Happy Holidays

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving (I'm behind), a very Merry Christmas, and I'm wishing you all a Happy & Prosperous New Year! Wow 2009!!!

Someday soon when I have a minute, I'll update. We've had some recent adventures, parties & get togethers, and some good stories from our latest roadtrip to California.

For now, I'm packing for a fun week in Jackson Hole, I love our snowmobiling trips.

Lots of fun pics to post, as well. Have a happy & safe week!

Picture post

I finally took the time to upload some pictures. Better late than never, its a great motto...

Also, it's late but I wanted to tell my dad Happy Birthday. It was on the 8th, and it was "The Big One", not fifty. (Don't worry I've already told him, just not blogged it.) Here's a few birthday pics...

Don't mind the major food baby I got goin' on.






Happy Anniversary to my parents today... 28 years... Have fun at your Jazz game tonight. Aren't they cute...

This blog has sucked lately

WOW, this poor blog has been dull.

I think I've been teaching too much Recurrent Training (flight attendant's annual training) that by the time I get finished, I am done. I have nothing to say. I have been on the road a ton lately, teaching.



In other exciting news we sold calves a couple weeks ago, thank goodness the weather was so nice in Idaho for this. But when I got up that morning it was freezing, so I dressed warm. I spent the day in leggings and wool socks, under my jeans and Muck boots. Needless to say, when it hit 60 that day, I WAS FRYING.

Last weekend, Hoot & I, with his dad, drove to Redding, CA to buy cows. We were gone for 35 hours & about 24 of those were spent in a car driving, blah. There is a reason I prefer flying, I go nutso being in a car that long. The kicker... we came home empty handed, we didn't even buy any friggin' cows. But I still spent Saturday cleaning cowshit out of and off my car. Tromping through muddy, crappy pastures in the rain, will cause boots to be clumped with muddy shitty juice, which followed Hoot & his dad into the car, yum.

I have a ton of fun pictures to add, fun dinners with friends and pics from a few of the Halloween parties we made it to, but they are on my other computer, so I'll try to add those when I get home in a couple days. For now...The nurse & doctor "Feel Good"

Oh yeah and this...


I read the books & I thought they were good, but I wouldn't say I was a crazed fan, although I am going to the opening day movie with a friend. (We bought the last two seats to our showing that weren't in the very front row.)

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

I think I did this once before, forever ago and was someone else, it must depend on the day & my mood.

I'm glad you all keep updating your blogs, it gives me something to read when I am bored sitting in a hotel.

The Quirks Post

I have been tagged on this a couple times and I told Baylee I wasn't doing it till she had her baby, well the little Italian, Bella Marie, has arrived so I guess I'll hold up my end of the deal.

I really don't think I'm too quirky, maybe someone thinks otherwise, but I had a hard time thinking of stuff, so this might be pretty dull.

RULES:-Link the person who tagged you- List 6 of your quirks- Tag 6 other bloggers- List the rules on your blog-

6 Quirks about me...

#1- I love to wander through malls across the country & go shopping. It is a great past time in random cities, that have little or lots to offer. I can always find fun stuff & cute things to buy, but I do have good restraint when I need to. However, if I am on a mission to find a certain item, have to buy something specific (think a dress), I absolutely hate shopping and will get physically ill or a headache and want to pass out. Favorite overnight shopping cities (LA & San Fran... I have been to Mall of America (Minneapolis) more times that I care to count and I think that mall sucks!)

#2- I can't stand dirty dishes, usually when I get home from a 3 or 4 day, Hootie's left me a few. So the dirty side of the sink is always cleared out, but I'm bad about putting the pots, pan, & corning ware in the other side of sink to dry and leaving them there a little too long after they have dried.

#3- Counters have to be cleaned, washed off. I do it all the time & am usually wiping them down before Hootie's done lingering at the kitchen counter. I have to use fresh rags, too. I can't stand for things to smell. When I worked at Hogi Yogi I was constantly cleaning counters and work spaces, huge pet peeve if they aren't spotless.

#4- I love baths and feeling clean. I'm not much of a shower girl. It's so relaxing and refreshing to be in a steaming, hot, tub. But I am a clean freak, and always have to take a bath before I go anywhere or make it through my day. TMI (Quit reading if you don't like it) : My poor husband does not get quickies like he would like to, only if I have time to take a bath before I go anywhere. (He asks alot more than he gets them.)

#5- Procrastination. I am pretty bad about procrastinating certain things. My reasoning for it, I work much better under pressure, it's true. If I try and do somethings weeks ahead of when it needs to be done, I totally stall; if it's two days before, I work much more efficiently and have a better finished product.

#6- I hate feet. People's feet gross me out. They are fine when they are in a great pair of shoes, but bare feet, yuck. The only exception to this is little kids/ babies feet, they are cute. Not stinky, dry and hairy like guys feet. As I write this, I'm thinking it's just guys feet that creep me out, girls are probably okay. (And lots wear cute shoes). I have a friend who I put the blame on for my dislike of feet and he knows it. Thinking back to my freshman year. (For the record my feet are okay and I have cute little toes, they are pretty short (can't wear toe rings comfortably)... but my kids are destined to have long toes. O-well).

I TAG: Christina P., Mandi B., Jamie P., Pam P., Diana S., & Lacy M. Do it girls, it'll be fun. (MAYBE).

Fourth Picture

I don't usually do this stuff, but I really needed a new post on the blog. So I'm playing this game.

Rules: Open your pictures file, got to the fourth folder, and then the fourth picture. Post the picture and write a little bit about what was going on! The first three folders were wedding pics, the fourth was just a bunch of random pics & here is #4 in that folder.


The last day of our Cabo Trip 2007. Notice our semi-fake smiles we were sad to be leaving. It was a fun trip with a fun group of people. We stayed in a beautiful home, this was the view looking out from mine & Hoot's room. The beautiful Sea of Cortez.
Me & Hoot, Chris & Christina, CJ & Sheena, Craig & Faith, Brent & Diana, & Jakelle. Good times!

