Should I be Flattered?

Last Friday I took my friend/coworker Nicole out to lunch as it was her last day at work. We had walked over to the California Pizza Kitchen at the Gateway and had a lovely meal. On our way walking back a red SUV drove by and as it did a somewhat good looking man leaned out his window and I made eye contact with him. He said loud enough to be audible but a little muffled: "I want to see you naked." Because I hadn't understood what he said at first I gave him a confused grin. Nicole hadn't really understood either but as we both thought more about it we were sure that was what he said.

I didn't know that people still did the yelling obscene comments out of car thing anymore (except in small towns). I know my friend likes to give the two syllable hey every now and again from her car but it is definitely not tasteless. I laughed a little to myself about the whole thing. I said to Nicole, well on one hand that kind of boosts my self-esteem because at least one person wants to see me naked but on the other I wouldn't want someone who would yell to a strange girl from his car to see me naked. Very little class shown there, my friend.

Speaking of the California Pizza Kitchen- apparently I have a gift of guessing what you had eaten there if you went. I met up with my friend Tonya and her friend Cami for a movie. They had gone to CPK and were carrying around to-go boxes. I asked what they had eaten but then decided to guess. I said Tonya got the Jamaican Jerk chicken. She shot me this very surprised look and sat up in her seat really quickly in amazement. Now I have been to CPK with Tonya before although it was many many years ago and I think she got that same pizza then so that is what I based my guess at. However, when I turned to Cami (whom I don't know really well) I was a little less sure of myself so I just spurted out "The four cheese pizza." Again the look of amazement on their face. 2 out of 2. I will try to use my super power for good.

Invited into a World Unknown

Last night I attended my sister-in-law Stacey's baby shower. The hostess put on a very simple casual and easy-going party. There was just one game and then we had little subs with fruit and mini eclairs. It was all so good. It was being hosted by her best friend who interestingly enough I went to high school with. But the really interesting part of the evening was that I was the only single, non-mother in attendance (and they were all around my age). So there was some awkwardness to get over other than the fact that other than Stacey and my school mate, I didn't know anyone else. That was okay though. After chatting with the guest of honor, I was happy to just sit back and listen to the mommies talk. I heard a lot about nursing, mishaps, huge babies, little bits of labor stories (epidural or no epidural) and possible reconstructive surgery once all kid bearing was done. Some words that were used in conversation were uterus, thingies, and hooter hider. It was fascinating!

I did have a good time. I love to hang out with Stacey. She got some lovely presents, especially from me. I got her a diaper bag with baby stuff in it. I was worried she would already have a diaper bag (but who wants just one) or maybe she wouldn't like this one but on the contrary (I love that phrase) She didn't have one and she loved it. Also she pointed out that it was unisex so my brother won't have to carry around a girly diaper bag, I didn't even think about that. I'm just so good at gift giving. I meet needs I didn't even know were there.

The current state of my room just might equal the current state of my life

Here is a 360 degree view of my room at the present moment:







Am I ashamed? Yes Ashamed enough to clean it? Almost. But for the time being are you up for a game? See if you can find the items listed below:

1. Deodorant
2. Six hangers
3. Sword
4. Three fast food drink containers
5. Flip flops
6. Eeyore
7. Q-tip
8. Towel
9. Five pillows
10. Three hair styling tools

Good luck!

Highlights of Girls Weekend in St. George

So ten of us girls took a trip down to St. George last weekend to get a way and relax with some good friends. I met most of these girls while attending the same ward but became really good friends with them through our book club. Seriously, I think our book club is so awesome because it doesn't just limit us to only seeing each other for our monthly meeting. We've had a girl's night out, a free luncheon and we watch the Batchelor together. We piled into two cars: one group leaving at 3:00 and the other leaving at 6:00. You can really bond with people during a four hour drive and we had a lovely time talking. Now on to the highlights:

