I Hate That We're in the Same Boat (but it makes me feel better knowing I'm not crazy for feeling this way)

So, recently I was thinking about starting a book or a project of some sorts that would illustrate the frustrations of the women who find themselves in the same boat as me. Now, in describing the boat, I want to stress that I am not trying to puff up my own ego, mainly these are observations of the other people who agree that we are in the same boat and what I find their qualities, talents and character traits to be like and I'm lumping myself in there because, well, it's the boat I hope I'm worthy.

This "boat" consists of beautiful, smart, funny, thoughtful, talented women who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) who are, for whatever reason, having a hard time getting a date. So here's the beginning of my project, to start blogging and put my thoughts and ideas out there.

For the record, this is not going to be a place where we are going to bash or bad talk the LDS young men for their flaws or other character attributes we feel that they should have because, frankly, I'm sure there are qualities that we can improve upon ourselves. And of course there are some things we can improve upon!! If we were perfect, we would have been translated already; I'm just saying. It's just going to be a place where we can say what's on our minds about every singles' favorite topic: Dating.

Ben & Jerry's

There once was a time in my life that I ate ice cream almost every day. Now I have ice cream maybe once a month. So the other night we were trying to decide what to do and it was suggested to go get some ice cream. I thought we could try the frozen custard in White Flint, but we showed up just as the guy was closing shop for the night. So, we took our little party of three to Shoppers Food Warehouse and proceeded to pick out ice cream. If I'm gonna get ice cream I'm gonna go all out - so I decided what I really wanted was just a pint of Ben & Jerry's. The problem was, what flavor? There were so many I hadn't even heard of that I was hard to decide. In the end, I got three different flavors - the problem with indecision and peer pressure to "Just do it!" So - we returned to our house and helped ourselves. Poor little ice cream - I could only get in about 1/2 a cup before I called it quits.

So - now for the point of this blog... I found myself the next day a little bored and lamenting the fact that I was on my final hours of freedom (school begins today 01/26/09) and I was drawn once again to my little pint of ice cream previously started the night before. While I was enjoying some of the deliciousness, I turned on the TV. It was about 5 minutes before I realized I was watching the "Lifetime" channel, and I started cracking up at the scene. Here I am, eating Ben & Jerry's while watching the "Lifetime Television for Women" channel. I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't changed the channel and found an hour special of Brian Regan to laugh my cares away.

L. A. Pics

Please remember that I couldn't take my camera with me to the premiere, so here are the pictures I did secure

On the way to L.A.

Waiting for my luggage at the airport

In the Town Car :)

Checking in at the hotel

Marian in the LA sun waiting for lunch

Our Room

Daddy must have been here - notice the grey tape on the blind...

Wall*E

The mall right by the hotel

One of the many quotes outside the theater

Walk of fame

Street performer

The end of 2008

I keep re-starting this blog, maybe because I don't think that anything I write is going to come across the way I wanted it to, but 2008 is ending, and something should be said. I think that I have learned a lot this year, and I have more hopes for next year.

Most recently, I have been on the anti-social side, not by choice, but by necessity - and it's times like those that you find who you can really depend on to be there when you need a break from studies with comfort and encouragement to keep up with the hard work even though it puts a strain on some friendships. I would have to say overall I'm extremely happy - I love where I live, who I live with, my job, the calling I had, and the classes I was taking. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous about teaching Gospel Doctrine - but we'll see how this shoe fits.

My New Years resolution last year was to read a book for pleasure each month. I got through Harry Potter books 4 - 7 at the beginning of the year, and a book called "A Man in the Wall", re-read some of the Chronicles of Narnia (The Magician's Nephew and The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe), and began a book called "A Walk in the Woods" but never finished it - though it is on my list of things to do. Another book entitled, Red Adam's Lady, which I actually read twice because I enjoyed it so much. I'm also working on Twilight - and I'm enjoying it thoroughly. So all in all I'd say I did pretty well on my resolution considering on top of those books I had text book reading for my classes and homework for the math classes. I like that resolution and I think I'll try it again with another resolution to support a real change in my day-to-day living. (So if you're reading this and you have any suggestions for a good book - I'd be happy to add it to my list)

I have also been doing some self reflection and I have decided it's time to make an adjusted life plan with SMART objectives. I realize there are certain things that I really want in my life, and other things that I can totally do without. I want to purge the things I can do without to make room for the things that I need to have around in my life.

