Pony Trouble

Last Sunday, Eliza and I went for a walk down Timpview Drive.  This is something we do fairly regularly because we are basically an old married couple.  IT was already dark when we started out and getting pretty cold.  We were walking down a block that was lined with trees (making it even harder to see) when we both caught sight of something.  It was walking toward us slowly and creepily.  I thought it was a giant dog so I stepped behind Eliza to avoid the danger.  (I'm an awful friend, it's true).

Eliza screamed.  Then she said, "It's a pony!"

Indeed, it was.  We stood there for a second calming our nerves and then Eliza went to the nearest house to see if they owned the pony.  I hung out on the sidewalk with her as she trimmed the grass in the neighbor's yard.

Eliza came back with the guy who rents out his pasture for the pony.  He let us know that her name is Patty.  It was unsettling to be hanging out on a Provo sidewalk with an unnamed pony so I'm really glad he cleared that up.  He went to get a rope to lead her back in the pasture so Eliza and I waited with her.

Then she ran.  She took off down Timpview Drive for no apparent reason.  I, being the animal lover of the two of us, didn't want her to get hit so I took off after her with the goal of guiding her safely home.  Wrong.  Patty is much faster than me and surprisingly more stubborn as well.  She ran for about three blocks and then promptly turned and ran home.  Chasing Patty is the most exercise I have done in months.

When I got back to where I left Eliza, she was no where to be found.  I even yelled her name, thinking she was maybe also looking for me.  A neighbor with horses had helped put Patty back in the pasture and told me that Eliza was in his house.  As I was outside, freezing, thinking that Eliza was trampled or maimed by another errant pony, she was actually in some nice, warm house enjoying dried apple slices.

Eh, all's well that ends well.  I exaggerated.  I didn't think she was trampled, I thought she went home.  And she didn't get apple slices until we were both in the house.  They were divine.

If ever you're in Provo, keep an eye out for Patty.  She's a wild one.

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Delectable

I'm burning through a big bag every few days.

It's not healthy.

They're delicious.

They're round and humongous.

I'm planning a tropical trip for January....hopefully I can balance Cheetos consumption with a few apples and baby carrots.

How Rude!

I had an impromptu night of hilarity last night.  I was working in Ogden all day (an hour and a half North of where I live) and I got a text from my friend asking if I wanted to go to the USU vs Weber State game in Ogden.  How could I pass that up?  I was already there, I love basketball, my work clothes made it so I had to go buy a new outfit....I fail to see any downside.

My friend is an alumni so we sat in the student section.  He said USU is notorious (infamous?) for having mean/offensive/rude/belligerent fans.  He was RIGHT!  But it was SO fun!

The first example was when they announced the players for Weber State.  All the Aggie fans literally turned their backs; it is quite the sight to see!

Then, all the mean (awesome) cheers/jeers done by the students!  Inspiring!  Wait, I need to back up.  The cheerleaders definitely do not lead the cheers for USU basketball.  Just so we are clear on that point.  Anyway, some of my favorites:

• When an opposing player was taken out of the game the crowd would chant "left, right" as he took each step to the bench and when he got to his seat everyone would scream "SIT!!!
• When the ref made a lousy call I heard a group of guys yell, "Ref, Ref, Referee B-A-S-T-A-R-D!" 
• When an opposing player would foul the crowd points at him and yells "You, you, you, you SUCK!" in unison.  

Of course there was more, but if you would like to experience it for yourself you may join me on Wednesday at the USU vs UofU game in Salt Lake.  Now I need to figure out how to get some Aggie blue to wear!

....But to God

I am grateful on this Veterans Day for all veterans, past and present.  I have always been especially touche by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  When I was younger my dad told me stories about the people who have the honor of guarding the tomb.  They are more dedicated to the men they guard than I have ever been to anything.  They are impressive and deserve much more accolades than they get.  Here are some interesting facts for you:

• The Guard takes 21 steps during his walk across the Tomb of the Unknowns; it alludes to the 21-gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.
  
• There has been a Sentinel on duty in front of the Tomb every minute of every day since 1937.
  
• Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
  
• The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
  
• There have been 3 female Sentinels.
  
• Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.
  

Lessons Learned

These are things I have learned so far during my short stay on Earth.  I'm sure you will agree with some and disagree with others, but either way, they work for me.  This list is no where near complete, look for a Part II eventually.  Please share your life lessons in the comments section, I always learn SO much from my friends!

