gift wrapping 101

Happy Holidays Everyone!

christmas memories

Christmas is the time of year for so many things; among those is childhood memories. Every family has traditions that are special, but most of the traditions tend to be inside jokes, so if you're not in the family, you don't really get it. Well this post is just that sort of thing. A Garfield Christmas was on our yearly repertoire of holiday movies and we would laugh and laugh and laugh at this part, something about their lips is just fantastic. So, Zac, this one's for you. Happy Holiday Memories!

happy birthday mom!

Today is my mom's birthday and what better way to celebrate a birthday than by having a party. So I invited her closest friends to gather and celebrate her life. When I sent out the invites I asked everyone to list five things they loved about her so the night went as follows: laugh, cry, laugh, cry, laugh, cry, laugh, hug. Of course I think my mom was wonderful and amazing in every way, but it's so nice to know that other people felt the same way about her. As we sat around eating one her favorite little dishes and listening to some of the funniest stories about her, I felt so lucky to have been blessed with such an incredible mother. Family, loved ones, good friends, old friends, meaningful experiences-these are all that really matter in life. Is there anything better than having someone that positively affects your life and makes you a better person? I think not. So with that, I'd like to say thanks to Marilee, Joy, Marilyn, Karen, other Joy (even if it was just in spirit) and Carrie for making mom's birthday party one to remember.

turkey day

What an amazing Thanksgiving weekend it has been; relaxing, fun, and wonderful! Thanksgiving was nice and relaxing, Curt's fam came here so we were able to just hang around home. My Top 5 for Thanksgiving Day:

1. Of course, being with loved ones. That's always the best part of any holiday.

2. Eating my weight in food. 

3. Preparing the delicious feast in our great new kitchen.

4. Watching everyone play the Wii. Yep, even Brad and Grandma Eva. So there we are, playing Wii Sports, when Curt's 90 year old grandma comes downstairs. She sees us playing Wii Bowling and says, "Oh, I've played this." Of course we're all thinking she's talking about real bowling. Oh no, she's played the Wii before! And the best part... (don't hate me Stace) she wasted Staci. She was amazing! I just laughed and laughed laughed. Ok back to the list.

5. We put up our little christmas tree that night, it was great.

The rest of the weekend was filled with yummy food, making goodies, watching christmas movies, decorating, and playing Lego Star Wars with Stace. Thanks again for coming over Stace, it was good times. I hope you all had a fabulous Turkey Day!

thanks & giving

Thanksgiving is upon us. I love Thanksgiving, it's such a stress free holiday. It's just so wonderful to get together with people you love, eat lots of yummy food, nap, eat more yummy food, relax and get geared up for Christmas. In fact, the only thing I don't like about Thanksgiving is the fact that the Cowboys play every stinking year. Bleh. Being this time of thanks and giving, I have been thinking of all the wonderful things I have in my life and my list goes a little something like this:

-wonderful friends and family who love me (especially Curtis)

-adorable dogs who think that I'm the most amazing person

-living in a great community and country

-being able to buy a Mt. Dew whenever I want

-always having enough food to eat (usually more than enough)

-having a nice, warm, safe house

-being able to go to Disneyland often

-the package of christmas tree peeps waiting in the cupboard. mmmm.

-fuzzy slippers

-fantastic christmas movies like Elf, Christmas Vacation & Mixed Nuts

-having a vehicle to take me where I want to go

-working with people I enjoy

-being able to throw parties whenever I want

-guitar hero (and other awesome video games)

-music. music. music.