Hey atleast it's a good pic, you were very close to having to look at dogs, cows, or mountain range. I'm afraid Hootie has many more picture files than I do.

Hope you had a funday Sunday.

Random 9/11 post

It's late, and the day is close to over, but I was just remembering 9/11, and some of my thoughts on the people who caused that dreadful day.
I'm sure we all have very distinct memories of where we were when we learned of the events of that day, and the tragedy that struck our country. It's one of those things you don't forget. It's one of "those" distinct moments that you'll always remember the details of. Similar to the memories of where they were and what they were doing when Kennedy was shot, or the Challenger going down, that our parents have.
But bigger.
I think it changed everything. Regardless of how I may have felt before, I realized the world wasn't safe and oh-how evil it could be.
I also realized that I had a passion for the journey of a career I was about to take. I had already applied at SkyWest, I remember so many friends and co-workers asking if 9/11 changed how I felt about flying. NO. Does it make the prospect of some things with my industry different, more challenging? YES.
I was still eager to join the ranks in the clouds. It's scary to know that people find my "office" as a weapon of mass destruction. However, technology and security does give terrorist more loops to have to jump through, now. (I am not, nor have I ever been over eager about TSA, just look online for the SNL skit on TSA and liquids, that is my general consensus on alot of them, they seem that brilliant!)
How dumb is it that I never had to check a bag until two years ago. (When traveling stand-by, that's the last thing you want to do, if you actually want a change of clothes with you.) Now I do because, I'm sorry, but I can not go on vacation and fit all of my needed liquids in a 3.4 oz container or less and all in a quart size bag. Why this change, because a couple of idiot terrorist guys, who planned to make bombs using liquid contents. The day that was discovered, it screwed my schedule so bad, I was stuck in Illinois for an extra day, and my little brother's flight home got delayed/ cancelled.
It's is always interesting to talk to my fellow crewmembers who were working this job and listen to their adventures and where they were stuck when FAA and the Government closed all US airspace for the days following 9/11. People have amazing stories of where they were, who they rented cars with, where they drove home from, & how many planes were left stranded without crews, because they felt the need to be safely at home with their families, too.
Terrorist are a possibility I still face at work, and believe me I have seen some creepy things, scary people, and seen people doing their strange (to me) chants/ prayers in the airport and on my plane and wondering what their next step would be.
I don't know if I really had a point, but I do know that while 9/11 changed so many things, how we view the world, it also has taught me we can't let them win, we can't live in fear. I think it brought alot to the surface. I think it was part of the ice burg that pointed us to Iraq & Afghanistan...which also begs a huge thank you to all our troops. To all those amazing young men & women who sacrifice, their lives and their families, for our freedom. I also feel a need to be grateful that they are willing to go, so we don't have to worry about drafts, people like my little brother who joined the military in a time of need, to make a difference. He's been a United States Marine for 3 years and will finally (He's been eager) see the desert this winter.
Just a babbling blog post to remember the impact of 9/11, to say I HATE TERRORISTS, and thanks to our amazing military men & women, who value not only their own, but our freedom as well.

Ode to the belly ring

So yeah it's a strange topic, but it's my blog, so I can put whatever I want.

WARNING- if you read this it might make you dumber, and you'll probably waste 2 minutes of your life. :)

So I've decided it's probably time to get rid of this thing I've had for over 8 years, strange as it is, I've kinda gotten used to it. The idea of navel piercings used to gross me out... I think it was the idea of people who shouldn't be sharing, flaunting it, that I envisioned.

But when I was 18, old enough to sign for it myself, I decided to do it. It was the day I was shopping for my Senior Hop dress. My mom was so annoyed because I got a little lightheaded and had to make a smoothie dash, she was bugged that I did it the day we needed to find a dress. She didn't tell me I couldn't do it because I was old enough to sign for myself, and oh by the way, at that time I had a pretty cute, hard stomach.

Anyway, I did it. A totally pierced up tattooed guy did it, which actually made me feel better, 'cause I figured he for sure knew what he was doing. It was also the first thing I kept hush hush from my dad.

Fast forward three weeks later, I had to get surgery. My lack of prior planning meant I didn't have a plug for it, and I didn't want it to grow in while I was in surgery, I hadn't taken it out. (You can't have any metal in/on your body.) Since it was still on the DL from my dad, the nurse came in and told my dad he had to leave the room- she said she needed to some shaving for surgery prep- (It was a hernia surgery & it was low, but not there, and she didn't really have to shave me), she had to use tweezer/ plier things to get the stud ring apart and out of me.

When I was in recovery the nurse and my mom came in. My mom took the ring out of her billfold, and the nurse tried to put it back in, I was still drugged on the anesthesia, and all I could think was "you need to lubricate it, dummy, try Neosporin" but I couldn't verbalize it, they didn't, & I had to get it repierced.

The second dude was some clean cut, UofU med student, I liked the rough lookin' guy better. He told me if it hurt I needed to tell him, because that would mean I already had scar tissue. To give you a visual he took a blunt needle & would try to work it in, and twist it in, to work it through the hole. Oh it hurt like hell, way worse than the first time, I definitely had scar tissue, but I wasn' t going to let him know it and be out the $40 from a month before. So I ended up with it redone.

And I've had it ever since. It was just something I personally wanted, didn't want to show to people, or wear things that made it visible. Unless you saw me in a swimsuit, you probably never saw it.

I remember in college some of my high school friends crashed at my place, and when they saw me changing, they were a little shocked. Just my own little personal vice, the tattoo thing was never for me.

