Saturday Seething (part 32 of a 444 part series)

High School Never Ends

Maybe it's the YSA stage of life.
Maybe it's the same for everyone.
Maybe it's just me.

My new singles ward feels very much like I'm back in high school even though the average age in the ward is mid to late 20s. There are the popular girls, the jocks, the goths that sit in the corner, the dorky but funny guys that we all love/tolerate, and drama drama drama. Seriously, I feel like I'm in
an unfunny version of a John Hughes movie!!

Why do I care?!
I thought that I didn't!!

I bugs me how society always segments itself (some call it Cliques) into insiders and social outsiders. How do we become insiders? Why are we outsiders? Does everyone feel like an outsider?

It reminds me of Bachelor Pad last summer- the house ended up divided into groups of insiders vs. outsiders and the insiders dominated the competition. I wonder if the same thing will happen this season.

I probably should have been a sociologist- I find human nature fascinating!!

Happy Saturday!!! You're all insiders to me :)

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Happy Pioneer Day 2011!!!

We celebrated the 24th of July (AKA: Pioneer Day) today. We started the day at a neighborhood breakfast then went to Liberty Park to watch the Days of '47 Parade. We were able to park the car in Lesley's old employer's driveway and they joined us to watch the floats.
Happily, the weather was only in the 80s and overcast so it wasn't sweltering and we didn't bake in the sun.
Happy Pioneer Day!!!!!!!

I feel the need ...

... the need to blog.

It could be boredom or a longing need to communicate into the void, but I have a desire to blog today even though I have nothing important to write about. (who am I kidding, I never have anything "important" to write about!!!)
I saw the new Woody Allen film "Midnight in Paris" and I really enjoyed it. The art cameos got to be a little over the top (hello Adrian Brody as Dali) but the overall message of the film really touched me. The message is that nostalgia for the past, along with being dissatisfied with the present, is part of the human experience, no matter what our present is.
Long story short, our 2010 protagonist longs for the days of the Roaring 20s in Paris and he magically gets transported back there nightly at midnight. While there, he meets a girl who longs for La Belle Epoch (the beautiful age) of the late 19th Century Paris. They, in turn, get transported back to that time and while there they meet Toulouse Lautrec and his friends who long for the time of the Renaissance. It's a never ending cycle of never appreciating the present.
I believe the phrase "the grass is always greener on the other side of the street" fits this situation rather well.
Maybe this human desire for the past is why some people struggle with contemporary art- because it is from our present and therefore we are dissatisfied with it. Being an art historian, the past captivates my interest and imagination. I adore contemporary art at the same time but perhaps we value art from ages past because the past can never change, it is stable and constant.
These are just some ramblings of a girl who is looking for contentment (or satisfaction) in a rather uneventful life. My wish and hope is to find joy in the journey of life and feel valued or find value in everyday tasks. I need to look towards the future and appreciate the gift that is the present.

Saturday Seething (part 31 of a 444 part series)

This week's rant is brought to you from the checkout line at Walmart. Apparently it is totally for a Walmart cashier to close the line at anytime even if there is still a long line waiting to be checked out. I have had the line "close" when I was only 1 cart away not once, but twice tonight- I wish I was kidding. Both lines where incredibly long so basically I've had to start all over 3 times. The current line is stopped b/c the customer needs translation. OMGosh- the first line that closed on me just reopened but now the line is as long as the one I'm in- ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do I have more than 20 items so I can't get in the "express" lines? Oh ya, I'm in charge of mingles in my YSA ward and we have zero budget so I'm stuck buying 200 paper plates, cups, and napkins. Except the utensils only come in packets of 50 so I have a cart full of cheap quality foam that is just going to be thrown away to fill up a landfill for the next 100 years.
I have now been waiting to be checked out for 30 minutes. I hate Walmart.

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Saturday Seething (part 30 of a 444 part series) Thursday Edition

I really don't get why people order their food to-go, then eat it at the restaurant anyway.
This drove me MAD when I was working at Eat-A-Burger. At EAB, if you were staying, your food came on a tray with napkins and mints but if you asked for your food to go then it would come in a bag with napkins. I cannot tell you how many people would order to-go, but then dine-in. It wasn't like it was a mistake or they changed their mind- people would do it over and over on purpose. What?!!!
So the other day, I went to Cafe Rio for a pork taco and the 3 people before me and 2 people after me in line all asked for their food to go, yet all of them stayed to eat at the restaurant. Why?!!!
I guess the argument can be made that they only want to eat a little and take the remaining home but Rio has the lids and to-go supplies by the napkins and utensils so people could get it themselves.
At EAB the to-go yet dine-in eaters would make such a mess of the tables which only gave me more to clean up; it drove me nuts and I still get worked up about it 2 years later. It's the same kind of anger I get when I see people that litter and yet drive hybrid cars.
Go Figure!
Happy Thursday (the work week is almost over!!!!)

