Happy birthday to ME

I'm 43 today.  I know I'm old because this morning I...

• woke up before my alarm clock went off
• took three different vitamin supplements
• had to put on my glasses to read all of my fun facebook birthday wishes on my iPhone

Church was fun because I am not embarrassed to tell anyone who will listen that it's my birthday.  So to get the junior primary kids' attention I told them what today was and they loved it!  Then they all kept asking how old I was.  Rude children!  ;)  They guessed I was 15 but to avoid telling them my true age, I eventually told them I was older than them but younger than one of the other teachers in the room.  One little boy even noticed I was wearing a new (to them anyway) shirt today.  Kids are hilarious.

Yesterday, I thought I was having lunch with Kim before we went out to see 42nd Street at a local theater but she surprised me and had Lynda, Rachel and Joyce there too.  So fun! 

Sign up for Red Robin's email list and you get a free burger for your birthday! Yes you have to put up with them singing to you but you also get a free sundae so totally worth the embarrassment.

The play was pretty good and we decided to subscribe again for next year.  I've loved having a built in date with my dear friend every other month!

After the play, I went to dinner with Lily and then to see Letters to Juliet.  I thought it was just okay.  The scenery was beautiful but the movie was nothing special. Amanda Seyfried's fiance totally annoyed me too.  It's a Red Box, for sure.

Now I'm off to mom's for dinner with the family and then I have five more dinners over the next week or so (birthdays wreak havoc on WW progress but oh well.) 

Oh and finally, because I like to toot my own horn (and hers too!) go read what my sweet little Christina said about me today.  I am so blessed to have her (and her sisters and her mom and her aunts, and her grandma, etc.) in my life!  Kim gave me this cute umbrella (along with a little help from Marcia and Elaine.)  So pretty - I almost can't wait for it to rain!  Almost.

The I's have it...a summary

I haven't done this in awhile but here are some highlights since I last blogged.

I dreamed awful things last night.  Finally, something evil/ghost-like grabbed me and I woke myself up at 3:30 AM when I yelled out loud.  I had to turn on "Pride & Prejudice" to take my mind off of the bad dream and then couldn't wake up when my alarm went off a couple of hours later.

I attended a bridal shower and reception for a darling girl I've known for years.  It was so wonderful to see her so happy and the reception was decorated so beautifully (my favorite was the black and white damask tablecloths -- stunning!)  But more than anything, it was such a fun party.  I love going to receptions where I know 80% of the people there.

I enjoyed attending two camp meetings with my 2nd YCLs.  I cannot express what a difference a year makes.  While it's still hard fitting everything into my busy life, this year's planning is going so much better.  The girls actually show up to the meetings and I think they might even like being there! ;) Kidding...mostly!  Anyway, it's going great and we have wonderful young women who are planning fun things for this summer (um  camp is just over two months away - scary.)

I accepted an invitation to have lunch with Mr. Crushworthy later this week.  I want to figure out how to get a picture of the two of us since this will be the last time I see him before he moves.  Any ideas how I can make this a reality?  It's really for all of you, dear readers...I want you to see just why he is Mr. Crushworthy to me.  I don't expect any of you to start drooling once you see him because hello, he's all mine.  But I know you will because he is just, sigh, dreamy.

I made two pans of manicotti and a brownie trifle for my mom and sisters (and their families) for Mother's Day dinner yesterday.  We had such a nice day being together (and the food was quite fabulous, if I do say so myself.)  I loved getting to do something nice for three of my favorite mothers.  Want to know the other reason why it was such a great afternoon? Well, I'll tell you.  It was because...

I basked in the 70 degree sun both days of the weekend.  It was pure heaven here -- sunny, blue skies and just lovely.  I never realize how much I miss the sun until we have a great sunny day.

I cried throughout Sacrament meeting and into Primary yesterday.  I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm so much better living in oblivion rather than focusing on what I don't have.  I do just fine on Mother's Day until one of the speakers starts to quote Sheri Dew and then I imagine everyone's looking at me with pity in their eyes so I find something interesting in my scriptures or study the bulletin.  I couldn't do that for long yesterday because one of my former Laurels was one of the speakers and she talked a little about me without mentioning my name.  I kept it together the best I could but then she came into the Primary room afterward to tell me she had in fact been talking about me.  Then she hugged me for like five minutes so of course, I fell apart. I'm grateful -- so grateful for every wonderful opportunity my singleness has afforded me but I will always long for more.  Always.

Thought you'd like to know...

Today I got flowers from Mr. Crushworthy. Don't get excited. It's because I've been helping him with work stuff.

Oh and by the way, he's quitting and moving out of state next month.

So sad. Why do the cute guys leave and the freaky ones stay around forever?

Life is so unfair.

What I don't miss about Utah

I'm home from Utah and too lazy/sleepy to upload my pictures at this moment in time. I do miss Utah and the people there but there are some things about Utah I don't miss. They are:

1. The horrible, foul-tasting water. I don't know how people can drink water from the tap or their fridge dispensers. It is seriously the most soapy, awful-tasting stuff. I had to buy a case of Costco water (bottled here in Washington where the water totally rocks, thank you VERY much) the first day I was there.

