I'm Going To Whine

I'm tired of my job. I'm tired of getting home at 10:30 PM on a good day. I'm tired of seeing Nathan only on weekends. I'm tired of not being able to see my friends because I work at night and that's when they are available to meet. I'm tired of not looking at the church calendar because I can't attend the socials anyway because I have to work. I'm tired of never having 2 days off in a row. And I'm tired of being tired.

Kids Say The Funniest Things

I spent the weekend with my 4 cousins and thought I would come back with funny stories to tell. While they did make me chuckle during my stay, the cute moments don't translate easily into writing.

For instance, Allie is 4. At the end of our visit we were visiting outside by the cars. Apparently she'd had a long day and too much activity. She climbed into the backseat of her dad's car, announced 'I need some peace and quiet time', and shut the door.

Sunday morning I made pancakes for the family. Uncle was at work, aunt was recuperating from surgery in her room and cousins Allie (4) and Kyler (14) were still asleep, so I only had the middle 2 at the table. So while I was at the griddle flipping pancakes, I asked Cade (7) and Sarah (8) to get the table ready. I reminded them to get plates, then forks, then knives, then milk, then syrup... We all sat down and I asked whose turn it was to say the prayer. Sarah figured out that since it was Sunday it was her turn. We listened to an interesting child's prayer which involved what was on her mind which included people in the military since we had been talking about her Uncle Tim who is in the Air Force. And after the prayer Caden pauses to say, "you guys are like my mom and dad. But nicer."

Trip To Ikea: Part Two

Lesson: a 31.5" wide bookcase does NOT fit into a '97 Toyota Corrolla

Between the self serve area (where you pick up your furniture) and the cash registers lies the "As Is" section. Floor models and furniture with imperfections are sold here at discounted prices. Jen and I stopped for a quick look and of course I found something.

Our conversation went a little like this:
Me: Do you think a bookcase could fit into your car?
Jen: Probably, why?
Me: Well, I kind of like that one. (pointing to an already assembled bookcase. Later measurements would show it to be 31.5"wide, 41"tall, 11"deep)
Jen: Yeah, that would fit.
Me: Are you sure, because I don't have to get it...
Jen: It'll work.

I'm sure the people at the loading area of Ikea had fun watching two women try to fit it into first the trunk of her car and then the backseat. It finally did get in through the back doors. Jen isn't the type to give up and the bookcase slid right in- after we got the angle just right and pushed the front seats as far forward as they would go. Problem solved.

When we got to my place it didn't want to come back out. What goes in must come out, right? We got quite sweaty under the afternoon sun as we finangled that thing out of the car. We must have worked at it for half an hour. My friend's poor car looks a little worse for the wear after our (mis)adventure.

Thanks Jen. Let's not do that again.

Trip To Ikea

Utah's only Ikea store had it's grand opening last May and homemakers statewide were thrilled. Last Friday, I went shopping there with a friend. She wanted to get a comfy reading chair for her room and I wanted to see this Ikea wonder that everyone is talking about. First impressions? Big and blue.

This store is huge. Since I have no sense of direction, I stayed close to J so that I wouldn't get lost and never find my way out.

After lots of sitting, J decided on a POÄNG chair. She wrote down the code letters and we went to the self serve area to pick out the boxes. I wasn't too confident in a piece of furniture with 'assembly required,' but when we got back to Provo it was ready to use in under 15 minutes. I swear.

Not everything at Ikea fits my style but it's great prices for good quality stuff with lots of choices. I'd definitely go back.

Birth of an Idiom

Overheard at work:
I don't want to piss in your cereal but...

* The correct phrase may have been burst your bubble.

No Baking Allowed

My friend had a birthday this week and I wanted to make her a treat. And I did NOT want to turn on the oven because it was HOT. So I made...