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America the Beautiful- Happy Independence Day

Here is a photo of my gorgeous mother and myself at the neighborhood breakfast this morning. I love this holiday and I love this annual breakfast. The kids were in a bike parade, all of them on two wheels (Jack on a glider bike) and played games. Even though the sky was overcast, it was a lovely day and I'd give this 4th of July a 9.5 out of 10!!!
God Bless America

Saturday Seething (part 29 of a 444 part series)

Clumsiness Must Go!!!
I have fallen UP the stairs not once, but twice today.
Both times I was carrying big, but not heavy, boxes so it made my falls audible throughout the entire store. Apparently I can't do two things at once, like carry stuff and walk up stairs.
The only things hurt besides my pride are the palms of my hands.

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Saturday Seething (part 28 of a 444 part series)

I wonder if Heaven has the Internet.

I must admit that is an odd topic to think about but let me explain the thought process that led me to that line of questioning.

I walked in to the gallery this morning to find 3 burned out bulbs when 12 hours earlier they were all fine. I was frustrated because I had just changed out 5 burnt out bulbs on Tuesday. The gallery cannot go more than a week without having a light bulb burn out- argh!! So I pulled out the ladder and thought- why can't they invent bulbs that will never burn out- which led me to think about the Brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon and the lit stones they used as light in the boats- which led me to think about what they use for light in Heaven. Then I said to myself "That is the dumbest thing you have ever been curious about!! God is light. Knowledge, truth, and purity are light... THERE IS NO DARKNESS in HEAVEN"
Well then I thought- if we have no need for light bulbs in Heaven, do they have electricity? Does Heaven (or more appropriately, the Celestial Kingdom) have Internet access?

Sometime I wish my brain would just turn off.

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Saturday Seething (part 27 of a 444 part series)

Okay, okay... So I've missed a couple of Saturday posts but this is a 444 part series so I'm sure I can catch up!! Ha ha ha
The hardest part about a fantasy dream vacation, like the one I just had at Walt Disney World, is coming back to the cold, hard reality of a 44 hour work week. I love my job but was such a bummer to come back to problems and a plethora of emails to answer.
While in Florida, Valie kept saying, "Wouldn't it be great if we could spend a whole year at Disney World?!" and I would agree with her but add, "Don't you think it would get boring being on vacation all the time?"
I guess the reason why we love vacation is because it is rare and we get to savor every moment. We long for vacations to take us out of the monotony of our everyday lives. I have an escapist mentality where I love anything that takes me away from my reality, even if for only a small moment, like TV, books, art, and trip planning.
I'm already looking forward to my next adventure!!!

Twins

My co-worker brought this to me today and I just had to share!!!!!!

Saturday Seething (part 26 of a 444 part series)

Thing that Must Go: people saying "I appreciate it" as they walk out the door of stores.
It really bugs me when instead of a simple, appropriate "thank you", people utter an insincere "I appreciate it." I have to hold in my sarcastic "Do you? Do you really appreciate it?!" every time I hear it, even when it's not directed at me.
I had this same issue when I was working drive-through at Eat a Burger.
Not that using this phrase is bad, it's just getting over used and therefore loosing sincerity. To appreciate means to recognize the quality and full worth of something or someone.
I guess the root of my seething today is the lack of sincerity of people today. Mean what toy say and recognize the meaning of words you use. I am reminded of the words of Dr. Seuss in Horton Hatches the Egg: I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant is faithful, one hundred precent.

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Max-i-Kins

Remember my post from October 2009 about Lesley finding a kitten while doing yard work? Well, I'm sad to say our miracle cat Max has died. He had been missing for a few days and we found out yesterday that he had been hit and killed by a car less than a block away from his home. We are all devastated and heartbroken. He was a beautiful, adventurous, friendly, crazy cat. He was excellent at killing rodents and birds. He loved to cuddle and get up onto the kitchen counter. He was best friends with his littermate sister Ruby; they would sleep entwined and groom each other- who is going to clean her neck now Max is gone?
We love you Max!! We will never forget you- have fun with Tigger and Kitty in the Spirit World (and don't let them teach you all their bad habits!!).