2. The snow. Yes, it snowed four of the days I was there. Yes, it was the end of April which I always thought was Springtime. Yes, I had to buy new shoes to wear to Women's Conference because of said snow. Very annoying.

3. The dryness. Being in Utah for any length of time always wreaks havoc on my skin and the inside of my nose. I don't want to get into this any further because it would be seriously TMI. Just know that it's not pretty. At all.

Soon to come...things I do miss about Utah and maybe even some pictures too!

Pioneer Woman!

My friend Krysta and I decided to take a little adventure last night and go to the Pioneer Woman book signing in our area. We got there about 2 hours before it started and were given tickets for group F. There were 50 people in each group so that means 250 people were ahead of us in line. The bookstore was really organized though (meaning, they had hardcore staff people who wouldn't let you line up until they called your group letter) so at first it didn't seem like it would be that long of a wait. Here's Krysta at the beginning of the night, still wearing her coat (that didn't last long - it was hot in there.)



We spotted PW's oldest daughter and Krysta suggested we get our photo taken with her. I got over my embarrassment and agreed (glad I did.) She was super cute and TALL! Yes, she had cowboy boots on.


We couldn't really find a place to sit while we waited so we walked around the bookstore for about three hours as we waited for our turn. We spotted a lovely older woman wearing these stripper shoes. I stifled the urge to ask her where she bought them.


Later, I started reading a book on my iPhone, which Krysta found to be quite funny considering we were in a book store. Note the horrible grow-out. Hair appt is on Tuesday, in case you were wondering.

Remember how I said at first we didn't think it would take so long? Well, we were wrong. Fifty people per group, each with a book or two or three to sign makes for a long wait. Plus she didn't do any sort of public speaking -- just the signing so that made things go a bit longer than we expected. The event started at 5 PM and we got up to the front of the line shortly before 8 PM. As soon as it was our turn to go up, she had to take a bathroom break so we waited a bit longer.


When she came back, we took pictures and started chatting. She said she loved Seattle and decided to stay here today as well before heading down to Portland for her signing there on Monday night (I'm glad she stayed because we have had sun all day today.) We talked about our favorite PW recipes (in case you were wondering, Krysta's is the prune cake and mine is the apple dumplings -- not in the cookbook.)


There's a better picture of Krysta on facebook but this one is better of me...my blog, my choice of picture, right??

I cannot express how sweet, lovely, kind and funny she was. She told us to scoot in because she had no personal space issues at all, which I loved. She is exactly as you would expect her to be: normal, down to earth, totally approachable and someone you would be friends with if you lived on the next ranch over.


Such a fun night -- so glad we went!

A few more thoughts

My mom has been leaving pots of flowers on my porch this week (a whole month before my birthday too!) I cannot tell you the joy that it brings me to have colorful flowers by my door. Well, almost as much joy that I feel when I think about what a wonderful mother I've been blessed with.

I'm going to be in bed by 8:30 PM on a Friday night. I live the most exciting life EVER.

Because I could no longer stand the pain, I bought a wrist brace at the drug store today. It's mostly helping. I'm afraid it's carpal tunnel and since I'm a doctor who moonlights as an executive assistant, I'm sure I'm right. (Yeah, yeah, I'll go to the doctor when I get back from vacation.)

How great was Elton John on Oprah today? Oh my gosh. He is just amazing. I wish they had let him sing the entire hour. And speaking of Oprah, did you see Richard Branson's home in the Virgin Islands? I want to be his friend so he'll invite me and my friends (i.e. all of you) to go stay on his island.

Songs I bought this week on iTunes: State of Shock (Michael Jackson/Mick Jagger), the Hello songs from this week's Glee, and Crystal Bowersox's "Midnight Train to Georgia." She's probably going to win, don't you think?

Krysta and I are going to see The Pioneer Woman tomorrow. Wish us luck -- I'm a little worried that there will be a gazillion people there and we won't make it to the front of the line before she has to leave.

And that's it -- bedtime. Have a great weekend!

Thursday thoughts

I love and adore hummus.

I went to Costco with Mr. Crushworthy during lunch today (I KNOW!) Of course, this is the one day that I go to Costco and don't see a single soul that I know but I promise this really happened. He's struggling with a decision, seriously stressed out and needed a field trip away from work. Who knew that a stroll around Costco with me is a surefire cure-all? Well, it is.

I've worked late every night this week. It's getting old.

Have you ever met anyone who is "allergic" to everything? I have. Did you know that if you have food "allergies" and you eat out at fancy restaurants, your food "allergies" won't bother you because the quality of food is such that it doesn't bother your food "allergies?" Yeah, I didn't know that either. And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

TV update: I can't wait to watch the finale of Ugly Betty (don't tell me how it ends.) I am loving Survivor this season - still can't believe Russell outmaneuvered Boston Rob. I'm not really into Dancing with the Stars. I have all of the episodes of Lost recorded (including last season's finale) and have yet to watch any of them. Justin Bieber was actually pretty good on SNL last weekend. Who'd have guessed I'd ever say that?

My wrist hurts. I'm not sure why.

I got my tax return. I'm going shopping now. Spring is springing and I need new clothes for my trip to Utah next week. Yes, I leave for Utah one week from today. I'm going to Callie's graduation and Women's Conference. I'm excited even though the thought of leaving work for 6 business days stresses me out. Blah.