People are dumb

Before I explain, let me just say that it's after 9 PM and I'm tired but because it's 84 degrees inside my house, I don't want to go to bed because going to bed means I have to close the door and windows. I try to be brave and tell myself how nobody will break in and get me but then I read articles like this and I get less brave - linked story is kind of yucky...sorry.

The poor woman who died is the sister of Norbert Leo Butz, the original Fiyero from Wicked...just an interesting tidbit I thought I'd share. He's in town doing a preview for a soon to be going to Broadway show based on the movie "Catch Me If You Can" that I would love to go see if I had the time...but I digress...

Anyway, people are dumb. Why? We had our second parking lot fire at work today. I witnessed both of them. The first one, two weeks ago, was just smoke coming out of beauty bark. Not a big deal and easily put out with water. The one today was bigger with flames and everything and we had to call the fire department to come and put it out.

People who smoke and throw their lit cigarettes into bone-dry beauty bark or grass are so stupid. How can you NOT know you are going to start a fire when you do that? Seriously. And hello. You're not even allowed to smoke on my company's property.

D-U-M-B dumb.

It's hot plus other things I'm thinking about.

Okay, seriously? It's hot here. Look at the projected temp for tomorrow. Tonight, I drove to Mom's and swam in her pool (well it's 12' across and 4' deep so not really a swim but more of a "sit.") After awhile, I was actually getting a little cold and now, even though it's 82.8 degrees inside my house, I feel just fine. I'll be stopping by mom's tomorrow night too! It's really the best way to cool down before bed.

I went to the temple earlier tonight with one of my former Laurels who leaves for a mission next month. I love being in the temple with these special young women who have touched my life. I am blessed.

I got the funniest phone call a few minutes ago. Greg (my friend's son who came home from his mission in January) called to get advice about a date he's planning. SO CUTE!!! I love that he thought to call me (or that his mom suggested he call me.) Whatever the case, it was cute. Seriously, if you know cute and wonderful girls going to BYU-I in the fall, let me know and we'll set them up. He is a total catch.

Did anyone hear about Katherine Heigl on Letterman last week? Here's an article and youtube clip about what she said. Her attitude makes her so unattractive.

The sunburn on my neck is pretty close to 2nd degree. Bad me and it won't happen again.

I haven't watched The Bachelorette yet.

One of my work/non-LDS friends wants me to get up on Sunday and tell the congregation that I will not bake treats or go to camp or do anything more if my ward doesn't find me a husband ASAP. He thinks that's all it will take - so funny.

I'm going to Utah AND So. California next month (Utah for weddings/fun and California for work.) I keep thinking my life is going to slow down but obviously not yet.

It's late - gotta go to bed. Nighty-night.

What I'm thinking about

1. My sunburn. I spent the day at a lake with my family yesterday and didn't really reapply sunscreen until it was too late. Oops and ouch. It was really a wonderful day.



2. My family. My brother has a boat and my mom (71 in November) tried to water ski after a 35 year hiatus. She didn't get up but I'm just so proud of her for trying.
   
   

   
3. My faith. Yesterday was perfect except for the excruciatingly long minutes where we lost one of my nieces (she went to the port-a-potties by herself - she's 5.) I prayed and didn't feel worried. I just stood outside the port-a-potty door I was sure she was behind and then voila, there she was. Phew but ugh.


4. My attitude. I hate feeling like I'm being difficult. I really don't want to come across as difficult but I also worry that if I don't speak up, I will just get resentful later. Blech.


5. The weather. It's 92 degrees outside and 80 degrees in my bedroom. It's one of those 5 days out of the year when I will wish I had air conditioning. It's going to be 100 by Wednesday...or so they say. I love summer so I'm going to shut up about it.


6. My phone plan. Did I sign up for too many minutes per month? I don't really talk on my phone THAT much, do I? I'm calling AT&T tomorrow.


7. Melissa & Ade. That contemporary dance they did last week about cancer? Oh my gosh - I was bawling.

And finally, here are some more pics from yesterday.

Makenna, McKenzie & Matthew

Mom pretending she's ready to ski.

Carsen reaching for the forbidden fruit (aka dead grass.)

I kept singing "the hills are alive..." when I'd look at the view. So beautiful!

I share this last picture as a public service.
If you were considering buying this suit for yourself,
please don't. Thank you.

A few items of business

1. I bought the white iPhone this week. Love it. I made the decision while at camp last week. I got tired of my rotten coverage with Verizon and I'm thrilled to be able to go to one device for everything. Isn't it pretty??

2. I'm afraid that a mosquito bite on my ankle is infected. Please don't say that I have to go to the doctor. I'm leaving it alone other than keeping it clean and applying the occasional neosporin. Advice?

3. Chrissy and I saw Harry Potter last night - so loved it. I love that the same group of kids have been in every movie and it's so cool to see them grow up and improve as actors. Emma Watson (Hermione) is beautiful and I adore Rupert Grint (Ron.) I should have reread the book though because I couldn't remember anything that happened before and now I need to reread book 7.

4. I haven't finished unpacking from camp nor is my laundry done. I will also neither confirm nor deny that there is still a tote of camp decor stuff in my trunk.

5. Those guys on the Men Tell All episode of the Bachelorette were pretty much all losers. Am I weird because I think Juan & Jake were the most appealing guys on there? The rest of them were like the cool kids picking on the nerds or the weaklings in high school. Big jerks.