I remember the day we finally told my dad, Ashley had hers done also. I'd probably had it for 3 years. It went something like "You have WHAT in your stomach?" and we both showed him our bellies. (Strength in numbers.) I'm quite sure he wanted to rip both of them out, right that minute. He was far from thrilled, but we pointed out that it wasn't permanent, we could get rid of them whenever we wanted.

So I guess now I've decided it's time to get rid of it. (And my stomach is far from being as in shape as it was in high school.) So there's my lame post attributed to a belly ring, but I felt like sharing.

Later.

Time for an update... I think so

So I know I haven't updated for a long time. We've just been super busy working... & playing. We've been trying to take advantage of what little warm weather may be left.

The fair was last week (most of you know that), and while it's fun when it comes around, it's kinda crazy, sad, & exciting too. I guess I 've always used it as a landmark in time of the year. Before my senior year; next year during the fair... I'll be graduated, four years ago; next year during the fair... I'll be married;this year... maybe next year during the fair I'll be pregnant. (That's the scariest thought so far, a huge change, not to mention how miserable & uncomfortable the bleachers at the rodeo and livestock auction will be, but I know it will be worth it.)

I know it sounds weird, but I've always just used fair time to realize how fast time passes by. It is sad to me because it seems like an official close to summer. I guess I picked up that mentality since school always starts the Monday after the fair. Anyway, the one thing we did take away from the fair is the Reserve Champion Steer, Hootie and his business partner Casey bought it. So even thought we still have lots of beef in our freezer from the steer we bought last year, it seems I'll have to make room for more.

Sounds like a good excuse to host another BBQ- we also have a crazy productive corn crop this year. Since I like to play hostess Hootie has talked about a Summer Harvest party, we'll see.

Baylee & Jaycee took off for Italy on Sunday... what a crazy, fun adventure they are sure to have. However, she is braver/ tougher than me for flying there at 34 weeks pregnant. She'll be giving birth to her first baby abroad. But I know she'll be a darling, amazing mommy. I definitely teared up telling her good bye, I think it was a combination of concern, missing them, and knowing she'll have a baby the next time I see her, reality hit. I can't believe how grown up all Hoot's sisters are. I've know Baylee since she was in atleast 6th grade. CRAZY!!

Anyway, I know I've kinda babbled, but sitting in a hotel room seemed like a good time to post. I have a ton of pictures I want to add next time I update. Depending on if we play this weekend, maybe even more pics.

Hope all is well for everyone, talk to ya later.

Miss Bear River Valley

So for the Tremonton Regulars you probably already know, for those that don't... My cute little sister-in-law Morgan Roche was crowned "Miss Bear River Valley" on Thursday night.

I am so excited for her & proud of her she will do awesome. She was definitely in it to win it & did an amazing job and looked absolutely stunning in her dress.

She is such a beautiful, sweet, fun girl. I remember when I first met her (she was probably 7) and thought she looked like a little porcelain doll, she still does just now she's all grown up.

She will for sure have a fun-filled, busy year. Aside from representing the BRV, she will also attend Utah State and be a part of their Cheer Squad.

CoNgRaTs Morgi!!! I hope you have the Time of Your Life!!!

Summer Fun

Just a slideshow, to show some of our fun moments this summer. We've stayed pretty busy, less vacationing - more running around, working on the ranch, going to lots of rodeos. Trying to go camping, we've packed up our stuff to go alot more than we've actually made it. Lots of stuff that I don't have pictures of.


We also had a fun summer party, we BBQ'd then watched a movie outside, making good use of the white shed in our backyard. Good food & good friends= Good fun!!! We were glad to see those of you that made it, if you didn't maybe next time. Hope everyone's enjoying the hot weather, we love it, & will miss it when it is gone.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABE!!!

Today is our 3rd anniversary.

I can't believe how fast time has flown. We have so much fun together & have made so many amazing memories. I love the day's I get to wake up next to my gorgeous baby blue's, and spend the day with my fun husband. I am thankful everyday & feel lucky to have this great guy in my life. He continually teaches me so much, teaching by example of generosity and being a good person. I love that he can have me laughing till I am in tears. It's hard being away from home when I'm flying, but it only makes us appreciate and love eachother so much more!

We often talk about how we have a story for everywhere we go. There is always something funny going on with us.

I have trailed cows up a dark mountain with Hootie a few times, with faint moonlight guiding our way & trusting Hootie and my horse. I have drank water out of a cattle trough because I was that thirsty, although, I swore the whole way up the mountain I wouldn't do it. Hootie was quite amused when I swished the wasps out of my way and cupped my hands in that nasty water. I was sure I'd be feeling like I drank the Mexico water for the next few days.
You can't really plan an adventure with Hootie, because it will usually work out different than planned.
Last week we parked a semi with a sheep trailer in a parking lot we didn't quite fit in & went swimming in Lava's pool, mind you we walked in covered in sheep crap, that's what the shower's are for. Fast forward one week later, our camping plans didn't quite pan out, (finished helping the herder @ 11pm) and we are sleeping in Hoot's truck in that same parking lot.

We have so much fun together, & it's much easier to roll with the punches when he's around. When I want to be ornery about something & he shows up with wildflowers he has picked. Such a sweet, thoughtful guy.
Anyone who has been around us knows Hootie can be quite hilarious, so for people who are always asking ... "Yes, I am laughing all the time", being married to a comedian in his own right. To sound cliche, I do fall in love with my husband more each day...We have a game Hootie likes to play, the answer is- yes Hoot, I love you even more right now.

I can't wait to share more adventures with this cute boy. I look forward to so many more years together and more.

Love you lots, Happy Anniversary!!!

You continue to amaze me and make me laugh!

Isn't he hot, model material ?!?

Bad Luck?

So Hoot & I have a new little pet. If you know us, you know we are more dog people. Till we have kids, we like to have fun with our dogs around. Sunday night I was in the house on the phone & Hootie called me outside to check out a new visitor. There was a tiny, maybe 4 weeks at the oldest, black kitten outside, rolling around playing in our sprinkler. What cat likes water? Apparently, this one. He was so friendly & lovable. He would just follow us around.