-hoodies

My list could go on and on, I'm so blessed and have so much to be thankful for. I think everybody should make a "thankful list", it's good for you. So with that said, make yourself some hot cocoa or apple cider, make your "thankful list" and then watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. 

kitchen remodel

We did it! And now we're back to the land of the living! Of course, I'm talking about our kitchen remodel. For the past two weeks or so it totally consumed Curt and I. We did find little bits of time here and there for sleeping and eating, but not much. We have been wanting to remodel our kitchen since before we got married (almost six years) and now it's finally done. Things I know for sure: (1) If you can make it through home remodeling with your spouse and still like each other when it's over that's a pretty good relationship indicator that things are going well, (2) In the event of a home remodel project, your house will completely look like rubbish, especially the parts that aren't even being worked on, and (3) Home remodeling is like having a baby. While you're going through it you're stressed, anxious, on edge, exhausted all the time, sometimes you may even feel sick, and you always think "what have i gotten myself into?" which is often followed by an explicit (even if it's only to yourself). But when it's all over and done with, it was absolutely worth it and the next time a remodel is hanging in the air, you grab it without a single hesitation. 

Curt and I video documented our remodel as we progressed through the stages. So without further a do, I give you the kitchen remodel of 2008 (aka The Final Frontier).

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

halloween carnival

The Halloween Carnival was good times! We had a great turn out and everybody enjoyed themselves. Thanks to all of you who made it so much fun! Here are some pics from the photo booth. Enjoy.

Luckily, Action 3 News was at this momentous event and caught a lot of great footage. For more exclusive coverage of the carnival click here. Action 3 News.

spiders and cats and bats...oh my!

As I've previously stated, I'm a big fan of Tim Burton. This is one of his early films, before he had worked on any big movies, and I totally love it! Yet another movie infused with the halloween spirit.

eye candy

Clue has definitely been the movie of choice this halloween season so I've decided to delight you all with a tasty little tidbit of eye candy. Enjoy! And if you haven't seen this movie, put it on the top of your list.

pumpkinpalooza

Friday was the first annual pumpkinpalooza party and I'm happy to report that it was a huge success. We ate a fantastic dinner, had yummy halloweenie treats, watched Clue and carved pumpkins (of course, what would a pumpkinpalooza party be without pumpkins). This is me, Staci and Alison with our super cute pumpkins!

Instead of carving pumpkins, Paul and Curt just played on their macs, but had a great time all the same.

I'm sure there are many more pumpkinpalooza celebrations to come in the future. Maybe even other palooza type parties, I mean who wouldn't want to go to a -palooza party, it just sounds fun. You should all try one.

the midnight hour is close at hand...

Happy October 1st! I love love love October, Halloween, fun creepiness, decorations, candy, everything and anything to do with this time of year. In honor of this festive month and to get you all in the "Hallows Eve Spirit" I've decided to start with a cult classic. Go ahead, sing along. Feel free to get up and pull out your best dance moves.

halloween movie line-up

The Halloweenie movie season is upon us! So for the ease of my avid readers I've composed a list of must-see movies for this fantastic time of year!

A group of oddball characters assmeble at an old Victorian mansion to play a game of "whodunit." If you like the board game Clue, or murder mysteries, or comedy (or in my case, all three) then you will absolutely love the movie Clue. The characters are fantastically diverse and each play an important role. Madeline Kahn has me rolling on the floor ever single time she opens her mouth.

Alfred Hitchcock may have been the best director who ever lived. It's a bold statement, to be sure. Universally lauded by critics, PSYCHO has been so popular with the public that it is scarsely necessary to mention that it tells the tale of a boy and his mother. Anthony Perkins is unforgettable as Norman Bates. He's a reclusive mamma's boy. He runs the Bates Motel -- ominously overlooked by a delapidated, old house. Mother's house. Vivian Leigh plays a would-be embezzler, who makes an unfortunate lay-over at the Bates Motel. Worse yet, she takes a shower.

Ooooh man! I know this movie is so 80's and has a lot of corny parts, but it just isn't Halloween without watching this hilarious flick. I think we've all had neighbors that we've suspected of being similar to the Klopex family. I just love it!

The Sanderson sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, are absolutely hilarious! The three outlandishly wild witches return from 17th century Salem to cast a spell on the town and reclaim their youth. You're in for tricks and treats in Disney's hysterically funny "Hocus Pocus." 

