Happy Halloween

This year for Halloween I was a flapper. It was a ton of fun wearing fishnet stockings, a feather headband, pearls, and red lipstick. Friday at work tons of people were dressed up, and my co-worker was 1st place in the costume contest for her truly scary zombie makeup and clothing. I basically ate food and walked around for most of the day, and even got to sit in one of our auditoriums and watch the full-length version of Thriller with popcorn to boot! It was quite awesome.

Saturday my sister and I headed up to my cousin's house in Bountiful for their Costume party. This was rather momentous because Emily dressed up, too!! She hates Halloween and everything associated with it. I can't seem to find my camera, but I have pictures to prove that she dressed up. My cousins Phaedra and Marilyn put on an awesome party with prizes, games, food and entertainment. Check out both their accounts of the night to see pictures. Thanks for a fun night!

Birthday Trip To Vegas

Emily turned 30 on October 27th. To celebrate that momentous milestone, we headed down to Las Vegas to ring it in.

We arrived and promptly went to Walgreens on the strip to buy sunglasses, mardi gras necklaces, and a "Happy Birthday" crown. Then we promptly went to the Hard Rock Cafe, where they had Dr. Pepper in abundance and a pretty neat design.

In two and a half days, we were able to visit New York, Paris, Rome (Caesar's Palace), Venice, a Treasure Island, an Italian Villa (the Bellagio) and a Mirage in the desert, all without leaving the Strip. I find it funny that Vegas just rips off other cities' architectural landmarks and designs and uses them for their own landmarks and design. Only in Vegas.


The night of Em's birthday we saw Phantom of the Opera at The Venetian. One word: Spectacular. Which is fitting, since it's billed as: Phantom, the Las Vegas Spectacular. I would expect nothing else from this city.



Some other highlights: the omelet I had for breakfast; the volcano nachos at Margaritaville; the light and water show at the Bellagio; the roller coaster at New York New York; random strangers wishing Em a Happy Birthday after seeing her crown; fire show at The Mirage; definitely NOT the "Siren" show at Treasure Island (anybody going to Vegas, I implore you to skip it!!); Em and I attempting to use a slot machine and being totally confused; the decadence and dirtyness of Vegas.

From Mountains to Desert

The cold came quickly this year. Maybe it comes quickly every year but my mind just can't remember it. But it was 70 degrees last week and now it's, well, I don't know the exact temp, but there is a soft blanket of snow covering the mountains and a constant drizzle of rain/almost snow. I think it looks breathtakingly beautiful. I work right in the foothill of the mountains, and I love looking out the windows and seeing the marvelous mountains softly dusted in white. When I drive home I look out on the Oquirrh Mountains, bathed in the light of the setting sun and the shadows it creates. It really is amazing, and makes me grateful for this wonderful world I live in.

But I'm also glad that there are places like Las Vegas, where one can go for a few days to get away from the cold and chill in the desert! Viva Las Vegas!!

Phonetically Spelling

My niece Elliett made a birthday card for Emily's birthday on Wednesday, which we celebrated tonight at my mom's house. This is what it said inside:

Happy Birthday Aunt TM.

I was sort of confused at first, until I read it out loud. Happy Birthday Auntie Em. It was SO cute. I love her.

Neglected

Hey blog. Remember when I used to write on you multiple times a week. Sorry if you've been feeling neglected as of late. It's not you, it's me. I'll try to be a better owner.

Planning Block

In order to have all my application for Grad School complete, I need to write a "Personal Statement" letter about why I want to be in the program and what my future plans/goals are. Even though I've known for over a year that I needed to this, I've put it off until it is the last thing I need to get done. I figured that I would concentrate on the GRE first, and then when that was done I would write the letter.

The GRE was two months ago. The application is due in two weeks.

The thing is, I've never been the best at describing something that I just know to be true. I love my nieces and nephew. I can't tell you how or why, I just do. I know with every part of me that I want to be an urban planner. I don't know how to put that down in words when I just know it in my heart and soul.

And because I want to get into the program so badly, I'm super fretting about the letter. To the point that I think it's causing some sort of block. I know the solution is to stop fretting and just do it, because not doing it at all is worse than writing something mediocre. So basically I just need to buck up.

People Who Know Me

There's something about being around people that know you. People that just get you. There's no one I can think of that gets me more than my sister. Being with her is just comfortable. It's a really great feeling. I thought of this last night when I went over to hang with my sister and she gave me a present because, as she walked past it at Kohl's, she thought of me. Yeah, my sister knows what I like, what I don't like, what annoys me, what really annoys me, what gets me excited, what makes me smile, what actors I like, what kind of movies I like, what makes me sad, and what is important to me.

Family is important.

Road Trip to Vegas

My quirky best friend, Pam, her two cousins, Annemarie and Julianna, and I headed down to Las Vegas on Friday for a baby shower. It was nice to get away for a weekend and have a road trip with three awesome girls.
Here are some nuggets from the trip:
--Twizzlers are the snack of choice for a road trip
--when traveling with pregnant people (Pam's cousin Julianna is 11 weeks) there are a lot of bathroom breaks and a little bit of vomit
--the desert, and its accompanying architecture and colors, is ugly
--when out of town, it's completely okay to order all-you-can-eat pancakes at IHOP and pig out
--all grandmas worry
--fathers are teaching their sons how to treat girls: when the other girls and I were entering a gas station at the same time as a father and his son, the son went in before us while the dad waited and held the door; inside I heard him say to his son, "Why didn't you hold the door open for those ladies?"
--at a baby shower, if there's a dog to play with, I choose the dog over any babies in the room
--if I am wearing a white shirt and eating from a chocolate fountain, I will most definitely get chocolate on the shirt
--I am shockingly unaware of many Beatle songs
--cars are good places for good conversation

Let The Games Begin

Tonight was the first Utah Jazz pre-season game. It's good to be back in basketball season again, scopin' out the new players and cheering for the regulars. The off-season saw some major departures, most notably Boozer (who I miss), Korver (who my sister and cousin miss), and Wes Matthews (who lots of fans miss). We got some great players in exchange, though, like Jefferson and Gordon Hayward (who is only 20! and who I hope endears himself to me so I can give him the nickname Gordie H), and it was great to see them in action tonight with Deron, Kirilenko, and Millsap. I think it's going to be a good season.

On a side note, I have my new crush for the season: Rudy Fernandez of the Portland Trailblazers. As soon as I saw him on court, it was obvious he would catch my attention with his beard and curly hair. Apparently I'm not the only who thinks he's cute, but I think I can control myself to not do what this lady did.

Volleyball and Ice Cream

Last night my friend Cat and I drove down to Provo to check out her vollyeball-playing cousin square off against in-state rivals Utah. Volleyball is exciting and fun to watch, and even though the Cougars lost, it was a fun time.

A ton of Cat's family was there to support their cousin and niece, and I spent the time chasing Cat's little cousin around the court. Despite my ambivalence about having my own kids, I definitely like playing with them and seeing their energy and excitement for the most simple things.

Then Cat and I headed to the BYU Creamery on Ninth. The ice cream was awesome and super cheap, and while there I felt nostalgic for a college experience I never had. Sometimes I feel like I missed out on something by not going to BYU, or even having a traditional college experience. I never lived on campus or did traditional college things. But I guess that's life, and I have a degree, even if it is from Utah :)