6. And finally, we are having the BEST summer! We've had like 2 or 3 gray/rainy days since May and for Seattle, that says a lot. I'm loving the fact that it's sunny and warm every day. HOWEVER, it's supposed to be 95 on Sunday and 98 on Monday. Do I have AC at home? Um, no. Time to buy some popsicles.

A YW Camp Debrief

Camp was surprisingly wonderful.

As most of you know, my expectations were low going into camp. I struggled with the planning process because the 2nd YCLs I was working with weren't really into working. I felt like a failure as a leader because nothing I did or said would excite these girls into stepping up. On Friday, my friend Kim put the girls and me on the prayer roll at the temple and then on Sunday, I fasted for strength, inspiration and love. I also asked anyone who would listen to pray for me to have patience and to stay positive. My home teachers came over last Sunday afternoon and the one who is the grand poobah (stake pres) said he didn't worry even a second about the 120+ girls going to camp because there were leaders like me who were prepared physically and spiritually to lead them. Right then, I knew I was ready.

Here's my assistant Tammy and me after her husband patiently and kindly fit all of our crap into her van. Seriously, he is a packing god.

Despite not wanting to work prior to camp, they showed up Monday ready to get busy. They were exactly where they needed to be. They did whatever was needed with a cheerful attitude. It really was amazing. It was such a smooth day one.

Such cute shirts. Everyone looks good in lime green.

The YW arrived on Tuesday and we were ready. It was so wonderful to see the girls in my level band together even though they are all completely different and most of them aren't even friends outside of camp. On Sunday night, I had received word that a young woman from my ward would be coming to camp. She hadn't been to a single meeting but I knew she was creative and talented in both music and acting. I was thrilled she was coming because of her talents but mostly because I knew she needed to be there. She was literally an answer to prayer. She didn't just write the skits and roll calls (little songs the girls sing to announce they are at camp at flag ceremony twice a day) but she got all of the girls together and got all of them to contribute. It was really incredible to watch them all sitting together, creating. The most incredible thing is that I hardly ever had to remind them to do it. Here's a video of one of my favorites -- have you seen the Potter's Puppet Pals video on youtube? It's like that but with the YW values instead of "Snape, Snape, Severus Snape."

Everything went great and continued to until about Wednesday. Nothing terrible happened but Wednesday was just weird. We had some visitors who brought a different sort of spirit to camp and that caused some negativity in one of my girls. Thankfully, that mostly passed on Thursday. I even got an apology from one of the girls who was pretty negative earlier in the year which was a bit of a surprise but so wonderful to hear.

Friday we had a fantastic Bishop's Night program with the Bishops and Stake Presidency members performing Olympic events (volleyball, bobsled, rhythmic gymnastics!) and then we had our testimony meeting (done in individual wards.) We had a smaller group this year and 2/3 of them got up and said they didn't want to come to camp. But every single one of them said they were so glad they did. Phew. One of my girls said she hadn't realized what kind of influence she had as a youth camp leader and that made me so happy to hear...she got it!

One of my favorite things about camp is developing friendships with other women from my stake. We laughed so much all week which was so therapeutic and wonderful I love the women I served with so much and I hope we make more of an effort to stay close throughout the year.

I know I've said all year that this is my last year but I knew I wasn't done when we drove into camp. I kept looking at the 5th and 4th level girls all week and thinking "I need to do this for two more years." I don't know if I'll be lucky enough to do that but right now, I'm planning to go back next year. One of my friends, who also had a hard year and a hard group of 12 year olds had gone into the week thinking she was done but on Friday night, we stood together and cried and admitted we weren't done yet. She compared camp to childbirth (she's the mother of 4.) She said "when you're pregnant, you can't imagine giving birth again but once you deliver, you can't imagine NOT giving birth again."

So who's planning my baby shower?

Quotes of the Night -- Wes from the Bachelorette edition

When asked about the Barcelona music scene, Wes had this little gem to offer: "I had a song on my second album hit number 1 in Chihuahua, Mexico so I feel at home with the Spanish people." Because Mexico and Spain are exactly the same because they both speak Spanish, right??

When Jillian was grilling him about not being affectionate or into her he said, "You know, numero uno is most important here" (meaning himself.) Nice...you're really out to embark on a relationship with someone, aren't ya???

The big slip...when he referred to his "ex" girlfriend as his girlfriend...caught ya! Jake was right!

I loved it when he didn't get a rose and he just stood there, hanging on to what little camera time he had left.

The best part of the night was the limo interview. Holy cow. Alcohol is not your friend, Wes. Hope your family and especially your girlfriend are proud of you for being a big fake and phony on TV in hopes your singing career takes off. All of you radio programmers out there, do not book the guy on your station. Please.

Wes, you are a complete tool. Keep on recording songs that hit #1 in Chihuahua and please don't let the limo door hit you as you skulk out of Barcelona.

Twitter freaks

For some unexplained and unknown reason, I opened a Twitter account last week. I did nothing but open the account, look at Ashton Kutcher's page, check my friend Tyler's page and that was it. I posted nothing.

That evening, I got this in my email:


Okay, Konstantine, thanks! Someone was so interested in my name that they decided to follow me. Nice. A few minutes later, this email arrived:


This guy/gal is obviously selling something. Phhht. Whatever. A couple of days later, this arrived:


Who follows random people? Seriously? I thought Twitter was an excuse to obnoxiously text your friends and/or stalk celebrities. Isn't it? Okay, finally, this email showed up in my inbox:

Um, how do I delete my account????