Inspector Winship (Knotts) and Dr. Tart (Conway) are a pair of Scotland Yard investigators who are called on to look into the mysterious murders of Lord and Lady Morley. At the possibly haunted Morley mansion the bumbling duo have to deal with a bizarre household staff, a wealthy heiress, and more in this hilarious spoof of Sherlock Holmes and other mystery stories. One of the best pairings for Knotts and Conway, with plenty of inspired slapstick and wackiness.  Absolutely fantastic!

This is one of my all-time favorites! Tim Burton is brilliant. Despite having recently presided over a very successful Halloween, Jack Skellington, aka the Pumpkin King, is bored with his job and feels that life in Halloweentown lacks meaning. Then he stumbles upon Christmastown and promptly decides to make the Yuletide his own. 

At first glance this late nineteenth century village seems picture perfect. However, this close-knit community lives with the frightening knowledge that a race of creatures resides in the woods around them. The villagers share the fear of the evil and foreboding force that lurks outside. So frightening that one dare not venture beyond "The Village" and into the woods. 

8-year-old Cole Sear is haunted by a dark secret: he is visited by ghosts. A reluctant channel, Cole is frightened by visitations from those with unresolved problems who appear from the shadows. Confused by his paranormal powers, Cole is too young to understand his purpose and too afraid to tell anyone aout his anguish, except child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe. As Dr. Crowe tries to uncover the ominous truth about Cole's supernatural abilities, the consequences for client and therapist are a jolt that awakens them both to something harrowing--and unexplainable. Next stop, creepville.

Gabriel Van Helsing is a man cursed with a past he cannot recall and driven by a mission he cannot deny. Charged by a secret organization to seek out and defeat evil the world over, his efforts to rid the world of its nightmareish creatures have been rewarded with the title that now follows him: murderer. Van Helsing roams the globe an outcast, a fugitive, a loner, himself hunted by those who don't understand the true nature of his calling. If your into myth and monsters then this is the movie for you.

Set in a 19th century European village, young Victor is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious Corpse Bride, while his real bride, Victoria, waits bereft in the land of the living. Though life in the Land of the Dead proves to be a lot more colorful than his strict Victorian upbringing, Victor learns that there is nothing in this world, or the next, that can keep him away from his one true love. Another Tim Burton masterpiece.

Fired from their university research jobs, Drs. Venkman, Stantz, and Spengler promptly set up shop as parapsychologists specializing in psychic phenomena and soon they're ridding Manhattan of bizarre apparitions. But the talents of these spirit exterminators--Ghostbusters--are severely tested when beautiful Dana Barrett and her nerdy neighbor become possessed by demons living in their building. Possibly one of the funniest movies ever! "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together- mass hysteria." -Peter Venkman.

A perfect mix of suspense and thrill. Nicole Kidman delivers a spectacular performance in this chilling tale. And to all of you who claim that you "guessed" the ending, I call shananigans.

Steve Guttenberg. Need I Say more. And yes, this movie is based after Disney's ride in California Adventure.

 

Without a doubt, this is probably the least favorite of the Harry Potter movies according to most fans. And though I think it could've been better, I still enjoyed it. I'm not too hard to please when it comes to movies. I picked this Harry Potter flick because it is definitely the most Halloweenie.

All of the Peanuts gang dress up for the enchanting night of Halloween. All, that is, except for Linus, who firmly believes that this year the Great Pumpkin will finally visit his humble pumpkin patch. A childhood fave!

The Brewster sisters are spinster pillars of Brooklyn society, except for their secret penchant for poisoning old male callers with their homemade elderberry wine, to end the men's loneliness. I love Cary Grant (I'm even a card carrying member of the Cary Grant Swooning Society aka CGSS), he is brilliant on so many levels. This movie is a fantastic display of black humor (without being too black). This is a must see if you like a good laugh. Cary really proved himself a top notch comedian.