Of course, Hootie's dogs were pretty interested, Dash kept trying to pick up the kitten, I'm sure he thought he could get away and bury it. We had to go somewhere & figured the kitten would leave, when we came home he was still here & crying under our car. We thought maybe someone tried to get rid of him, we have a canal across the street.

Hoot said the kitten crossed the highway & he was worried it would get hit, then he started rolling around under the sprinklers, playing in the water. (Maybe he was just really disoriented). Hoot started calling him Evo. (Evo Kinevo, instead of Evil Kinevil). We'll see, the name will probably stick.

My mom brought food over for my kitten, but then I sent him home with her, because I had to be out of town working all week. I went to get him today. The sweet little kitten is hard to find-gone. Now I just have this playful, mean, sharp-clawed, little attack cat. He has a cute personality & a loud purr. So I didn't think I really wanted to have a cat around, but we may. Unless my mom wants to have him. I think Hootie really likes him, probably cause he found him, kind of. I'm sure my dog will hate him, till he gets bigger. He is all black, I had a black cat when I was little & I'm not superstitious, I don't think they are bad luck.

Love this video

I love this video, I think it is so sweet. I can't believe how old Andy Griffith looks, makes me realize that I just keep getting older, too. It's sad to see people age so much. But I think this video is so cute & tender. Just thought I'd share.

Update: Video doesn't work, embedding is disabled. Go to YOU tube & watch Brad Paisley's, "Waiting on a Woman".

I'm out of town all week, when I get home, I'll try and post, maybe add some cute new pics. I've been in Salt Lake, Chicago & now in Milwaukee teaching classes. I think Milwaukee seems like an uneventful place to visit, unless you love beer & want to visit a million breweries. Go Milwaukee Brewers!!!

Father's Day Outing

On Sunday we went up on the mountain and had a picnic/ potluck dinner with all of Hootie's family & my parents. It was a yummy meal, and it was so nice to really enjoy the outdoors & be with our families. We took the 4 wheelers up and went for a long ride. Hootie had to take some pictures for a Land Conservation project (or something like that), so we went all over the mountain & into some of the different canyons. Everything was so nice & mostly green, thanks to the rain this spring. It is pretty cool to have your own mountain, go around as you please and know you aren't trespassing.

I guess that's part cause of the craziness of us living here, but working in Salt Lake. In 15 minutes we can be on our own mountain riding horses, 4 wheeling, or snowmobiling whenever we please. We both love our jobs and hate the drive, but we are here to stay. For Hootie, the ranch will always come first, he'll never give it up, and I wouldn't want him to. He has an amazing work ethic because of the hard work a ranch requires and all that he has learned from is dad and both of his grandpa's.

We saw a few deer and we also took some cool pictures of some of their horses with their colt's. I think horses are amazing beautiful animals. You can look in their eyes and see if they are scared, wild, or if they trust you, it is pretty neat. Too bad I've been around them my whole life, & they still can scare the crap out of me.

There is also a pictures with the Roche family (I'm stuck in the front, looking awkward, cause I had to give my camera to the nice lady that took a pic for us), we went out to dinner for Doris' 80th birthday party. She didn't want a big shebang, she knows too many people with former students and such, and I think she was worried that it would be too much craziness for her. She is a great lady and so good to her family. I am grateful for all of Hootie's grandparents, it's nice having them around and feeling like I have grandparents since mine are gone. Hootie takes great care of all of them, but they all return the favor.

Hey everyone. So I really feel like I've had nothing to say lately, still don't. Nothing to exciting, or anything you'd want to hear about it going on. So until I can come up with something better than those two lines. I'll post a good analogy about stress management.


Great Wisdom for Stress Management

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience raised a glass of water and asked "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.

Don't carry it home.

You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can."

So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now.

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.



Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.

Docking

So I'm only a week late posting the pictures I promised. O-well, better late than never. I'll give a rundown of the slide show.

There are a couple pictures of Hootie after he drove my Birthday present, a scooter, home in a nasty morning rainstorm. You can't really tell, but he was soaked, such a sweet guy. He also entertained some people along the way and gave our neighbors a good laugh.

Pictures of Hootie playing with his dogs, notice the ladder: he taught his border collies to climb up and down the ladder. If he has the ladder out, he'll throw something on the roof, and the dogs don't think twice before they climb up. Simple minds, maybe, but we are easily entertained. (This all came about at Christmas time, I was on a trip when he put the lights on our house, so he taught his dog to bring him the strings of lights. Pretty clever, I'd say).

Sorry the docking pictures didn't prove to be too exciting, we are both in black, not a good color for blood to show up on, so sorry if you are disappointed, but we were filthy and our shirts underneath are totally stained. The pics were also at the beginning of the day when we were still fairly clean. Don't mind the no-makeup look I'm sporting, or the fact that it looks like I have a bad double chin.

As for the last pics in the series, Hootie saw his picture for his birthday post -he was freeze branding cows that day- he wasn't crazy about that pic. He asked why I didn't use a picture of him in his business clothes... I don't take pictures of him as he walks out the door for the office... so I subjected him to a Sunday afternoon photo shoot. There is a pic of the short hair, too. ENJOY!!

BRHS CLASS of 2000 BLOG

Just wanted to get the word out that our class blog is now set-up, (and in need of improvements, I know). I guess I got nominated to help get things underway (probably because of my last post) for a 10-year reunion. Ginger (Rich) Buck called and asked if I would be in a committee. They had a list of names, I gave her some names of people who still live close. If you get a call, please be willing to help. Visit our site & contribute your info in the comments section.
http://brhsclassof2000.blogspot.com
There is a link in my friends sites.

