with the idea of getting on the airplane completely book-less. THRILLED, I tell you!

Now if I could just find the other half of my bathing suit, my life would be perfect.

Where've I been?

Well, I've been around. I'm just without anything of substance to blog about. I'm not promising anything with this post either. It's just been sort of blah in my life lately. But here are some things I'm thinking about:

• Five days from now, I will be in Hawaii, loving & spoiling these kids. I cannot wait!
  

• I ran into a girl I grew up with at a meeting this week. We're exactly the same age (41.) She is pregnant with her 9th child. Seeing her, pregnant again, filled me with mixed emotions. Of course, I'm happy for her. She's a wonderful person, happily married and I know she's raising good and happy children. But part of me was a little bit freaked out. NINE CHILDREN! Holy cow. How does anyone do that? Yet another part of me was a little bit jealous. Jealous for me, for others I know who would love to be pregnant and can't and so on. It just makes you wonder how one can be blessed with so many children and then I'm here forcing myself to be more and more accepting of the fact that I will likely never have a child of my own. Hmm. Okay, the pity party is over now. Let's move on.
• I feel like baking something to give away to people I love. I cannot bake the thing I want to bake (carrot cake cupcakes) because I'm out of carrots and grocery shopping is not sounding appealing.
• Did anyone else get the new Crate and Barrel holiday catalog? I want to order about half of the things in there. Oh, to be wealthy...how would it be?
• I don't know who I'm going to vote for. I'm so completely torn this year. I tend to lean a little more on the Democratic side but I truly just vote for the person I think is the most qualified and will do the best job. I'm just not sure if that person is Obama or McCain this election. I'm usually way more decisive about these things but not this year. Oh but I loved the Sarah Palin rap on SNL last week. Hilarious. I can't get it to embed but click on this link and go watch it again.
• Speaking of Gov Palin, I'm irritated that people are hassling her about her wardrobe and the $$ that was spent. If she was campaigning in her own, regular-girl clothes, she'd be knocked for not being stylish enough.

And that's all I've got! Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend!

Guest Post: Headphones

Editing to add: TBA is my friend Tyler who is married to the darling Jeni. They are currently living in Germany until they decide to wander back into my neck of the woods. Every so often there is a burning issue he feels needs to be discussed. Today, it's headphones. Please humor Tyler (and me) by commenting. Thank you!

Hi all - its TBA again.

In the world of Ipods (and yes, the Microsoft Zune), headphones have become very important. The standard ones that came with my Zune when I first bought it were awful – very uncomfortable. So I spent a little extra $ to buy some premium headphones – the little bud kind that fit in your ear. They are very comfortable but I am still having major problems:

1. My headphones ALWAYS get tangled up. Sometimes I have to sit there for 5 minutes trying to get them untangled. I try my best to wrap the cord around my device when I am done, but somehow it seems to get tangled up again. What am I doing wrong here??? Are my ‘premium’ headphones not so ‘premium’?
2. The ear buds are nice but they don’t stay in when I am exercising. I wonder if my ear buds are too small, maybe they should fit tighter in my ear. Or should I just get the standard headphones to wear while exercising.
3. Sometimes I wonder if I should listen to music/podcasts at all while I am exercising or riding my bike to work. Maybe I should go for more quiet time. (Yes, I ride my bike to work…it takes me 5 minutes. I can barely get through one song if I am lucky. )

Does anyone else have headphone problems or is it just me?

This Year's Primary Program -- A Top 10 List

Without further ado, the top 10 reasons why this year's Primary Program totally rocked.

10. Each child started their part by saying "I am a child of God."
9. They knew most of the words to the songs and when they didn't, they sure looked cute standing there.
8. Our Primary President's brilliant idea to have giant chocolate chip cookies afterward as a thank you and as an object lesson on service. A huge hit.
7. Nearly everyone who came up to tell us how much they enjoyed the program said it was the best one they'd ever seen. Want to know why? Read #6.
6. The kids wrote their own parts (well, nearly all of them did.) So nice to have them personally invested in what they were saying!
5. Nobody threw up. It was touch and go there for a little while. Seriously. I had to run one kid out when the adult he told about his need to hurl looked at me and gave me the deer in the headlights look. I didn't wait for her to do anything and just grabbed him and ran.
4. Basic gospel principles taught by 3-11 year olds including important topics like God is our father, families, temples, missionary work, prophets, baptism.
3. A 5 year old boy saying his part at the microphone when we weren't even sure he was going to do it. Such a triumphant feeling for all of us when he got brave and did it!
2. Great teacher support & wonderful attendance at our Saturday practice.