The "Addams family" are, shall I say a "unique" family. They live in a rundown, old house which might remind you of the house in Psycho, maybe a little more comical. The head of the household is Gomez, his wife, whom he loves passionately, is Morticia. Their children, who love to torture each other (literally), are Wednesday and Pugsley. Living with them are "Granny" (Judith Malina), the family butler Lurch and the disembodied hand known as Thing. Just an all-around great (cheesy, but great) Halloween flick.

A dead couple attempts to scare a modern family out of there house with the help of a "bio-exorcist." Michael Keaton is so brilliantly disgusting as Beetlejuice. If you watch this and find yourself thinking, "This is a bit corny." Just remember it's from the 80's and then everything should be fine.

A great remake of Hitchcock's Rear Window. Shia LaBeouf does a tremendous job as Kale, a withdrawn and troubled teen who is sentenced to house arrest. As the walls of his house begin to close in on Kale, he becomes a voyeur as his interests turn outside the windows of his suburban home towards those of his neighbors, one of which Kale begins to suspect is a serial killer. Great suspense thriller.

Do you have a favorite Halloween flick?

attention everyone!

An amazing thing just happened! So there I was, on Google, looking up something to help Curt with a little project he's working on. I was doing an image search and typed in "The Matterhorn retro attraction poster" and when it pulled up image results, lo and behold, there I was! I'm blown away! Here's a screenshot and there I am (in my Mickey ears), second row, fifth over. I put retro attraction posters on my Disneyland blog... so that's how I became Google famous.

I'm even closer to the top of the search (out of 22,400 results) if you type in "Big Thunder retro attraction poster". Wow!

redfish lake

This past week Curtis and I ventured into the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho for our annual trip to Redfish Lake. I've been going there for over 20 years, since I was a little kid, and Curt and I have continued on with the tradition. I'm glad we both love camping so much! We arrived last monday and it was rainy and chilly. The camp host came by and said that it had snowed that morning! That night was the coldest, in the 20s, but everyday just got warmer and warmer. Perfect fall camping! Brian, Quinette and the kids came up for the week too. Nate even made an appearance. Maybe we'll be able to get the whole family there eventually. Anyway, we had a fantastic time and didn't really want to leave, but I was tired of putting my shoes (and jacket, and wool socks, and beanie) on to go to the bathroom. Each trip seems to have a "theme". Two years ago it was Napoleon Dynamite, last year it was Nacho Libre, and this year it was "Trouble In Paradise". For a more extensive explanation of what that is click here, http://hotnugs.blogspot.com and Brian will explain it. Here are some amazing pictures that we took. Enjoy!

jack @ usana

Lastnight the fab four (ie. Curt, Paul, Alison, Me) ventured to the magnificant city of West Valley to attend Jack Johnson. A-mazing! We have been to two previous concerts of Jacks' but this was, by far, his best that we've seen! He could have played all night and we wouldn't have even noticed. Not only is he an incredible musician, but he has all his buddies (some of which are under his record label, Brushfire Records) that are also incredible musicians. Lastnight he had with him Rogue Wave, Neil Halstead, and Zach Gill, the lead singer of ALO. Needless to say it was an amazing show!

Usana Amphitheater while Rogue Wave played.

Paulison.

Curt and I after the show.

BFFs.

Meg & Ali.

the best in beijing

The greatest Olympic moment in the Beijing games. The kind that is played time and time again and goes down in history.

Congratulations Michael Phelps. For becoming the greatest Olympian the world has even known.

olympic spirit

That time is upon us again. The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. I have always loved watching the olympics, I think it's my competitive spirit. When I watch I often feel an adrenaline surge. The Olympics is one of those thing that I think, "In a different life I could've been in the Olympics." Of course, I would have had to have a much more obsessive mother and completely given up my childhood and teenage years in pursuit of a gold medal. And then if I didn't win a gold... can you imagine? It would haunt me the rest of my life. (but of course I would've won a gold) Hmmm, maybe I couldn't have been in the Olympics. Regardless, I still love to watch. So in the Olympic spirit, I have gathered some terrific trivia.