Watch these clips

So I have a few pictures that I need to transfer, maybe I'll post those tomorrow. We docked lambs today, yeah that was great fun. Actually, I don't mind it. Except for my nails are too long right now, so they got yanked back alot & now my fingers are hurting. (There is a special way to hold the lambs, and they kick a lot and fight ya.) I also hate being dirty/ covered in animal blood, yuck! Then I had to rush to a friend's baby shower, smelling pretty sheepy. At least, I think I did. (I did shower & try to make myself presentable.) Congrats Carli on the baby, you looked cute.

I wanted to post this today, though. I thought this was so cute of President Monson, and probably won over a few younger kids( & older) who have been struggling with the transition from President Hinckley, the prophet they have grown up with.



And just to mix it up, I think Taylor Swift is a darling and talented girl, she sings & writes many of her songs, and I loved this performance at the ACM awards.



I know these two videos have absolutely no relation, I just wanted to share them.

Time for an update

I know it's really time to update this blog, but we haven't had anything too interesting going on lately.
What’s on my mind… I just got off the treadmill, I'm thinking it's time to get my butt in gear and be better about working out. I feel totally out of shape and I'm long overdue in losing my "February Fat". I really respect all my friends who look so great, and they have kids. I don't have a good excuse. Sorry this is lame, I’m just anticipating swimsuit season.
Tomorrow we are docking sheep, anybody want to play on a farm? You are welcome to it. I'll try and take some pictures so I can update with them. I love seeing picture posts. Also, maybe a picture of my chopped off short hair. I cut it on Saturday, I’m married to this strange boy who loves short hair. That surely isn’t the norm, most guys like long hair. Hootie always wants me to cut mine off, so I appeased him. It was a fun surprise!
Hootie’s sister Baylee just found out what she’s having, but I’ll let her post that on her blog. I’m excited for her, she’ll be a cute mom and they have an awesome adventure ahead on them. She flew in from Chicago last night, and her big bro picked her up. She was a little worried she’d been forgotten & was stranded, since Kristie had the dance review rehearsal. Noone told her Hootie would get her, it was cute since he came to her rescue.
It's crazy that little Baylee is having a baby, someday Hootie & I will be ready for kids. There are days I get anxious and feel way behind, and other days I don’t know if we’re ready for that huge change. Hoot’s little sister’s would like us to hurry onto the bandwagon. Maybe next year.
I know this is a weird random post, I just thought I should post something. Hope all is going well for everyone and you’re loving the warm weather as much as we are.

Happy Birthday Hoot

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my cute husband. Big 26. We just keep getting older, it's crazy, 'cause we still feel really young. We have so much fun together & I'm so lucky to have him in my life. He is such a good & generous person, every body's friend & he always makes me proud. He is very hardworking and ambitious & never gives up. I become a better person because of him, I learn so much from him & I'm glad he's around. He's a cute diverse boy, who is good at everything he does. Just wanted to brag for a sec and say Happy Birthday Hootie, I love you Babe!

Niagara Falls

So Blogger has definitely been neglected the last couple of weeks. I've been working lots and doing some spring projects. I've just textured & painted my bathroom, mind you I don't know how to do either. But, I figured the only way to learn & be good at it is to practice. I have lots of places to practice in our house. I'm not a big fan of wallpaper & we have lots & lots of it.

A couple of weeks ago I had an overnight in Toronto & we went to Niagara Falls, it was beautiful. That’s a great thing about my job, I get to see lots of neat places that I might not go to see otherwise. I like my vacations to be on the beach, so I don’t think about going to lots of touristy spots. A few of the places I’ve been to on my airlines dime…The Alamo, Oklahoma City Memorial, Glacier National Park, biked across the Golden Gate, Beale Street & the Peabody Hotel to see their famous ducks. I haven’t made it to Graceland yet, we had it all planned & our rental car, but our flight was delayed and we didn’t make it in time. These are all places that are fun to see, but I doubt I’d make a vacation out of it, but lots of people do. I also get to shop in lots of great cities in fun stores. Anyway, I thought I’d post a few Niagara pics, there are also a bunch of other random ones. I took the Golden Gate ones las week when I was flying into San Fran. I also put one of me working, so now my friends know what I look like when I’m being a Flight Attendant.

My Life Tag

What I was doing 10 years ago...

I was staying busy and having fun in high school. I was finishing my sophomore year and was way excited to be a cheerleader. (Lame I know, but it was high school) I stayed busy dancing and working. This is probably when I was only worth $3 an hour (SEE LATER QUESTION). My sophomore year was probably one of the most fun & carefree. I didn't do the best friend thing- never felt quite like I fit in Treetown when I was younger, or confided much in anyone- so I didn't deal with that drama, I just observed it. I had lots of great friends though, guys & gals. My friend Kevin would bring me home after school & Clark Pixton and I would fight for shotgun everyday. Hoot & I were friends. The things that seemed important and like a big deal weren't. I was very shy, but no one knew it, I was afraid to put myself out there. Therefore... I think I came across as snobby/bitchy to lots of people, but I would have loved to be their friend. Didn't know one of my best friends lived under my own roof, we were too busy fighting like cats and dogs, we’re over it now. (I think I've made this all too deep). For the people that say they would never go back to high school- I would go back to high school, just so I could appreciate it, it was so much more carefree than the real world. Although, this life is great too!


5 things to do today ...

1. Clean my house
2. Laundry
3. Figure out what I'm suppose to be doing in my new church calling & get things organized. I've been to Relief Society probably 20 times in my life, how do I know what the Relief Society Secretary is supposed to do???
4. Get my nails done. This is something I hate to do, schedule, make time for & pay for... but it looks much better on the plane if I serve you a drink with pretty, well manicured hands.
5. Go to dinner with Hoot & some of our friends
Today is a pretty low-key day


5 Snacks I enjoy...

1. Chips & Salsa
2. Veggies & Dip
3. Cheese Nips (Reduced fat, 'cause they're crunchier)
4. Gummy candy
5. Garden fresh tomatoes

If I were suddenly a billionaire...