And the number one reason why our Primary Program rocked this year?

1. Beautiful children singing each and every word of "I am a child of God." Then later in Primary when they got to choose a song to sing, both Jr and Sr Primary chose to sing it again. You haven't lived until you've heard a child sing that song. Truly.

And now, I need a nap.

I fell off the roof!

My superstar visiting teaching companion said the funniest thing recently. We were talking on the phone and she didn't sound like her normal peppy self. I asked her how she was feeling and she said "well, I fell off the roof today." I said, "you WHAT?" She said "oh that's how I say I started my period."

I laughed hysterically.

Today, I was talking to my sister Jen in Hawaii (where I will be in 13 days) and she said "I fell off the roof today." Since I am Gullible Gertie, I said "you WHAT?" And then we both laughed hysterically.

It really is kind of enjoyable to describe "that time of the month" by saying you fell off the roof. Here are some fun examples:

• I was doing sharing time in Primary and I fell off the roof.
• I fell off the roof at work today - it was awful!
• I woke up in the middle of the night and I fell off the roof.

Feel free to comment with some other possible scenarios -- it's really very fun.

Visiting Teaching

I'm a rotten visiting teacher - truly. I'm not just saying that for the people who know me to say "oh Jeanelle, that's not true." Because really, I sort of stink at it. A few years ago, I was given a really fantastic companion who makes me better. She makes the appointments, I teach the lessons and occasionally bake treats. It's a perfect mix.

About six months ago, this woman I knew as a youth moved into my ward. She's no longer attending church regularly, which is sad because she is an amazing person with many talents and spiritual gifts. I told my partner that I wanted to request her for our route. She concurred so I called the RS President, made the suggestion and waited. Finally, her records showed up and we got her on our list.

On our first visit, the three of us talked for nearly two hours. We heard her reasons for not attending church and told her that our ward was different than the one she moved from, the one where she felt invisible. Her birthday is this week so my stupendous partner called this morning and said the sister was free for lunch and could I meet them. Of course, I ditched work and did just that. We had so much fun! The sister said during the visit "I haven't had visiting teachers in so long - this is so nice." It made me feel really good to know that the gesture of lunch meant so much to her (and I take zero credit -- all of the glory goes to my partner.) I'm hoping and praying that she will let go of the hurt and anger that is keeping her from regular church attendance. I'm not expecting to "save" her but I really love the idea that our visits might matter a little bit.

Exhausted

I've been home from church for 15 minutes. I'm in my pajamas already and eating some leftover Key Lime cheese ball from the Tastefully Simple party the other night, while my dinner begins to cook.

Why am I comfy and stress eating so soon after church, you ask?

Well, today was our first Primary Program rehearsal. I'm sort of "in charge" of this year's program. It went well but, holy cow, I'm wiped. I have to find seats for 3 or 4 more kids and to write parts for those same children. It can be done but it's still more work. Not yet ready to even attempt it though today -- tomorrow will be here soon enough. It's going to be an early to bed night. I can hardly wait.

By the way, have you even tried the Tastefully Simple Key Lime cheese ball? Seriously fantastic.

Happy

This morning, I had to pick up a cake at Albertson's for a bridal shower I co-hosted at work today. As I was leaving, I noticed the guy behind me because he was buying some sort of canned beverage that he needed ID for. (It was 8:30 AM!!!) Anyway, I would describe him as Snoop Dogg Jr: same cheekbones, same oversized parka & saggy jeans, early 20s.

I walked outside to put the cake in my car and Snoop Jr walked to his car a couple of spaces beyond mine. Then he turned and said (and I quote) "Yo, your perfume smells real good. I could smell it in there" as he pointed toward Albertson's. I smiled, said a sincere thank you and drove off, laughing.

I've gotten other compliments on my perfume before, also at Albertsons. Maybe the store smells so bad that my lovely scent just freshens everything up? I wear Happy by Clinique and have worn it for probably 10 years. I love it and I think it really does make you happy so you should probably try wearing it.

Or maybe just tell me what perfume you wear?

Numbers

My week, so far...in numbers:

26 thank you cards made for whomever I decide to give them to.