1. Me staying up until 3:30 am reading Eclipse and forcing myself to quit and go to sleep.
2. A few girls woke up at dawn and went to an early morning temple session (I admire your fortitude ladies)
3. Breakfast at J.B's, verdict: terrible except for Candice's muffin.
4. Lounging, reading and napping by the pool with some swimming to break up the heat. I just read Eclipse (got really frustrated) and took pictures.
5. Ten girls get ready for dinner with two bathrooms (not too bad actually)
6. Worshipped by a drunk man who was sitting outside the restaurant we were going to. Amazed as each one of us gorgeous ladies emerged from the vehicles. He took our picture (since no on would believe that he had seen us) Woosh! was his signature phrase.
7. Reluctant group hug with drunk guy. I think he only got two girls to actually get in on that.
8. Fabulous Mexican restaurant called the Panama Grill with a great waiter who filled our every need.
9. Driving to two movie theatres in a desperate search for "Becoming Jane" but had to settle on "No Reservations" which was pretty good.
10. Hitting the very smelly Nielsen's Frozen Custard for ice cream but couldn't take it so moved on to Baskin Robbins.
11. Relaxing and chilling at the condo until everyone went to bed.
12. Multiple group Hee..eeeys (it's a two syllable hey) yelled out the car windows.
13. Everyone pitching in to get the condo in ship shape for our departure. Excellent teamwork
14. 11 am sacrament meeting at a family ward "The longest sacrament meeting ever" quoted from several people.
15. Nice drive home with excellent music courtesy of Joni's ipod. (I've already made a list of music to collect)


Thanks ladies for a lovely weekend!

Stay tuned for news on my work party that I helped put together (or did everything). I should be able to do it tomorrow as I have a day off due to President Faust's funeral. A sad reason for a day off but I'll take it!

I'm an avid Collector

I have never been what I would call a music person. I like music but I only listen to it in my car. I rarely think to put something on when doing things around the house. I'm fine with the noise of myself doing things. I don't even have a stereo anymore. The only stereo I've ever had is the one my gave me for Christmas years and years ago that was accompanied by my first c.d's. I love to sing and love to listen to songs I can sing along with. It's too bad that Sing-A-Longs didn't come around until I was in my early teens, because I would have loved them as a child. Okay I loved them as an early teen. Favorite song ever is "The Green with Angry Blues." Almost every time I happened to be at my aunt's house and I remembered they had this gem of a video with this gem of a song, I would rummage through their pile of videos to find the right one. I think I mostly liked it because Professor Mcquack or something sang it so funny and got a little flem caught in his throat which he would comment about it. Or when he would sang this really high note that was out of place and once examined found that it was a fly speck which he hastily swiped away with a "Get off you kooky fly!"

But that is totally off subject. As I was saying, I am not a music person, but I am a music person wannabe. I don't have the energy to be one though. I think music people are so cool. Are maybe wondering at this person what I consider a music person to be? A music person is someone who loves to listen to music all the time doing whatever it is that they do. They go to concerts on a regular basis. Also, they spend time looking for good music and music people are usually semi-picky about their music choices but all of them have their guilty pleasures of disreputable music, but that makes them cool too. They aren't snobby. They realize that some songs are just fun and should be enjoyed for that reason.

I am a collector of music, music that I know music people are listening too. How do I know? Because they posts lists of mixes they have made or their favorite bands or they will mention songs that correspond to a mood that they were in that day (another trait of a music person) and I will subsequently download those songs into my own library. If I'm lucky then I can get onto their itunes or music library of sorts and download somethings. My roommate is a music person and I frequently get music off her library. Now, I have the intentions of listening to all this music and then this in turn will turn me into a music person, but I don't. I like to listen to songs that I can sing along too and I have grown my music collection so large so fast that I don't have time to learn all the words to all the songs as yet and I just keep collecting. So with my Ipod on shuffle I skip so many songs because I don't know them and I am rarely in the mood to just listen to a song. Someday I hope to learn all my nearly 3,000 songs that live in my ipod but for now, at least I would seem like a music person if anyone checked out my library.

The Fish was Delish, It made quite a dish

Here is what I made this week:

It is Baked Salmon with a buttery cilantro and lemon glaze. It was very good and I was quite nervous about cooking fish as I had never done it before. I only had two guests because of the aforementioned unreturned phone call which was good because fish is somewhat expensive. But I think the cost of these dinners is something I can live with, but I may cut back to twice a month sometime. We'll see.

