My words of wisdom

This September, I will have worked for my company for 24 years. Yes, I was only 10 when I started working there. Okay, okay, I was 12.  Anyway, rather than calling attention to the fact that I’m indeed, old, I tell you this because with experience (and years on this earth) comes knowledge.

Basically what I’m trying to tell you is this: I know stuff.

There’s a guy in my office who realizes that I do in fact, know stuff, so he comes over every Wednesday to get words of wisdom from me. These vary between work related advice (i.e. if you have to choose between working solely from home vs. working in an office, choose the office if you want to ever get promoted) to items that are more personal (if you’re a female high school teacher, it might not be a good idea to exchange cell numbers and then text with a male student 800 times over a period of a month. See here.)

I know it’s not yet Wednesday but I thought I’d share a few items of wisdom with you because I know a handful of you miss the blogger Jeanelle. I miss her too. She needs to blog more often (yes, I just dropped 3rd person!)

1. If you’re dating (or thinking about dating) multiple people at once, try to keep the facts straight about each person. If that involves creating an Excel spreadsheet for yourself, just do it. It’s totally okay to date more than one person at a time. Just make sure you know the basic facts about the person you happen to be talking to instead of asking ridiculous questions that don’t apply to them (i.e. thinking you have a roommate or that you live in a city not remotely close to the one you actually do live in – both topics covered at length during previous phone calls.)

2. If someone offers you a piece of that super dark whatever percentage cacao chocolate, just don’t eat it. It will not taste good. At all.

3. Every so often friends can turn into beloveds (i.e. my darling Callie & her sweetheart Andrew.) More often than not, however, if you fall in love with a guy who is already your very good friend, he will probably only be able to see you as a friend. It hardly ever happens like it does in the movies and books where the guy is smart enough to see that the girl he is BFF’s with would also make a totally awesome girlfriend. Yes, it stinks and yes it’s totally unfair. But don’t give up hope – there are lots of cute fish in the sea! (And secret message to another sweet girl whom I adore and love having late-night text-fests with: I’m totally blogging about you…again! Why? Because I love you!)

4. If you ever get asked to work with the youth of the church, whether it’s chaperoning a dance, teaching a skill at a Mutual activity, going to YW camp or youth conference, etc. just say yes. Don’t even hesitate. Serving the youth of the church, while it can at times be sucks-the-life-out-of-you hard, is truly the greatest thing I’ve ever done. Ever. I cannot even begin to count all of the ways my church service with the youth has blessed my life.

5. When you’re at a day-long youth activity like the YW general broadcast followed by a dinner followed by a stake dance (or basically you're on your feet from 3:00-11:30 PM) bring slippers to wear when your feet start to hurt. Because trust me, they will start to hurt, no matter how comfy your shoes were at 2:45 PM.

Success is...

Finally figuring out how to get your iTunes playlists off your old and dying computer and onto your new and healthy computer without having to recreate them.

Using a long knife to stab and withdraw the half a bagel thin I dropped in the space between the cupboard and the fridge before it stayed there and grew moldy and forgotten.

Getting to stay home an entire day, wearing sweats and comfy socks but no makeup because it snowed the night before.

Nothing in the laundry basket.

Discovering a great dinner (a lighter version of a BBQ chicken chopped salad) and eating it three nights in a row.

Doing something great at work that made me look like a superstar.  Earlier in the week, I was accused of "slipping" by my beloved boss and he threatened to replace me with Minka Kelly (aka Lila Gerrity from Friday Night Lights.  No, she is not going to be an exec assistant anytime soon - but he can dream.) But today, I was awesome and I reclaimed my title as queen of everything and poor Minka goes back on his laminated list.

Blogging two days in a row!

Things I love

To try and break the bloggers block...

I love days where it's a blizzard one second and sunny the next and then more blizzarding followed by more sun.  A day where I get to leave work early.  A day like today.

I love going to my friends, the Allens for a sleepover.  Why?  Their kids love me plus we do nothing except talk, relax, eat and go to Costco.  Oh and we also watched Social Network which I really enjoyed for the most part.  Oh and we never take pictures of all of the fun we have.  Why?  Because we are too busy talking, eating, relaxing and shopping at Costco.

I love ice cream cones.  Yes, even in the winter time.  Sugar cone, please, with slow churned cookie dough ice cream.  It's the only time I stay within (or close to it) the recommended serving size.  But seriously, who eats half a cup of ice cream at a time? 

I love spiritual growth.  I've loved attending two wards most Sundays (yes, I know that sounds a little crazy) for ward conferences.  It's been a much welcomed spiritual boost and I just feel great.

And speaking of, I love ward conferences.  Besides the spiritual growth, I love seeing so many friends and I love the program we are doing for the youth of our stake.  We only have two more - I'm almost a little bit sad about that (but going to my ward again will be nice too.)

I love my hair (please forgive the vanity.)  I'm growing the length and I like it but I promise not to let it get to "that" length.  (You know - when it's too long for my age.)  Plus I just got the color done (yes, two months since the last time and yes, I hate that.)  But really, I'm grateful I just have hair.

I love water.  It seriously is the best beverage.

I love sweet messages from lovely people on my Facebook wall (you know who you are.)  I have such great people in my life.

And, I think that's it.  What do YOU love?

Q&A: An interview with me by me

Q: Why on EARTH have you not blogged in weeks?
A: Well, it's a combination of the following things: nothing that exciting to report, some kind of interesting things that I don't feel comfortable sharing and some spiritual things that are kind of personal and I'm unsure HOW to share them.  So I just haven't blogged. 

Q: Is it true you went to Target today for tissues and gum and spent $80?
A: Yes, alas that is true.  Having a Target a block away from my office is painful to my bank account.