2 in person visits by my boyfriend (he's still so dang dreamy but for about 36 hours, I thought I might be ready to move on. Then he came over this morning and, well, the crush is intact.)

71 dollars spent at Target on nothing of substance

2 miles walked today! First time I've walked in way too long and it felt great. Except when it didn't.

3 compliments from coworkers about how happy they are to have me in this new office area (I am basically a joy to be around, if you weren't yet aware. LOL)

2 hours spent watching TV (not nearly enough! My TiVo is stacking up.)

13 food & drink items to be made tonight/tomorrow for my upcoming Tastefully Simple party.

And it's late - better get busy!

What I Loved About Conference Weekend

1. Watching all four sessions with my mom from the comfy confines of my living room. I love technology!
2. Getting a Priesthood Session debrief from both Barry & Tyler (who will be guest blogging again soon -- watch for it!) So grateful that Boni & Jeni married such fantastic men.
3. Elder Perry's talk about living a more simplified life was just perfect.
4. Eating this for breakfast yesterday! Yum! Thanks, Mom!
   
5. That incredible Primary choir -- I cried during every one of their songs. I loved feeling the power of their testimonies as they sang. Almost as much as I loved watching the one boy correct the other boy for not standing the right way during their last song. Ha!
6. I didn't take notes yet but I loved the talk by the Sunday School presidency guy who talked about knowing the people you teach by name. That has been a priority for our Primary presidency and something I've always strived to do in all of my callings. A little validation now and again is a good thing!
7. Having my 77 year old neighbor over to watch the Sunday afternoon session was a treat. She knows lots of fun MoTab facts and pointed out at least 7 times that one of the men looks (to her) exactly like Niles Crane from Frasier.
   
8. Elder Oaks' talk about reverence -- it gave me SO much to think about. I've never really thought about how I should be going into Sacrament meeting and sitting down and just pondering or preparing to partake of the Sacrament itself. Something I'm going to work on!
9. Sister Dalton's talk was one I can't wait to listen to again. I loved the pictures of her and her counselors and the little hike they took into the mountains for their first presidency meeting.
10. I loved being reminded of things that I know are true and feeling the love of my Heavenly Father.

Three Items of Business

#1
It was a normal Wednesday morning at work, about 8:30 AM. I was answering email, listening to the new Jennifer Hudson CD I downloaded last night (jury's still out but I like most of it) when I look up and see the most amazing sight coming down the hall toward me. I'll bet you're wondering who or what that could be...hmm...

If you guessed, Mr. Crushworthy, AKA my boyfriend, then you would be absolutely, 100% correct.

He said "I knew I'd find you." (Please recall I moved to a different area of the office last week.) He brought with him the guy he works with whom I hadn't met yet.

They just came over to say hi. (Please recall he works in a different building about 2 miles away.)

They didn't come for a meeting or anything - they just had some free time and came over.

I KNOW! (Say it in your best Monica Geller voice!)

We chatted for awhile and then they left. I looked & felt much cuter today too, which was great except for one item, which I will address next.

#2
I woke up with a huge pimple on my jawline on Monday. I used to have bad skin. I don't have bad skin anymore because several years ago I went on Accutane. It was icky medicine but I have great skin now and I love it. This thing growing on my face is so huge and disgusting. Thankfully, my hair covers it most of the time. I'm beyond ready for it to be gone.

#3
Let's talk TV! (And if you're wondering, no I don't sleep enough.)

• Pushing Daisies tonight!
• CSI Miami is probably the stupidest show on TV. This week's episode where the human trafficking girls are all locked in a cage, all dressed in pristine white sundresses, about to get in a big dirty freight truck but then Horatio Caine is hiding behind them and comes out to arrest the bad guy? SO STUPID! I'm done with that one.
• Biggest Loser - I still don't have a favorite team but I'm enjoying this season. I think I like the two mother/daughter teams the best.
• Amazing Race! I love it! I like Starr and her brother and the divorced women so far. My mom came over and watched it with me on Monday, which was very fun.
• Desperate Housewives - I really liked the 5 year flash forward!
• Survivor - something I keep thinking about is how kind the hottie resident was when he was talking about the gay guy having such an obvious crush on him. Hottie resident could have been mean and homophobic but instead he said the gay guy was his friend. That made hottie resident even hotter (hottier?) in my eyes.