Let's be grateful - day 1

Many bloggers (Chloe, for one) use November to write a post a day of grateful thoughts so I'm going to give it a try...even on the days when I really don't feel so grateful. Here are my three things for today:

1. I'm grateful for people who say yes. I got a call at 8 PM last night that three people were not going to be able to complete their assignments in Primary this morning. I called one home and that family quickly and graciously agreed to do both the music AND teach Sunbeams (aka the crazy wild 3 year olds.) Seriously, this husband and wife are true angels.

2. I'm grateful to live close to my mom. My computer is mostly fixed and now running Windows 7 but I cannot get my printer to install. I had to finish printing some stuff for my Sharing Time today and when I couldn't get the printer to load, I went to mom's and she helped me create a super fun activity for Senior Primary. My mom is such a great example of service -- she is a wonderful blessing in my life.

3. I'm grateful for eBay. I went to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" for the first time ever a week ago and it was so fantastic. (Anthony Fedorov from American Idol was Joseph - he was pretty good.) I came home to try and download a soundtrack but nobody had the version with Donny Osmond as Joseph. So I logged onto eBay and went "old school" and ordered a CD that came in 4 days and with free shipping. You really can find pretty much anything you need on eBay and it's usually cheaper too.

Let's complain about our hair

I am blessed to have a head that's chock full of healthy hair. I feel guilty even wanting to complain for a second about my hair because the alternative (i.e. baldness) would be kind of awful. Tonight, rather than gripe about the fact that my computer is still messed up, I'll instead share a short list of things that bug me about having hair:

1. The fact that there is so much of it in the sink, in my car, in the shower, on the floor. Ick, ick and ICK.
2. The fact that I had to let someone else cut it for me a few weeks ago because my stylist was out for several weeks and I was desperate. You've all seen my haircut. It's pretty basic. This guy (who sits next to my stylist and is as experienced as she is) kind of did an awful job on my bangs. How hard is it to cut bangs (well, if you're trained in cutting hair, anyway?)
3. The fact that I have a lot of gray hair. I'm much too youthful (ahem) to have so much gray hair.
4. The fact that it's EVERYwhere (oh wait, did I say that already?)

My stylist is back and I'm seeing her on Friday. All will be right with the world beginning Saturday. So what bugs you about your hair?

Things I love, things I don't

I love Trader Joe's brown rice. I've mentioned that I'm trying to eat healthier and one thing that's helping is the frozen, pre-cooked brown rice from Trader Joe's. I love it! It's perfectly cooked in 3 minutes and it's just so good. I've tried cooking brown rice on the stove before and it takes forever and it isn't always good but this stuff is great every time. Love it.

I don't love Mia Michaels' new haircut. What the heck???

I love unexpectedly running into high school friends. I was at the grocery store buying more yogurt and noticed a store employee looking at me. I thought he was going to ask if I needed help finding something so I sort of looked past him and kept walking. Then he called out "Jeanelle, come on!" so I looked back and realized who it was. I seriously haven't seen Ryan since I graduated. He wrote me a bunch of letters when I was at Ricks but then I came home and never really talked to him again. His hair was salt and pepper which made me smile.

I don't love deciding what to wear every day. Such a pain.

I love getting lots of sleep. I slept 9 hours last night and will try for 8 again tonight.

I don't love the fact that my back's still all jacked up.

I love my chiropractor. He's just nice and I like it that he makes me feel better without hurting me.

I don't love computer problems. Last night, my computer was doing wack-o stuff, trying to do updates (oh Vista, how I love thee.) Tonight I did a virus scan and it's worked fine ever since. Anyone buying Windows 7???

I love all of the fall color. I think this is our best autumn yet. I'm not sure if it's because we had such a fantastic and hot summer but the trees are stunningly gorgeous & colorful here. If I was any sort of photographer, I'd post photos but the only ones I have are on my iPhone and I may or may not have taken them while driving.

Monday, Monday

I am DYING to try this recipe for a pumpkin pie milkshake. Does someone want to make it and then report back??

My back has been out for about a week. I'm giving up and going to my chiro tomorrow. I miss being able to stand upright and to sit or walk without pain.