-In ancient Olympic Games the winners were awarded a crown of wild olives.  However, they were richly rewarded by their cities or states, including being given a lifetime pension to great monetary rewards.

-In the ancient Olympic Games Greeks were the only ethnic race allowed to enter in the competition.

-At the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, silver medals were awarded to the winners and bronze to the second place getters.

-The first recorded Olympic Games was 776 BC. It consisted of only one event, the "stade" race (about 220 yards), and the first winner was Coroibis of Elis.

-All athletes competed nude at the ancient Olympics. (glad they changed that!)

-More athletes than spectators attended the 1900 Paris Olympic Games.

-Pigeon shooting was one of the sports on the program in Paris in 1900. Fortunately this shooting event was short lived. It was the only time animals were killed on purpose during an Olympic event.

-These are some of the discontinued Olympic events from the past:

•     croquet
  
•     motor boating
  
•     polo
  
•     tug-of-war
  
•     plunge for distance
  
•     underwater swimming
  
•     obstacle race for swimming
  
•     cricket
  
•     golf
  
•     lacrosse
  
•     racquets

-The first Games to be televised were Berlin in 1936. The events were shown on large screens around Berlin. The first Olympic Games to be covered by television worldwide was the Rome Olympics in 1960.

-The first athlete to win gold medals in five consecutive Olympics was British rower Steven Redgrave in 2000.

-The youngest ever Olympian is Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundras, who competed in the 1896 Athens Olympics. He was 10 years old.

-The oldest ever Olympian is Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who won his sixth Olympic medal at the 1920 Antwerp Games at the age of 72 years and 280 days old.

-American Mildred "Babe" Didriksen won medals in high-jumping, hurdling, and the javelin in 1932 Los Angeles Games. She is the only athlete to ever medal in all three events.

-The Olympic Rings were adopted by Baron Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic Movement) in 1913 after he saw a similar design on an artifact from ancient Greece. The five rings represent the five major regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Every national flag in the world includes at least one of the five colors.

-The Olympic Flag made its debut at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. At the end of each Olympic Games, the mayor of that host-city presents the flag to the mayor of the next host-city. It then rests at the town hall of the next host-city for four years until the Opening Ceremony of their Olympic Games.

-Emil Zatopek of Chechoslovakia is the only man to win gold metals in the 5000 meters, the 10,000 meters, and the marathon in the same Olympiad. 

-Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci scored perfect 10's seven times at the 1976 Montreal Games.

-The Olympic Torch Relay symbolizes the passing of the Olympic traditions from one generation to the next. The Olympic Flame symbolizes 'purity, the endeavor for perfection and the struggle for victory', as well as representing peace and friendship.

-The Olympic Motto is  'Citius, Altius, Fortius', Which means 'Swifter, Higher, Stronger'. 

-The Olympic Creed - "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well."

-Greece is always the first country during the Opening Ceremony's Parade of Nations. The host city is last, and the others are in alphabetical order.

-During the Opening Ceremony, doves are released to symbolize peace.

-In the Closing Ceremony Parade, the athletes are not separated into national teams as they enter the stadium. This is to symbolize the unity and friendship of the Games. It is a tradition which started at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

-Countries to have won the most Olympic Medals:
1.  United States----2,112
2.  USSR----1,234
3.  United Kingdom----665
4.  France----601
5.  Germany----573
6.  Italy----478
7.  Sweden----471
8.  Hungary----442
9.  East Germany----410
10.  Australia----352

an armstrong production...

The Armstrong's are known for many things. Among the smattering of talents and skills, none are more highly acclaimed as our dancing. Here are just a few of the many many numbers that were performed at our last get together. 

Curtis and I worked a long time on this, it took quite awhile to get it just right.

Craig and Carol really know the meaning of showmanship, as evident on this next number. They wrote and choreographed this entire piece.

Brian and Quinette love country music, so naturally they went with that theme. Here they are, along with Cam and Jess, showing us what they do best.

Now, the amazing brother sister duo of Staci and Nathan!

