Hello? Is this thing on?

Yikes. It's been a year and a half since my last post. I knew it'd been a long time, but sheesh. (Also, Blogger is a lot different! I'm not sure I know what I'm doing with this posting stuff anymore.) I've also been off Facebook for at least a year (I can't really remember how long) and the truth is, I've loved being "off the grid." I have my reasons but they're probably not all that interesting so let's move on.

I have had some exciting stuff happening and I think I am ready to share them online! (Emphasis on "think" so please don't get too excited. Hehe.) Josh, my mom, and I just returned about two weeks ago from a trip-of-a-lifetime to Kenya where we kissed giraffes, pet baby elephants, watched a cheetah stalking a herd of impalas, saw lions with blood all over their faces as they stuck their entire heads into the chest cavity of a half-eaten cape buffalo, and much, much more. The week after we got back, Josh and I closed on our very first home and now we're getting settled and trying to find places for everything. I'm planning to share pictures and stories over the next while, but be patient with me because I'm really out of the habit of storytelling or online contributing and I likely won't feel like writing all that often.

The main reason for the post is a heads up that I am (for real this time) taking the blog private. Part of the reason I stopped posting much is I don't really like the idea of everyone and their dogs having access to my business whenever they want. For now at least I'd like a little more control (control freak alert!). If you were able to read my blog when it was private years ago when I first started writing, then you'll still be able to access it now with that same account. If you didn't have access before (or don't remember if you did) and would like access now, feel free to comment with your email address or send me an email. Hopefully everyone in that boat will notice this post within the next week or so before I take it private, but I'm not counting on it since I wouldn't check this dusty old thing anymore either. :)

It's like a mama bird feeding its baby.

I need you to watch this clip.  It is worth 30 seconds of your time.



It is like an eclipse that continues to seer my corneas with every view, yet I keep pressing play.

What the heck, people?? WHAT THE HECK????????????????????

Ugh, so painful. So terrible. Yet so - freaking - funny.

Blerg.

Lately, I have been feeling the desire to jump back on this rusty ol' thing and post more regularly again, but I just have felt lacking in material. But I guess I should take a cue from the BoM and nourish the desire and then maybe the fruit will follow?  So let's just pretend I haven't been absent and I'll jump right back in.

The other night I said to Josh, "I feel like my life would be a lot better if I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight, and if I had a lot of money."

He smiled slightly and said, "I feel like my life would be a lot better if my dad was alive and I didn't have diabetes."

Then I had to edit my response to add, "And also if I ever had a dang card to play that could trump your dad and diabetes cards."

I NEVER GET TO WIN, PEOPLE.

(And no, the picture doesn't really have anything to do with anything except it makes me laugh out loud and kind of evokes the "Blerg" imagery of my lack of blogging skills.)

Thankful Thursday

Yesterday was our little Alan's birthday.  It's easy as time goes on to forget the impact he had on so many people in such a short amount of time.  It saddens me to admit it, but with my finite memory much of my recollections of him have dimmed.  Today I am grateful I was a more active blogger at that time and can so easily access the thoughts I had surrounding the experiences then, thus stirring more memories and emotions to remind me.  To experience again, at least in some part, his magnificent little spirit and be reminded how much God loves and cares for each of us.  (By the way, He loves and cares for you a whole lot, too.  You know that, right?  Good.)

I've referenced those posts a time or two before so I won't re-post any in their entirety again, but will just link to his category.  If you have some time and feel like reading about a spectacular, strong little boy, then by all means click through.  Mostly I just wanted to remind myself.

Thanks for hanging in there, folks, and for still reading this little ol' contentless blog. :)

Well, I tried.

I HATE AUTOSAVE.

I wrote up a long, insightful blog post last night, but wasn't sure I wanted to post it. So I just went in this morning and decided to go ahead.  Then I hit Ctrl+Z one too many times, and right in that SECOND, stupid blogger autosaved the blank post. So I lost it all, and I don't feel like writing it again.  I just thought I'd tell you that so you know that sometimes I do try to blog.

Thankful Thursdee

It's been so long, that I suppose it's time for a little gratitude!

Today I am grateful for a sweetie pie who won't just take a normal picture.

And that'll be the extent of my mush.

It has been surprising to me because I always thought I'd be the opposite of this, but I've kind of discovered that I prefer that our mush be kept just between the two of us.  Obviously we got married because we love each other and think that the other is great, so I don't feel the need to enumerate why he is awesome.  Besides, I've started feeling like it's more special when it's just ours.  But he is a sweetie.