Well, this is all I can think to write at the moment, I know there's more, but I'll have to save that for another entry.

I'm not a good blogger

So - I need to update this more... not that I haven't been doing anything lately, I just don't know where to start sometimes. I guess I should start by writing down things that I think are funny.

Lately I've been addicted to the show "Arrested Development" -- I realize it's been a while since it's been off the air, but I was just curious to see more of Jason Bateman's work since I met him. That being said, I have been watching the show on Netflix and Hulu.com to get my fix. I haven't laughed so hard at a TV show by myself in a long time. I usually laugh only around other people who are laughing, like my parents, but I find myself laughing so much I have to pause it so I don't miss anything. Why didn't I ever watch it before? Well, the world may never know... this I do know though, I told my mom a little bit about it, and she was laughing so hard she could barely stand it... my next goal is to watch it with her... everything seems more funny with my mom's infectious laugh.

L.A. Trip

Ok you guys - so here is the story - and I am just going to start by saying that everyone was so wonderful and gracious - it made the trip FANTASTIC!

We left early in the morning and took our flight out of DCA - Reagan International. I saw Aaron Birch there - which was fun - but then I saw him getting on my flight to Phoenix. So - I wonder what the odds are of this: his first flight left without him and he was re-routed and actually assigned to the seat next to me. We had a great flight to Phoenix and then said our goodbyes and Marian and I went on to L.A. We got to the airport and walked out and saw our driver holding a sign for "FERGUSON" Well, we said we were Fergus - and he took us. He was really fun and was a great first impression of the city. We got to the hotel and met the Best Buy people and then checked in. Our room wasn't ready so we went to eat at California Pizza Kitchen - it just seemed fitting. We met a crazy man there - Daniel. He told us he was an actual time traveler and he was in a movie coming out soon. So - yeah - he was insane. We then went and got in our room and rested for a little before we went to the "Meet and Greet" with the other winners. Everyone was so fun! We had catered appetizers by Wolfgang Puck. The Best Buy people were so great! They came around and met us and talked to us and we just had an awesome time getting to know the winners. They said that 75,000 people entered. There were a lot of winners from Texas. There was a good mix of colors and ages - and different parts of the country. We met a young couple who just got married and had a great time talking with them and then other people. We then left the party and took a stroll down "The Walk of Fame" and on the way a guy doing caricatures said would do mine for free if we tried to get other people to sit down while he was drawing. So he drew me for free and we tried to get him some business. Then we went to Grauman's Chinese Theater and took pictures of the foot/hand prints. We had a great time there. There were a ton of people from all kinds of places. They have character's dressed up and working there for tourists to take pictures. I saw people dressed up like Spider Man, Marilyn Monroe, KISS, Cat Woman, Cookie Monster, Jimmy Neutron, and Jack Sparrow. We saw a couple of street performers and then went back to the hotel and went to bed early - even though to us it was pretty late.

We got up early the next morning and had breakfast at this little crepe place and then booked a tour. While we waited for the tour we went shopping for souveneirs. Dane was the only lucky duck who got anything because everything looked so cheesy and it was just too expensive. So we went in a couple of different places and then headed for our tour. We went to a lookout of L.A. and a place were you could see the Hollywood sign. Then we went around and saw several homes. There was a poster for a lost dog and a $2,500.00 reward. Apparently Jack Nicholson's neighbor's are pretty young, and loud and he's called the police several times to break up their parties - and now their dog is missing. You do the spectulating. We saw Rodeo Drive, Sunset Blvd, and of course Hollywood Blvd. We had an awesome tour. Then we ate lunch and did a little bit more window shopping and headed back to the room for a quick nap. We got ready and went to the party. Again - catered by Wolfgang Puck. We had a great time - met some more of the winners who came late. The music was good - but got better when my sister started requesting songs. We waited anxiously and they put us in groups to meet him. Then FINALLY he CAME!! He was so wonderful. Met every person, and shook their hands and gave me and my sister a kiss on the cheek!!! We also got to speak with Jada and tell her that my dad's favorite movie is Kingdom Come and she perked up a bit when we told her that. It was wonderful. AND YES! She is tiny! We of course being rule keepers did not bring our cameras and therefore did not get any pictures other than the ones that they took and said they would send to us. I was a bit upset when I saw other people taking pictures, but we weren't the only ones without cameras. We then walked down all together to the theater. We went straight in and sat in our seats. OK - that was dumb - but I did get up to go to the bathroom and walked right by Ray Ramano!! Then I met Queen Latifah! When Marian went to the bathroom she met Kevin James and Jamie Fox. We then sat there and waited for people to take their seats. Will finally came in and we started the movie.