Up next is Jeff and Stephanie with a little ditty that really takes you back to the malt shoppe.

And last, but certainly not least we have Brad and Grandma Eva performing a number that is very close to their hearts.

mamma mia!

Mamma Mia! Here I go again! With another movie review. I'm sure you can all guess what movie I saw. Yep, Mamma Mia! Such a fun movie! Being a longtime listener and lover of ABBA, I had to make a conscious effort to not sing out loud during the movie. And I have a sneaky suspicion that most other viewers were struggling with the same impulses. I absolutely loved it! Definitely one for the personal collection. Here are some great ABBA songs that made the cut.

I know that many of you are big fans of Curtis's dancing. He's practically a celebrity on my blog. Well, of course, I like to give people what they want and keep them coming back for more. Here's my "Honey Honey" dancing to a great number from the Mamma Mia! soundtrack. Thanks Curt, you're the greatest!

gotham knight=amazing

As per request by one of my fans, Nikki, aka "Hairdresser To The Stars", I am doing a review of my recent film voyage. The Dark Knight was unbelievable! It easily made it into my top 10 favorite movies. I loved Batman Begins, but this blew it out of the water. It was more than just good vs. evil. The deep plot sucked you into the movie intellectually and emotionally. The actors couldn't have been any better. I think they all had to reach to a new level for what was required of them in this film. Thankfully they finally got rid of Katie Holmes, she was terrible and there is no way she could've played the part in this movie. Maggie Gyllenhaal did an amazing job. Heath Ledger, alive or dead, deserves an award for his disturbing role as The Joker. He was realistically terrifying. Of course Christian Bale was incredible, probably the best Batman ever. And Aaron Eckhart. Wow. I think he's a very underrated actor. What an amazing Harvey Dent and Two Face! As you can tell I loved this movie. Both Curt and I did. So much, in fact, that we're going again this week with a couple friends that haven't seen it yet. I do have to give one word of caution in my review. This film is rated PG-13 and for good reason. I know there are some PG-13 movies that aren't really, but in this case it absolutely is. Just a little disclaimer for any of you who have kids in that "almost" age. 

the dark knight

Listen while you read, it makes for a much better experience.

It's here! Finally! The most anticipated movie of the year! I think the only person more excited to see The Dark Knight than me is Curtis. Some of you may know, but those who don't, Curt is a major major fan of Batman. Hoodies, decals, t-shirts, a lava lamp, you name it. We even have an alarm clock that projects the Bat symbol on the ceiling along with the time, pretty convenient eh? So thursday, at midnight, we'll be watching as our Dark Knight fights off the mayhem brought to Gotham by The Joker. It certainly looks to be the best Batman yet. 

"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

                                   -Harvey Dent, DA of Gotham City

The Ultimate Battle of Good vs. Evil!

the surprise

So Staci has been studying music in Austria for the past year. She did come home for a few weeks at christmas, but that has been it. Carol was told that she'd be coming home this week and had planned on picking her up on tuesday. Little did she know that we had a little plan of surprise. Curt and I picked Staci up from the airport saturday night. We had invited everyone over on sunday for a BBQ, despite Carol's best efforts to convince us to "do it after Staci gets home". So we anxiously waited for Carol to arrive. (everyone else in the family knew about it) The following video is what took place. 

It just made you smile, didn't it?

4th of july festivities

You know it's summer when you're going to drive-in movies in the jeep. For the 4th of July, Curtis, Paul, Alison and myself went to the Motor Vu drive-in theater in Ogden. And, as always, good times were had. 

if you need a chuckle...

Question. Why is it so funny to watch other people dance? It almost rivals watching people fall down. I think this little clip from the Pink Panther is in the top 10 of funny dancing. Check it out.

Among other funny dancing is this part from Dan In Real Life. Steve Carell is the reason it's so funny. Watching this brings back a little memory of The Booze Cruise dancing from The Office.  Maybe it has something to do with being a "Steve".