Brontë Sisters Power Dolls

I saw this video on a friend's Facebook page and was laughing so hard I nearly cried!!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NKXNThJ610&feature=youtube_gdata_player

*Please watch before you continue reading*
I think my favorite part is the ruffle doily collar on the Bronteasaurus and the "barrier breaking feminist vision"- BRILLIANT

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Saturday Seething (part 25 of a 444 part series)

They say "to error is human" but there can be nothing more frustrating than human errors.
To make a long story short- I took my car to get the safety and emissions inspected to renew my registration and due to human error ended up paying someone else's taxes. The poor counter girl had a hard time telling the difference between gray and silver Mazdas and confused my paperwork with another persons. Luckily the other person paid my taxes in a trade type situation; if he hadn't then I would have had to go to the DMV to get the situation resolved (agh!!).
At least everything worked out and I didn't die of a heart attack.
Happy Saturday!!!

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ROYAL WEDDING - 2011

> I am so happy I woke up at 3 AM this morning!!!
> This was such a beautiful wedding and I loved every second of it. The dress was perfect and I thought her simple veil was classic. They will be able to look back on the photos of their wedding in 30-50 years and not cringe!
> Her sister's cowl neck dress was really fun and I loved the box pleats on the flower girl dresses. William and Harry looked regal in their military regalia.
> I really enjoyed the sermon the Bishop of London gave about love and marriage in the modern world- it almost sounded LDS!!
> I went back to bed at 5:30 once the bride and groom arrived at Buckingham Palace then woke up at 6:30 to see them come out to the balcony and the two sweet kisses... Awe... And the crowd goes wild!!!
> Then I went back to bed until 8:30 and saw them drive out in the blue convertible with the license plate "JU5TWED"- too cute!!!
> What did you think of the royal wedding 2011?
>

ROYAL WEDDING- 2011

ROYAL WEDDING - 1981

I am SO excited for the royal wedding tomorrow!!!!
I wasn't alive in '81 but I remember my sister Andrea always talking about it when I was really little. We stayed up (or got up early) to watch Diana's funeral with Andrea in '97. I kind of wish we could watch William and Kate's wedding together for the sake of continuity :)

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQTe47cR-Ws&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I still haven't decided if I'm actually going to wake up at 3 AM to watch or sleep and watch clips on You Tube. (if only this were next Friday then I could DVR it!)
Do you have any Royal Wedding plans? I might have to make cucumber sandwiches and wear a funky headband to work so I can feel a wee bit British :)
Is there any particular commemorative wedding memorabilia you wish you could get? I'd love a tea tin or one of the commemorative plates. I did get a commemorative phone cover (yes, I'm that cool) but it is still being shipped- I'll post a picture once it arrives.

Happy Wedding W&C!!

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This Totally Made my Day

Marines+Britney Spears+primitive editing= The Best You Tube video I've ever seen!!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCrG6TzG-nw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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Saturday Seething (Part 24 of a 444 part series)

Sometimes I wish I had a remote control for the weather.

I would love to have it snow when I can stay home all day or be at the cabin for a weekend.
I would love it to be sunny and comfortable on my days off work.
I would love for it to be rainy when I want to wear my beautiful trench coat (and feel British!).
I would love hot days to spend at the pool.
I would love cool days for a long walk.

It would be so awesome to be able to select the weather!!

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Oh look, Spring Spheres!!

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2011/04/09/seattle-school-renames-easter-eggs-spring-spheres

 

Please follow the link and read the article then come back to this post.

If you choose not to follow or unable to follow the link, I will give a brief summary.

 

A teenage girl was volunteering for a week in a 3^rd grade class. At the end of the week, she wanted to give the kids plastic eggs filled with treats and jellybeans and she asked the teacher if that would be alright. The teacher then approached the school board and they said they could hand out the gifts as long as they called them “Spring Spheres” instead of Easter Eggs. So when the girl pulled out the treats, the teacher exclaimed “Oh look- Spring Spheres” and the kids looked at her and said “Oh, Easter Eggs!”

 

The part that gets me mad is not the removal of the word “Easter” because that is just beyond ridiculous and will not go in to it at this time.

 

The part that gets my blood boiling is that the plastic eggs are not a sphere shape- they are an ovoid!!!

That school board and teacher should be ashamed of themselves. The Earth is a sphere, a ball is a sphere. An egg has a slight point to one end making it an ovoid.

I guess the word “egg” is so offensive and must be purged from the public school system at the cost of educational mal-practice. These poor children- what other subjects are the teachers misleading them about all because they are PC?!