Pay off or buy new homes for all family members, (and buy my mom a 2nd home in the South). Pay off any debt for friends and family, get my pilot's license and buy a plane. Decide its okay to have a kid, because they'd be set for life. Pay tithing, (that should've been the first thing), and donate to various charities. (I'd probably put Hootie in charge of this part, because he is much more generous than I am). Put into savings & find some great investments gotta plan for retirement.


5 places I have lived....

1. Grapevine, Texas
2. Kansas City, Missouri
3. Sandy, Utah
4. Taylorsville, Utah
5. Tremonton




5 Jobs I have had...

1. Maximums Receptionist- easiest job ever, only paid $3.00/ hour. (I wasn't 16 yet)
2. Hogi Yogi- This one was slow, but fun. It pained me to close at night, moving all the chairs, and sweeping/mopping that dumb tile floor. (I just had an epiphany as to why I don't like to sweep/ mop my own tile kitchen floor, I always do it last.. but love to vacuum and keep everything else clean).
3. Anserfone- answering service, easy.
4. Buckle- I refused to be one of the annoying sales people that show people crap they don't want to buy. (I don't like being helped in stores, or when it's painfully obvious someone works on commission.) I wasn't the typical Buckle sales girl, and I was continually a top-seller in my store & top ten in our region and a team leader/trainer.
5. Skywest- Flight attendant, inflight instructor, and ground instructor.


5 things people may not know about me....

1. I really want to become a pilot & get my license. I want to fly small planes for fun, but not a career. When I see a small plane I want to be flying it. When planes are landing in Brigham I keep my eyes on the plane & runway, instead of the freeway, oops.
2. Marathon runners are one of my heroes. I wish I liked to run, but I truly hate it.
3. I love to shop and get a good deal, but I do not have the patience to look at a Sale rack. For this reason I am a huge fan of Forever 21 and H&M because they are reasonable to begin with.
4. I don't really like to talk on the phone, I wanna see your face when I talk to you, and I hate texting... if you text me, there's a good chance you wont get a response. (I'd rather get a call than a text).
5. I love my job and working, I'm probably a workaholic.

Friends to tag...
Whoever hasn't done this.

Good Story

Just another story I wanted to share on the blog. This definitely brought tears to my eyes, but I'm super sensitive & a good cry-er. ENJOY!

Information Please
Author Unknown

When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember well the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother used to talk to it. Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. "Information Please" could supply anybody's number and the correct time.

My first personal experience with this genie-in-the-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor.

Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there didn't seem to be any reason in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway.

The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the foot stool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear.

"Information Please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head. A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

"Information"

"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone. The tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.

"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."

"Can you open your icebox?" she asked. I said I could.

"Then chip off a little piece of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts. Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary died. I called "Information Please" and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said the usual things grown ups say to soothe a child. But I was unconsoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?" She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, "Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."

Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone. "Information Please."

"Information," said the now familiar voice.

"How do you spell fix?" I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much.

"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the tall, shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity, I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle I had about half-an-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now.

Then, without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information, please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.

"Information."

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, “Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."

I laughed, "So it's really still you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time."

"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

"Please do," she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered, “Information."

I asked for Sally. "Are you a friend?" she said.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."

Before I could hang up she said, "Wait a minute. Is your name Paul?"

"Yes."

"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you." The note said, "Tell him I still say there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.

Whose life have you touched today?

‘Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows.”

- Michael Landon

What happens down in Mexico...

Hootie & I just got back from Cabo San Lucas last night, so I thought I'd post about our trip. This was our second time there. When I flew in the first time I thought it looked like the ugliest place and couldn't believe it was a vacation destination. It was extremely rough desert, & I don't find the desert beautiful. But as you drive into town and closer to the waterfront you start to see the beauty and can see why people enjoy it. We were invited to Cabo by Sheena & CJ Wade (thanks) to stay in their family's amazing home, Casa Grande. We were excited because we knew it should be tons of fun & they'd bring lots of neat couples. Hootie & I got to hang out with 6other amazing fun couples, all from St. George, and we had a blast. We went from Wednesday to Sunday.
On Wednesday night we had dinner catered at the home, it was a yummy authentic Mexican dinner. On Thursday the girls hung out poolside, while the boys went golfing. A bunch of us thought we'd enjoy the Bull Fight that night. I've always wanted to go to an authentic Bull fight in Mexico and thought it would be interesting. WRONG! My best piece of advice is save yourself the $25 and do not go to the Bull Fight in Cabo, I wouldn't recommend it. (They call theirs exhibition and it is very amateur). It is basically a rooster and donkey show, and they play beer drinking games, sometimes against the donkey. After two hours of mostly boredom, you see a bull run out and chase a matador who kept hiding from the bull behind the safety of a fence, this only lasted for about five minutes of the two hours. So I'm still holding out for a real Bull Fighting in Mexico, I'd like to see one. Another piece of advice, you don't volunteer for things in Mexico, or let them pick you out of a crowd. (They tried to get me, Blondie, out to participate in their games, I refused this time around). I learned this on our honeymoon, when I had to do a shot of tequila on stage & yell. Hootie & Chris figured this out when they had to drink beer & yell, and then drink beer against a donkey.
Friday the girls went to the beach & the boys once again went golfing to a beach side course. We went to a quaint little Italian restaurant that night, Romeo y Julieta. On Saturday half of us went deep sea fishing. We went through a pod of dolphins- there were thousands of them, I just couldn't ever get a great picture when they would jump high out of the water. We saw tons of Marlins, and casted out a couple dozen times, but none of them took the bait. Too bad, it would have been quite a rush to catch one. I'm just glad I experienced deep sea fishing on a nice yacht, I don't think I would make it on a small boat without puking all day. It was rough out there.
There is also some pictures of one of the many amazing yacht's in Cabo. This is an approximately $90 million dollar boat, the owner also has a probably 70' foot taxi boat(to take them into shore), it goes everywhere the yacht goes, plus a helicopter and landing pad on top of the yacht. It all has the same color scheme of white & aqua blue. It would be amazing to get to see the inside. It's owned by a Mexican steel guy who comes from old Mexico money, or that was the story. This boat looked huge even anchored next to a cruise ship in the bay.
When we got back from fishing two Mexican guys had parked their cars crazy so we couldn't back out of our spot. No locals knew whose car it was, so the boys picked it up and moved it. Very entertaining.
I know some of the pictures are kind of goofy, Hootie hates taking pictures so he usually refuses to act/smile normal. He looks cheesy in some, or the one wearing a helmet (he was riding a scooter) he looks challenged. But we had lots of fun & were in good company. We have to get some vacationing out of our systems, because we know it will halt for a bit whenever we have kids. Thanks to all the couples for being so much fun and for a memorable vacation.