• Ex boyfriends should stay just that - they are rarely better the second time around
• True and sincere change takes time
• It's easier to keep a tidy room if you pick up a little everyday (I have learned this but I have yet to apply it)
• Nothing is better than a mom at making you feel better when you're sick
• People will judge you.  It's how you react that is important because 9 times out of 10, that person doesn't matter
• We should embrace and celebrate the uniqueness in ourselves and others
• True friends will stay, no matter the time or distance between you
• How you start your morning will effect the rest of your day - if you let it
• Facebook, texting, email, etc will never replace the honesty and genuine nature of face-to-face communication
• Brushing your teeth before drinking orange juice will only end in misery
• You can't force love
• When you find sunglasses that look good on you - buy in bulk
• Knowing who you are is the greatest gift you can give yourself
• Don't beat yourself up over a scoop of ice cream, it's all about self control (again, not one that I apply on a regular basis)

Unladylike

This is awful!  This has nothing to do with it being against BYU, I have basically zero loyalty there. This player should be ashamed of herself!  I read up on this a bit and the New Mexico player, Elizabeth Lambert, has been suspended indefinitely.  If this was a collection of hits throughout the whole season, fine.  (Except for that hair pulling incident)  But this was in ONE game!

Someone needs some etiquette training - stat!

What Was That...?

I love memorizing a song only to find out that you've been singing the wrong words.  Who has not had this happen to them?  I know I have.  I especially like catching others in the act!

When I was little I thought the Elton John song "Tiny Dancer" actually said, "Hold me closer, Tony Danza".  It makes sense, he was on Who's the Boss at the time....OK, fine, justifying it away doesn't make it any better.

One summer my sister, Meghan, and I were tormented with a Mariah Carey lyric from the song "Without You".  We were torn, did she say "You always smile, but in your eyes your summer shows"?  Or was it "sorrow".  I know, I know.  Your eyes don't show summer but we swore up and down that we heard summer!

I caught my sister, Elisabeth, singing to a Dixie Chicks song one day and have not let her live it down since.  She sang, "you can't take back every chubby chill you give me" when it should have been "little chill".  I'm not sure the difference between a little chill and a chubby one, but I am open to experiment with that.

My last (and possibly favorite) example comes from my best friends in high school.  We (me, Tira, Brian and Sean) noticed that in the beginning of the song "Everything I Do (I Do it For You)" that Bryan Adams is supposed to sing, "Look into my eyes, you will see" but it sounds like "Look into my eyeth".  Bryan Adams brings out the lisp strong on that first line.  I promise.  Find it on your iPod (because you know you have it on there) and listen to the first line.  You will laugh.

I know I have lots and lots more, they're just escaping me tonight.  So, all I can say is thank heavens for lyrics.com!

Photo found here 

My Life in Lists

I go this awesome book whilst on my recent month long excursion to Las Vegas.  I found it at Urban Outfitters (love) in the Miracle Mile Shops on the Strip.

I am a lover of lists.  I make at least one list everyday for short term "to do's" and I have several ongoing lists for long term goals/accomplishments/waist size, etc.  I think I got this from my sweet mama who is also a list enthusiast.  She has stacks of scratch paper by the phone for this purpose.

This book is just page after page of titles of lists and then blank lines for you to fill-in your answers.  I know, this is just for suckers like me who could record all these things in an actual journal but prefer to throw away money on this sort of kicky treat.  I love.

Some of my favorite lists:

List things most people probably don't know about you

List your best purchases

List your past lovers

List the things you'd save if your house was on fire

Leave me a comment and you just might end up on my favorite friends list

"So let's be honest with ourselves and not take ourselves too serious, and never condemn the other fellow for doing what we are doing every day, only in a different way."

- Will Rogers

(Happy Birthday Will Rogers!)

Today's To Do List

1. Take and pass my NIC written exam
   
2. Buy the Glee: Volume One soundtrack
   
3. Chipotle for lunch
   
4. Target for hangers and discount Halloween candy
   
5. Catch up on Desperate Housewives
   
6. Take a nap

I'm almost done with my list!  :)  Ok, this was really just a ploy to mention that I passed my written exam and to be able to use the fun strike through feature.  Have a good one!

Dry Ducts

Since returning from Asia I have pretty much stopped crying.  I used to weep with the best of them but lately I have kept my typically overworked tear ducts stopped up and drying out.  Case and point, on Saturday afternoon, Eliza and I went to see "The Time Traveler's Wife" and I shed roughly 2.64 tears the entire movie.  You may think that this is not a blog worthy feat, but believe you me....if I had watched that movie 3 months ago, I would have left the theater with sleeves damp with salty tears.  Even Eliza was surprised at my lack of emotion.