Did anyone else watch today's Oprah with Nate being a stay at home mom and then the other women who got the surprise from Rick Springfield? Oh that surprise made me cry. Rick Springfield is my friend Michelle's favorite singer (the Michelle who lost her husband to cancer in February.) I so wish I could surprise her with that cruise. And is there anyone in the world cuter than Nate?? I think not. And what did Rick Springfield do to his face?

Today was my world premiere webcast at work. It wasn't too painful but I'm so glad it's over.

Saturday was my darling niece Natalie's 5th birthday party (she's the blonde on the left.) I love this picture of her and her cousin/BFF Makenna (5 1/2.) Let's have a moment of silence for the cute pink headband that only lasted a few hours before my sister's dog decided to chew it up. Sigh.

I have to post this picture too, not because my mom is laughing so hard but because my 2 year old niece Rylee is actually sort of looking at the camera and smiling. Rylee is SUPER shy and it's a challenge for anyone (other than her mom) to get a photo of her. She's such a darling girl (as is my niece McKenzie in the middle.)

On Sunday we held our first practice for our Primary Program. Why does this event sap every last bit of energy out of my body? We practice again on Saturday and then the program is on Sunday. Is it wrong to wish it was 12:15 PM on October 25???

Saturday doom and gloom

It's raining and it's going to keep raining for the next week. I have a love/hate relationship with the rain.

I love that it makes my little corner of the world so green. I love that we have beautiful trees and flowers. I love that the rain means snow in the mountains in the winter. I love that we don't have to worry about a drought. However...

I hate having wet feet after running through puddles. I hate having to get new wiper blades all the time. I hate the gray. I hate that this fall/winter we have to worry about an area dam failing and flooding our beautiful area.

I live on a hill so I should be safe from flooding. I'm worrying more about the fact that the rats and other vermin in the valley will come up here to escape the water. I worry about not having power or other necessary utilities because of all of the stupid water. Bleah.

This darling girl has that stupid flu. It makes me sad because she's at school a few states away and I can't do anything to help. Her wonderful mom got on a plane this morning to go take care of her so I know she'll be fine. But still, poor girl! Being sick (especially away from home) is awful.

Now that I've brought everyone down, here's my favorite Debbie Downer to make you smile. The video quality isn't great (wahhh wahhhhhh) but it's totally worth watching.

A day that shall live in infamy

Why is today so special, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. For the first time ever, I was able to finish a container of yogurt!

I really dislike yogurt. It's a combination of the sour taste and the chunks of fruit that bother me. I've tried a few times over the years to like it because it's so good for you, it's a quick and easy breakfast, etc. but I just could never get more than a few bites down.

I'm trying to eat a bit healthier these days so I bought three containers of yogurt when I went to the grocery store last week. Today, I got brave and tried this one:

It was SO good. I still can't believe I finished the whole thing and was wishing I'd bought more.

Thank you, Yoplait people for making this yogurt. You've made me a happy girl today.

More things I love

Okay, I have three things that I am loving right now and I want you all to know what they are.

1. Ken's creamy light caesar dressing.

I love Caesar salad and could (and do) eat it practically every day. The thing I don't like about Caesar salad is how high in fat/calories the dressing is. It's been nearly impossible for me to find a healthier version of my favorite dressing until now. This stuff is really good and a little goes a long way, which is even better. Make sure you get the creamy style - there's a vinaigrette style too but I can't vouch for that one. Oh and I couldn't find a pic of the light version but trust me, that's the one you should try.

2. NBC's Parks & Recreation

I've mentioned this before but this show is hilarious. I love it more and more every time I watch it. It's just hysterically funny to me and this week's episode showing Leslie (Amy Poehler) going on a practice date was fantastic (she's the worst first-dater in the world.) Go to the website and watch it.

3. The Kitchenaid anniversary edition mixer

I saw this in a kitchen store a few weeks ago and then tried to win one from The Pioneer Woman last week but alas, did not. I cannot express to you what a beautiful shade of red this thing is in person. And a glass bowl? Sigh. I actually salivated a little when I saw it in the store the first time. If I didn't have a perfectly good, 12 year old, boring white Kitchenaid mixer, I'd totally buy this.