And let's not forget this little beauty. Quite possibly the funniest of all time.

spring hollow

Earlier this month we went camping up Logan canyon, first time of the season. As always, we had a great time, even through the rain. The following video is a great sum up of our little outdoor excursion. 

rock on tomato famine!

I'd like to talk about a "problem" that's been sweeping the nation, well actually it's only been sweeping about 16 states. Yep, I'm talking about the big tomato salmonella scandal of 2008. First of all, this is the best thing EVER! I mean it. No more, "Does that come with tomatoes?" or "Can you please hold the tomatoes on that?" And no more picking tomatoes off when I've foolishly forgotten to specify an entree without them. Basically, my life has gotten a lot easier since this little "outbreak". Unfortunately it can't last forever. Now I'm sure many of you are thinking "How can you not like tomatoes? You obviously haven't had a really good delicious one fresh from the garden." Let me tell you, I don't like tomatoes, but it's not for lack of trying. Every summer I eat a fresh-from-the-garden tomato... and end up spitting it out. I just can't. And it's alright. (I know you're with me Zac and Brian.) I've just accepted that it is something that I'll never like. Ever. And for those of you gasping and slightly shaking your heads right now, let it go. Not everybody likes them and I don't feel I'm missing out on anything. So hopefully that salmonella won't give up easily. In years from now I'll think back, with longing and fondness, to the tomato famine of 2008.

1st day of summer!

Happy 1st Day of Summer!!

going south & finding culture

Curtis and I gave Craig and Carol tickets to see Les Miserables at Tuacahn so thursday morning the four of us headed down south to St. George. The weather was absolutely beautiful! Myself, not being a huge fan of St. George and the heat, was thinking it was going to be too hot, but it sure wasn't. None of us had ever been to Tuacahn before and we all loved it! I'm pretty sure this could become a yearly tradition. I saw Les Miserables for the first time last year at the Pioneer Theater in Salt Lake and I fell in love. It's amazing! The music and story and characters all have so much depth. My top three favorite characters are  

Jean Valjean, Javert, and Fantine. But the Thenardier's are absolutely hilarious! I think

everybody loves them, at least a little. I think being settled in the beautiful red cliffs of southern Utah made the production even better. And because there wasn't the restrictions of being indoors they were able to have live animals (the little piggy was Carol's favorite), fireworks, and use the surrounding landscape. What is it about going to plays that just give you the chills and make you feel all cultured? Is it just me? Everytime I see a play there is always a part of me that wishes I was... talented. I wish I could get on stage and really belt it out and, instead of people getting up and leaving because I sound so bad, they would stand and applaud. Welp, nothing I can do about that. I was not, I reapeat, was not granted a beautiful singing voice. I would even settle for a nice singing voice, but as it is I stick to lip synching and singing in the shower. (everyone sounds good in there). So in conclusion, my recommendation is to go to Tuacahn if at all possible. You certainly won't regret it. 

getaway today

We all have our little "getaways" or "happy places" we like to retreat to when life isn't exactly what we want or even if we've just had a less than desirable day. And although there isn't much a pint of Ben and Jerry's Phish Food can't fix, sometimes you need something a little stronger. For me, that "something stronger" is Seinfeld. There is nothing this delightfully funny show about nothing can't fix. Seinfeld will always make the skies seem a little blue-er and the grasses a little greener. And no matter what is going on in my life it will never be as pathetic and humiliating as that of George Costanza. 

A tribute to Elaine...


Everyone's favorite idiot, George.


Everybody needs a little Kramer.


And of course, Jerry.

favorite place...ever

Disneyland is my favorite place to be! The magic of Disneyland knows no boundaries. And I'm excited to announce that Curtis & I are taking a little trip to the Happiest Place On Earth in October! It's our belated anniversary getaway. So last night, as I was watching some video from our December '07 trip, I decided I needed to make a little movie. The kind of movie that gives you the Disney tinglies. And I'm not one to brag, but I think this movie does just that, so enjoy the magic!