I don't know what the big physical or physiological change has been, but I don't necessarily miss crying so I'm fine with this new turn of events. Especially because I have been able to cry sincerely when it was warranted and that's what makes all the difference.  I would never want to give up my sensitive soul if it meant I could no longer cry with or for a friend.

Maybe I should watch "Steel Magnolias"....that should probably get the ole' tear ducts free flowing again.  Then again, I think I'll abstain for now!

Found on PostSecret.  I believe this to be true, and I hope you do too.

Twinners

Up until Glee came out, I had only ever heard that I looked like Julia Roberts (three times), Jennifer Lopez (I disagree but Julie was adamant), some actress on Guiding Light, and Jennifer Grey from Dirty Dancing (not my favorite comparison).  One time my dad made a comment about Julia Roberts not being very pretty and I let him know (as I tried desperately to control my quivering lip) that I have had the comparison with her more than once.  I love watching the foot from mouth extrication process.

Lea Michele is of Spanish and Italian descent while I, on the other hand, am a whitey white girl direct from Mother England.  While she has the natural tan, I have to work on mine.  We both have the awesome dark hair and dark eyes that I love so much (which is probably why I love Puck!).  I love the comparison and would welcome a guest role on Glee as her long lost sister.  Of course, if you follow Glee then you know this is basically impossible because she has two fathers.....

Who is  your celebrity look alike?

Fill Your Bucket

Long story - get comfy.  I met an really amazing interpreter out here in Vegas.  She is not only a tip top interpreter but also a very kind and humble person to be around.  She and I had many opportunities to talk about life and love and she gave me some great advice.  She told me to do two things -

1. Put on my "open sign"

2. Make a list of my best and favorite characteristics and focus on those

I like the way she thinks.  To be truly loved, you must love yourself first.  There is nothing wrong with celebrating the things you love about yourself!  In fact, positive thinking never did any harm so I made my list and I look forward to adding to it.  I'm not going to post it because it is for me.  But I would like to challenge everyone to make their own list.  Love yourself and you will get a lot of love in return!

It's a lot like that game "fill your bucket".  Usually it's played/conducted in a group and you go around the circle and give compliments to everyone.  You fill your self esteem bucket.  I love.  Let's play it sometime!

Wow, I really scaled back on that story.  But I still hope you got comfy!  (let me know if you have questions about the whole "open sign" thing...)

I've never seen a monument erected to a pessimist.

- Paul Harvey

photo found here 

Fun Stuff for a Monday

I Have Landed!....?

I have been interpreting my hands off this week!  I am mentally and physically exhausted from all the work I've had.  Sometimes when I come down to Vegas I do jobs where I sit around for 6 hours and read my book attentively watch my client.  Not this week, oh no.

I have learned a lot about interpreting, about what I'm capable of and where I fit in this interpreter world.  I worked this morning and as I began I noticed two girls staring at me.  I thought they were just "those people" that can't stop watching the terp.  Then I saw them signing to each other.  Great.  No pressure at all.  Did I mention that I was working solo?  Awesome.  When the job ended the two girls cornered me and told me they were in an Interpreter Training Program and were using this as observation hours.  Gross.

But wait...does this mean I have landed?  People are observing me?  I'm awesome?

But wait...how did I do today?  Are they "those people" who are hyper critical of every thing I did and will bash me in their reports?  Ugh.

Identity crisis in the Nevada desert...hooray.

Glee-ful

Directions:

Please click here (I couldn't get it to embed) (boo)

When done, promptly return to my blog.

Read the rest of my post.

Discuss in comments section.

OK, if you're reading this then you're back and you watched the Glee video.  My thoughts -

love

Love

Love

LOVE!

I love - 

Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond

Puck singing Sweet Caroline to Rachel

Puck's darling smile during the entire performance

Rachel for being awesome and beautiful

Dale for thinking I look like Rachel

Rachel for having the coolest name ever

The actor that plays Puck, Mark Salling.  I want to kiss his face and let him sing to me

The fact that Mark was on an episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger" 10 years ago

GLEE!  I love GLEE!

        OK, let's discuss.  If you watched last night's episode, you know what happened and I'm feeling mixed about it.  The whole Rachel loves Finn and Puck loves Quinn went all topsy-turvy last night, but it also hinted that Finn loves Rachel and Quinn loves Puck.  For the longest time I wanted Rachel with Finn but last night convinced me that my dream matchup is her with Puck!  It works!

Please discuss.