Q: What do you think of the Bachelor this season?

A: I like it but obviously not as passionately as in previous seasons.  Thus, no blogs about it.  But I'm guessing I hate the same girl you hate (Michelle - ugh.)  I like Brad more than I did at the beginning of the season.  I still hate the way he talks but LOVE the way he hates drama and takes care of it by quickly getting rid of the drama-causers (except stupid Michelle.)

Q: How's the calling going?

A: WAY better.  We sort of hit a major rough spot in December but things have been working better ever since then.  I'm also feeling more comfortable speaking up in our committee meetings, which makes this calling more bearable (I despise feeling like I don't have a voice or don't get to vote.)

Q: What are your latest food obsessions?

A: Vanilla yogurt with granola and celery with a little peanut butter.  (Yes I'm trying to be healthier this year and it's feeling really great.)

Q: How many unread items in your Google Reader?

A: 788

Q: Well, if you're not reading blogs regularly, what are you reading?

A: Um, nothing.  I haven't read a book since December.  That's very sad, I know.

Q: What play are you seeing this week?

A: Rock of Ages.  I think Constantine from American Idol is in it too. My early 20's self is really excited to rock out for a couple of hours.  It will be difficult to not sing out loud.

Q: What restaurant are you going to for the first time ever this week?

A: Ruth's Chris.  KMZT and I are going before the play.  I'm not sure how it will play into my healthy eating pledge but I'll figure out a way to make it work.

Q: Is there anything else you want to share?

A: Have I mentioned that I'm helping with our stake's Trek this summer?  Well, I am.  I'm still Pa-less so obviously I won't be pulling a handcart but I get to be in charge of activities with my dear friend Lisa.  I'm very excited but a little bit overwhelmed thinking about all that my assignment entails.  But it will be wonderful - I know it.

And with that...nighty night!

And the crowd goes wild

Happy ward conference season, everyone! I will basically miss attending my own ward until sometime in March but it's fun to visit the other congregations too.  Our presentation about the 13th Article of Faith (focusing on the "being" and the "seeking") to the youth of those two wards went really well yesterday.

At the risk of sounding "braggy" I want to remember that when I was introduced at each session, I received spontaneous cheers from the girls in each group.  It was so very sweet.  Apparently, going to YW camp makes you kind of famous. No, I did not have to sign autographs, and no I did not need a police escort to get to my car afterward.  However, there are seven more ward conferences to go so applications for cute and, duh, totally single bodyguards are being accepted.

Oh and FYI: prayer works!  The thing I needed to go right at work actually worked out just fine.  Oh happy day. Thank you to everyone who prayed, sent good thoughts, dropped off candy or anything else that kept my head from exploding.  xoxo

And now, random thoughts...

But first, thank you to everyone who commented, emailed, or texted me a little love after my last entry. You are all simply wonderful and I'm blessed to know you.

Things are better -- I made it through last Sunday without falling apart.  Go me.

Work is so incredibly stressful. Like, the worst ever.  If what I need to have happen on Monday happens, I will sleep like a baby that night for the first time in a week.  And the perma-stomach ache will go away.  And maybe, just maybe, the eye twitch will stop.  Stress stinks.

I'm liking American Idol a lot.  I appreciate that we are seeing less meanness and more of the good auditions.  Steven Tyler just has "it."  I don't care what anyone says.  Mmmm.  And I own three Jennifer Lopez CDs and love them.  So there.

Post nasal drip?  Not my favorite thing.

I've been using Latisse on my eyelashes since December and you know what?  It totally works.  I'll try to get someone to take a picture.  It's kind of awesome.

Celery with a little peanut butter is my current favorite snack.  Yum.

It's not wintry here and I want it to be.  Is that crazy?

Modern Family makes me laugh a lot. Not so much this week's episode but loved the last two, especially the "slow down your neighbors" one.  Seriously hilariously funny.

That's all I got.  Bed time...nighty night.

Be still my soul

I've basically cried my way through the last two Sundays.  You'd think I'd be happier on Sundays because a. I don't have a "Sunday" calling so I get to visit and learn every week and I love that and b. church is now at 1 PM so that means I get one day a week to be lazy in the mornings (my idea of heaven.)  But no, I go to church and I cry, cry, cry. I try to hide it but today I had to go outside and take the long way to my car because I didn't want everyone to see me all weepy.  I've decided there are two main reasons why:

1. I'm feeling very empathetic lately.  Whether it's the family who has been having major financial struggles or the father whose son was murdered or the mom whose only son is coming home from his mission, I'm a weepy mess when I hear them share their feelings or see them cry. 

2. Church is the one of the few places where I am smacked in the face with what I don't have. If you know me at all, I try hard to stay happy and positive and grateful but lately whenever I'm at church, I just feel sad.  I know it's silly and selfish and I need to knock it off (and I will) but ugh.  Looking around at all of the couples and families just makes me ache.  Every talk, every lesson, every announcement (i.e. come to ward temple night - it's a great date night!) is a reminder of what is missing from my life.  I know I'll snap out of this and I know these feelings are temporary (it's the dreaded January funk, people.)  And I know I'll be okay. Again.

Today during the Sacrament I read and reread part of a talk by Elder Holland, "This do in remembrance of me." If you need some help focusing on the Savior during the Sacrament, start reading at the paragraph that begins "If remembering is the principal task before us, what might come to our memory when those plain and precious emblems are offered to us?" I highly recommend printing that section of this talk and tucking it into your scriptures.  One of my favorite teachers shared this years ago and I read it nearly every Sunday - it's a big help when your mind is wandering or you're feeling sorry for youself this January like someone else I know.  Hmmm...who on earth could that be???