A Good Message

I enjoyed listening to conference and hearing our new prophet speak. He is a special, neat man. It was also nice to hear that he too, has good relationships with leaders of other churches. Hootie made fun of me when I said President Monson was a good speaker, (well duh, they all are) I had to clarify that his message is always clear and he gives good quotable talks. You can always reference his talks when you speak in church. There were many good lessons given over the past couple of days.
I know I'm a little late posting this, but I wanted to share. I love church on Easter, the spirit that is there and it's usually a whole new learning experience for me. I have posted a story from a talk that was given during our Easter Sacrament meeting, I hadn't heard it before, but I loved the message & it has stuck with me. The savior went through the atonement for each one of us, whether we choose to accept it or not. He has offered it to us & paid the price for our sins. It definitely makes you want to use the gift of repentance and forgiveness.
This is long, but worth the read.




There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously. This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor’s class. One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.
“How many push-ups can you do?” Steve said, “I do about 200 every night.” “200? That’s pretty good, Steve,” Dr Christianson said. “Do you think you could do 300?” Steve replied, “I don’t know… I’ve never done 300 at a time.”
“Do you think you could?” again asked Dr. Christianson. “Well, I can try,” said Steve.
“Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,” said the professor. Steve said, “Well… I think I can…yeah, I can do it.” Dr. Christianson said, “Good. I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.”
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren’t the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls.
Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson’s class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, “Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?” Cynthia said, “Yes.” Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?” Sure.” Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten.
Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia’s desk Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, “Joe, do you want a donut?” Joe said, “Yes.” Dr. Christianson asked, “Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?”
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.
Walking down the second aisle, Dr Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the professor asked, “Scott do you want a donut?” Scott’s reply was, “Well, can I do my own push-ups?” Dr. Christianson said, “No, Steve has to do them.” Then Scott said, “Well, I don’t want one then.”
Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn’t want?” With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.
Scott said, “Hey, I said I didn’t want one” Dr. Christianson said, “Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it” And he put a donut on Scott’s desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow
Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, “Jenny, do you want a donut?” Sternly, Jenny said, “No.” Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, “Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?” Steve did ten….Jenny got a donut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say “No” and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push ups in a set because he couldn’t bear to watch all of Steve’s work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.
Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.
Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Dr. Christianson, “Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?” Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, “Well, they’re your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.” And Dr. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, “NO, don’t come in Stay out!” Jason didn’t know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, “No, let him come.” Professor Christianson said, “You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?” Steve said, “Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.”
Dr. Christianson said, “Okay, Steve, I’ll let you get Jason’s out of the way right now Jason, do you want a donut?” Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. “Yes,” he said, “give me a donut” “Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?” Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve’s arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, “Linda, do you want a doughnut?” Linda said, very sadly, “No, thank you.” Professor Christianson quietly asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?” Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.
Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. “Susan, do you want a donut?” Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. “Dr. Christianson, why can’t I help him?” Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, “No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.
When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.”
“Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?” As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. “And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, ‘into thy hands I commend my spirit.’ With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.”
Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. “Well done, good and faithful servant,” said the professor, adding, “Not all sermons are preached in words.”

Greetings from California

I went down to L.A. this weekend with my mother and sister-in-laws. The cheerleaders were competing at Nationals so Kristie, Maddi & I went down to watch & support Morgan. They did awesome and took 2nd, they had 8 teams in their category. The boys had to stay home to shear sheep. I missed not having Hootie there to play, but we still had lots of fun. We spent time at Knottsberry Farm & Disneyland. We were given the Dream Fastpass, it has 12 different fast pass tickets on it. That's the way to do Disneyland- no waiting in lines! Maybe it was good Hootie wasn't there, he isn't Disneylands #1 FAN! We went a couple of years ago & I promised him he didn't have to go back until we had a kid that was 5 or 6 and could enjoy it. (So who knows when we'll be back there). The weather was so-so, but better than it was at home. Unfortunately, we didn't hit up any good shopping. O-well. I thought I'd post a few pictures from our fun girls weekend. There are also a couple of Easter pictures, gotta love the timer on the camera.

HAPPY SPRING

I am so excited that it is officially SPRING, the next best thing to SUMMER!! They are both great seasons, but I'm a summer girl. I can't wait to wake to bird songs & see the flowers & trees in bloom! We're getting closer. In the summer I also enjoy working side by side with Hootie on the ranch. I will plan to celebrate/ kickoff summer, so stay tuned...
On another note, I am involved with something called the Delta Care team. We have been trained, if you ever really can be, to help families & victims of aircraft accidents. I hope it's training I never have to use, but know if something happened I could be the right person to help a particular family & take care of them in the immediate aftermath of that tragic event. A condensed version if nothing else, we can help with logistics of planning, contacting people, visiting the site & helping with expenses and getting them to their loved ones, even babysitting if need be. With this I get many inspiring emails, or ones that just have a very good message. It crossed my mind today, that I could share some of these on my blog. I'm sure there will be more that I want to share. Maybe just to remind myself or others what's important. Enjoy!!!