I'm also grateful for the TWO (count 'em, baby!) close friends who are coming to visit this weekend from out of state, and especially for the extended time I get to spend with each of them individually.  I haven't seen this lovely lady in almost 3 years:

Hey, Jen! Is that picture of us not embarrassing enough?  Well how about....


THIS ONE!

Okay, this one is actually just more embarrassing for me.  Seriously what is wrong with my face? It's like that banana has already caused some constipation. (It's my blog and I can say "constipation" if I want to.)  Well, at least no one can say I don't emote when I perform!

And this one I last saw at my wedding so couldn't spend a lot of time with her, and hadn't seen her for like a year before that:

She has learned Chinese, served a mission, gotten married, and had two babies since then.  She doesn't mess around, folks.

I am bummed that I don't have the picture of Jewel-io that I was looking for right now, and only have this cute one of her singin' her pretty little heart out.  You got off lucky, Jewel!  (You may want to avoid me holding a camera this weekend, because I probably cannot be trusted. Just ask Jen.)

I'll be honest, I don't really have friends in Utah, so the opportunity to spend girl time with such lovely women is about to blow my mind.  They are both awwwwesome. Don't be jeal.  (And if you are in Utah, then we are probably friends, but not the type of friends who ever talk or do anything. And if you are offended, then maybe you should call me and we will be the other type of friends!)

Aaaaaand, that is all I've got for now.  I hope you have awesome people in YOUR life for whom to be grateful.  And also that they don't post embarrassing pictures of you on teh internets.  (Maybe that is why I have no Utah friends?)

Seriously?

After finishing a conversation with a coworker who stopped by my desk just now, I looked down to discover that the one button of my shirt that stretches across my, ahem, bosoms, was wide open. Displaying all that lies beneath.  And no, I have no idea how long it was open.

What a convenient button to pop open!  And an even more convenient place for it to pop open!

Winter weight gain, you can suck it.

I'm obnoxious.

I haven't blogged in a long ol' time, and it was sporadic enough before that.  This is mostly due to one sad fact, which brings me to the solemn announcement I have to make:


I have lost the funny.


Tear.

And while I lost the funny, I also gained a few inhibitions.

I'll give those of you who know me from my younger days a moment to stop chuckling at the absurdity of my possibly having inhibitions. (Cathy, anyone?)  (Now my inhibitions are screaming at me for linking you to Cathy.)

...


...


But for real - it's true.  And if you're thinking, dude, you weren't that funny before, then, ho-ho-ho, you will be sorely disappointed now.

BUT!  I've decided, with much encouragement (or maybe it should be termed prodding) from some of you, that I should probably just start writing again even though I don't think I have anything to write about, and then maybe - no guarantees - the funny will seep its way back in.  So listen, people.  WE MUSTN'T SCARE THE FUNNY AWAY. We must be patient and nurture it, and never expect too much of it. This could be a painful process (much like this post), so I will not fault you if you cannot power through.

Basically, I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO NOT BE FUNNY.

(I realize the only people reading this are here because they follow in an RSS feed and it told them I posted - and if you don't follow in a feed and checked this on your own, then give yourself 17 loyal points.)

(And apparently my affinity for parentheses took over all the space, and then some, where the funny once resided.)

Lazy or Genius?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how lazy is it that while at work, I often leave various documents, emails, and applications that I need to print open, and wait to actually print them until I see a coworker walking to the printer to get their own stuff, knowing that they will see mine and then bring it back to me?

I'm gonna go ahead and call it effective time/energy management.  Maybe I should include that on my upcoming annual evaluation?  

Painting The Town (Well, My Hair) Red

How's about this for hating change?

These pictures aren't the greatest representation, as it's crappy lighting and was taken with my iPhone, but I was chastised for not posting about this and warned that it would soon be old news, so that's what you get. Oh, and I also feel weird taking pictures of myself, so I have to look away and make a face or something.  Again, that's just what you're gonna get.

I may or may not have almost crapped my pants in the preceding hours, but this lifelong blondie went red yesterday.  I liked it a lot last night, but not so much today.  I'm hoping I just need to adjust.  Oh, and apparently red is the fastest fading hair color, so we did it a little more intense initially because it will fade quickly.

Psssssssssssssst!

 This guy

started his Master of Accountancy program today.

And I couldn't be prouder.

Sing it with me now...

Go Joshy!  Go Joshy!  It's your birthday! Go Joshy!

(Yes, I'm a dork. But you knew that.)

Oh, and the best news is, this is the program we wanted because it's only ONE calendar year, so he'll be a Master this time next year.  (HOLLA!)

One question: once he's a Master, I guess the beating me with sticks thing will be okay?