The movie is AWESOME - everyone should go see it! I really enjoyed it - but I was in the third row back - so I gotta see it again in the middle middle so I can see it without my eyes crossing. After the movie was over - we walked over to the after party. On the way - we met Damon Wayans and saw a ton of people I recognize - but I didn't know their names. We met Sinbad and his son or grandson that was with him was a spitting image. We walked in and walked around and took in the layout. There were three screens and they had various things playing on them. Scenes from the movie - interviews - it was great. We walked around and met Jason Bateman, Charlize Theron, Minnie Driver, and had a great time. Will Smith got there and walked to the stage - on the way there he walked right by me and recognized me from the party and put his hand on my shoulder and said "Hey, how you doing?" I soaked it all up. We followed him to the stage and he got on, we were about 10 feet away. He then said thank you to everyone - the director, writers, and of course his co-stars. THEN - he gave an impromptu concert and there was a girl there who requested him to sing the Fresh Prince theme song. It was great. He sang that, Summertime, Miami, Gettin' Jiggy With it, and one or two more. He then left DJ Jazzy Jeff up there to do the music. We walked around some more- found a table and sat down. I got up again to dance and came back after a song or two. There were some women dancing near us and I saw something fall on the ground. I picked up this jeweled flower which was ginormous and I was trying to see if it fell off her dress or something - but I went up to her anyway and it was Vivica A. Fox - and she looked down at her ring and the band was still there but it was the setting that had popped out. She was astounded and said it would have been devastating because it was worth $20,000.00!! (Not in those words) So she asked for my name and address to send me something. I don't really expect anything - because she could have lost the address - but the thought was nice. She and her friends hung around for awhile - and patted me and rubbed my arm as if they were basking in greatness. That was the BEST feeling. After awhile - we took one more round and then headed back to the room exhausted. We went to sleep - got up and had more crepes for breakfast and then checked out and headed for the airport in our car. Our flight was early and we got home about 9:30 pm. It was absolutely amazing and like I said everyone was gracious. And now - Vivica A. Fox is my BFF. :)

I have an idea!!!

Ok - so I know this is random - but this is one of my favorite stories about my nephew Jordan when he was 3. Last April for my brother Robert's birthday he made the trek down from Hagerstown with Francie (his wife), and his sons (my nephews of course) Ivon and Jordan. So - my brother had requested that my mom make a "Granny Cake" nick named after our Granny Griffin who would use a yellow "dunky and hines" (AKA Duncan Hines) cake mix and make chocolate icing and put pecans on the top and in the icing in between the three layers. When they got there we were going to eat dinner and then have cake later. The boys walk in and of course they are terribly excited to see their darling aunt (Yes, I'm talking about me!). Jordan took about 30 seconds to survey the area and saw the cake. This is when he announced to everyone, "I have an idea! Let's eat some brown cake!" He was so excited - but we all soon explained that we still needed to eat dinner and it would be a little while before we ate some cake. He said "Ok" and began playing with the toys. A couple of minutes later he stops playing and puts his hands up and exclaims, "I have an idea! Let's eat some brown cake!!!" We then explain to him once again that we still have to eat dinner. He happily says "Ok"... this is the beginning of a pattern. Though sometimes he would emphasize "Let's eat some BROWN CAKE!" and be just as happy to let us tell him "not yet" as we are splitting at the seems with laughter because every time he said it, it was as though he was saying it for the first time - with such enthusiasm and surprise to know that there was cake for his dad's birthday. There are some very precious moments that can be hard to capture, but I would have to say when that boy finally got a piece of "brown cake" there hasn't been a happier 3 year old. If ever I say, "Let's eat some brown cake" after you have just told me "I have an idea!" That is why...