The Nature of Character
Abraham Lincoln was very concerned with character, but he was also aware of the importance of having a good reputation. He explained the difference this way: "Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

Put another way, your reputation is what people think of you. Your character is what you actually are.

In a world preoccupied with image, it's easy to worry too much about our reputation and too little about our character. Building a reputation is largely a public-relations project; building character requires us to focus on our values and actions. Noble rhetoric and good intentions aren't enough.

What we're looking for is moral strength based on ethical principles. Character is revealed by actions, not words, especially when there's a gap between what we want to do and what we should do and when doing the right thing costs more than we want to pay.

Our character is revealed by how we deal with pressures and temptations. But it's also disclosed by everyday actions, including what we say and do when we think no one is looking and we won't get caught. (Reminds me of this month's primary song, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me", which I love).

The way we treat people we think can't help or hurt us (like housekeepers, waiters, and secretaries), tells more about our character than how we treat people we think are important. People who are honest, kind, and fair only when there's something to gain shouldn't be confused with people of real character who demonstrate these qualities habitually, under all circumstances.

Character is not a fancy coat we put on for show. It's who we really are.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I don't know much about the holiday since I'm not Irish or Catholic. But it's a holiday, so that makes it fun!!! Hope you all remembered to wear your green today, so you don't get bruises from being pinched. I'm sporting a green dress & green eyeshadow. Hootie wore a suit with a purple shirt, no green. I hope he got pinched, 'cause he was warned. (Is that mean to say?) I want to go to San Antonio for St. Patty's day sometime. The San Antonio Riverwalk is pretty cool (there's a picture on my slide show), but on this day they dye the water in the river green. Plus, there is a little dueling piano Irish Pub, that would be very entertaining. Hope everyone's having a great day!

I Just Talk Funny

So all this week I've been flying in/out of Atlanta. I love flying the southern system. The destinations are great, the people are kind, the manners are good, and the kids are so cute & respectful with their yes ma'am, no ma'am, please and thank you's. It's the same way I was raised with my mom being from Mississippi. People on these flights don't look at me funny if I say y'all, they know what fixin' means, & cute little ladies don't take offense to me calling them ma'am. Something I get alot of no matter where I fly, but esecially out of SLC, is people asking me where I'm from. They say they can't place my accent.

The other night I was working a flight from Houston to Atlanta, two of my first class guys had a bet going if I was from Texas or Georgia. They were shocked when I told them they were both wrong, they were sure I was from the south. I gave them the standard, "I'm from Utah, but I have a southern mama, so I just talk funny". I think I just have a bad combination of Utah's hick accent & saying some other words different because of how I learned them, we lived in Texas when I was learning how to talk. I guess I'm a southern girl at heart. Hootie's sister's thought I was weird when we were dating, because of the way I say pajamas(pa-jaw-maas). I know this is kind of a lame post, but it's for my friends that used to make me repeat myself whenever I said penny & fixin'. Just to let y'all know, I still talk funny!

A Good Date

So I just thought I'd post a good date night we had fairly recently, and the great view. We have lots of great friends that we go out with, but we don't go out alone too much.
I was suprised one morning as I was getting ready for work, Hootie said we should go to President Hinckley's viewing. I thought it was a great idea, I just didn't think he'd suggest it. So after work, we met Justin, Tiff, & their cute family at the conference center. We waited outside for quite a while, & inside even longer, as they took sections up for the viewing. When it was finally our turn, it went by so fast. It was neat to be in the viewing room, but not near enough time. I knew there would be heavy security there, but the security detail was amazing. I associated it with the President and his Secret Service. It was a neat & humbling experience. Afterwards, Hootie & I decided to walk through temple square. I wanted to go in the Tabernacle because I hadn't been there in years. I still love the building & can remember going there often as a little girl. It was overwhelming as a kid, it seemed so much smaller to both of us that night. We were lucky to go in when we did, the choir was practicing. It was so beautiful, they were rehearsing their selections for the funeral. With each song the director told them a story about President Hinckley, why they were singing a certain song, or why it had been a favorite of the Prophets. We were both so glad we went in that night. We decided to go to dinner at the Roof, but they had closed early, so we went next door to the Garden. I've gotten Hoot hooked on pickles, so he ordered the fried dill pickles, something I've only tried in Mississippi & Texas. He loved them, until he overdid it. We had a good dinner and the whole night was a special, memorable experience.

First Real Post

So I've just come across some friends blogs in the last couple of months. It seemed like a fun way to keep up with friends & let other's know what's going on in our lives, or just to share fun stories. I thought I should create one, so I wouldn't feel voyeur-ish when I checked out other peoples. We don't have kids right now so we don't have those cute stories to tell, but we'll try to come up with other interesting topics. I'm not much of a journal keeper, hopefully this will be different. I always have funny things happening on the plane, so maybe I can give a heads up on the quirky fliers.

We like to play & have fun. Although, I don't think we use my flight benefits near enough, we do try to vacation in Mexico once in awhile. We honeymooned in Cancun, so it's always been a favorite to go back to. It's fairly easy to get there & it doesn't take all day. The last adventure was a 48 hour stop in Cancun, in February. I forced Hootie to go, or so you would have thought. But once we got there it was fun & relaxing and nice to get away. When there, we always eat at a lobster-shack (I hate seafood), called Lorito Joe's. The food is great, the service is awesome, and you have a good chance of eating next to a huge crocodile if you sit in the patio seating next to the Lagoon. Hootie & I have sat at the same table 3 times, and he's always come to visit. If you ever go down check it out.

I thought I'd post a few pics, to show what we've been up to the last little while.

We're new to this...

Nothing exciting to see right now, we're working on it... standby. :)