PEANUT BUTTER CUP BARS
Ingredients:
1 C butter, melted
1 1/2 C graham cracker crumbs
2 1/2 C confectioner's sugar
1 C peanut butter
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:
Mix butter, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and peanut butter in large bowl. Press firmly into 9"x13" pan. Melt chocolate chips and quickly spread over top of graham cracker base. Let harden, cut, then refrigerate.

The Unseen Man

My mailman bugs me. I don't think he does his job very well. Either that or the United States Postal Service is less reliable in Orem than it is in Provo.

1. He's grumpy.
2. We get mail for people who don't live here.
3. One day last week, we got our neighbor's mail and they got ours. They don't keep 'junk mail' and by the time we fixed the mistake all my flyers and catalogs were in the dumpster. I enjoy looking at these and now I couldn't because of my mailman.
4. The mail doesn't come at the same time every day. If you're going to come at 4 o'clock, then come at 4 every day and not 11 or 1 when you feel like it. I'm counting on that time so I can put a letter in the mail at 3 and have it magically disappear. One time I got mail at 5:30.
5. My outgoing mail doesn't always get taken.

P.S. The USPS is not owned or operated by the government, thus we cannot blame rising stamp costs on the President. Stupid stamps.

Do I Have Eyes In The Back Of My Head?

At a recent doctor's visit...
Dr: Have you been watching these moles on your back?
Me: Ummm, no.
Dr: I'll get you a pamphlet so you know what to look for.
(thanks. can you also get me a neck that turns 180°)

What's For Dinner?

Tonight we had a moist, yummy, meatloaf with sides of Rice-A-Roni and Pasta-Roni. Here's my recipe:

MEAT LOAF SUPREME
Ingredients:
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 C milk
1 egg
3/4 C seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp dried basil
1 T dried parsley
1/8 tsp pepper
1 1/2 lb ground beef

Topping:
3 T ketchup
1 T honey
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 9x5 inch loaf pan with foil (for easy cleanup).
2. Combine milk and egg in large bowl; add bread crumbs, basil, parsley, and pepper. Stir until well blended. Add onion, mix well. Add beef; mix just to combine ingredients.
3. Shape beef mixture in prepared loaf pan. Do not pack. For topping, combine ketchup, honey, and Worcestershire sauce in small bowl. Mix well. Spread evenly over top of meatloaf.
4. Bake until cooked through, about 1 hour.

Good Luck Nathan!

Nathan is taking a 3 hour long exam so that he can be an ACE certified Group Fitness Instructor and be paid to teach yoga. The stinkin' test costs $200 and starts at 8:00 AM in a city that is an hour's drive away from us. And of course he won't know his score for 4-6 weeks. If he doesn't pass, it isn't offered again until February. Glad I don't have to take this test.

Let's all keep our fingers crossed for Nathan!

Hormones

Background: Nathan is taking Prednisone (a corticosteroid) because of an allergic reaction to sandalwood. He put undiluted essential oils on his skin in place of cologne and the area broke out in hives. Then it spread.

Story: Last night Nathan said "I think my Progesterone pill is making me moody." I found this to be extremely funny. Because, yes, a guy on progesterone probably would experience moodiness.

In A Nutshell

NATHAN

• Work: Full-time quality assurance scientist at MBi Neutraceuticals. This is a small company in Lindon that only has 8 employees.
• School: Graduated BYU August 2006, with BS in Microbiology and minors in Chemistry and Anthropology. Just celebrated 10 year reunion with American Fork High School alumni. Training to be a yoga instructor.
• Other: Wants to learn a gaelic language. Interested in swordplay. Fan of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.

BETH

• Work: Part-time medical assistant at Telos, RTC. See post from July 25, 2007.
• School: Class valedictorian in April 2007 when received diploma in Medical Assisting from the American Institute of Medical & Dental Technology. Studied family psychology at BYU for 3 years.
• Other: Favourite colour is purple. Hobbies include genealogy, birdwatching and coin collecting. Reads a lot of fantasy.