So I thought I would share how I feel my Drawing Dinners are going. They are going alright. I love making the new meal every week and my pallette (I'm not sure how to spell this, and I don't think this is right but i don't feel like going to dictionary.com to check) has grown immensely. Awesome discoveries are that I like spinach and roasted bell peppers. My spice collection is growing which is cool, but also a little tedious to have to buy a whole bottle when who knows if I'll ever need cumin again. I love it when people tell me they are going to come and are even seem excited, either a. for the free meal or b. the fantabulousness of the drawing dinner has proceeded me or c. both a and b. I love that I have my own place settings and napkins (thanks Carrie and Melanie). I love my new apron (Thanks Alyson!) that I try to remember to wear when I am cooking but I'm not normally an apron wearer so this is a habit I am building. I do so by having a Drawing Dinner bag that I get out as I prepare my meals which carries my place settings and apron. I love when the conversation is flowing and I get to meet new people and others get to interact with new people. I love all the friends that I am making and spending time with my already good friends.

Here are things that I do not love, which doesn't mean that I hate but just adds stress or anxiety, or annoyance to the occasion. People that are late. I realize that things come up but if so then please call, then most likely I can forgive you and the rest of us can start without you. It mainly bugs me because the meal starts to get cold and then doesn't taste the best that it could be. I have since made up for this by starting to cook later then normal so that the meal won't be ready until about ten minutes after I have told my guests dinner will start. However, once I put this into effect people have been on time and sometimes early so they see me struggling to get everything done and ready.

Grocery shopping is really annoying to me, especially when I am looking for particular things. I'm starting to get a little better at it but there have been times where I went up and down every aisle and could not find something until I finally gave up. (why would Walmart not carry frozen mozzarella sticks!) Also, and this is my own fault I leave the shopping to the last minute sometimes which then stresses me out as I am running around gathering up ingredients.

When people don't return your phone call when you have left a message inviting them to dinner. If you're busy then that's fine but freaking call me back and let me know so I can invite someone else in time. Jeez!

I have never been that great at taking compliments accept from myself (but those are really rare). But the constant thank you's and your welcomes get a bit too much. I probably say thank you and your welcome like fifteen times in a night to the same compliment. I'm happy that people are liking what I cook and that they tell me so, but when is the stopping point? I think one person should say it for the group and everyone nods their head in agreement and I give a warm and heartfelt "Well you are all welcome and thank you all so much for coming" But it doesn't end there, I find the constant need to say thanks for coming which prompts well thank you for the dinner. "your welcome." "your welcome"

When people ask if they can bring anything, I have no response to that. I basically get all stressed out because of course I would love for someone to take some of the load off my shoulders but what would be the appropriate thing to say. What would be too greedy? A side dish? I usually think someone expects me to say a salad so that is what I ultimately do. What is easier than a salad. But I might get a little more forceful in the future. Dessert! (Alyson, did bring dessert once but I felt more comfortable asking her too. And actually she offered.) I have never really done the whole "Can I bring anything" when asked to a dinner. It is a complete afterthought. But I guess that shouldn't matter. One guy who came last week called the night of and asked if he could bring anything. I said no. I'm a little sexist when it comes to this too. I don't trust guys to follow through on bringing something and then if they don't where am I left? Without a salad to bring the whole meal together. Though I think this guy would have followed through.

The last thing is the stress of it all. Worrying that my meal won't turn out because I've never cooked it before. Running out of time. What will we talk about? Am I being a good hostess? There's a lull in conversation, they're bored. Am I doing this for the right reasons, which is to get people to see more of me and get to know me better and make more friends (coming out from a under a shadow that I put self under)? How do I transition between the meal and dessert smoothly. Why doesn't anyone want seconds on dessert when I totally do?

Does it sound like there is more that I don't like about doing these dinners than I do? Well, I still do like doing the dinners. These are little things that I can overcome or just deal with. I've never been great at socializing so this is helping me and I love having people over whom I invited to my home. It makes my home feel more like my home MY home too.