What Day Is It?

As I was lying in bed Monday night, getting ready for the next day, I had convinced myself that tomorrow was Wednesday. I went over it in my mind, and I had definitely already worked two days. I spent most of my Tuesday thinking it was Wednesday, so it was quite crushing when I realized my mistake later in the day. So not only did I have to experience Wednesday twice, but now it's looking as though I'll have to do the same with Friday, as today definitely felt like a Friday. I feel tomorrow I should be able to sleep in, but alas, I must get up and trudge my way to work. Wish me and my fading mind luck.

Koat Drive

No, that is not a misspelling. There was a coat drive tonight at the Jazz game hosted by one Kyle Korver. I don't know if you've heard, but apparently he's pretty cute. All the girls in Utah have gone crazy over him, including my sister and cousin. They enjoy basketball anyway, but having Korver on the team makes them enjoy it that much more. My cousin Phaedra spends most of the game looking through her binoculars checking out KK's every move. They are avid fans and cannot understand why I'm not in the same boat with them. They were sure that when I saw him up close tonight, the reward for donating a coat for Korver's annual Coat Drive, I would immediately see that I had been crazy and join their obsession.

Last year, Phaedra said she nearly hyperventilated when she got up to the table. This year she was much better, but was visibly nervous as we stood in line. When her moment finally came, she handed him her matted picture to sign (which cost more for her to ship to get here in time than the photo itself cost), he said, "Sure, no problem," when she asked to take his picture, and then it was over. She handed her camera to me afterward to take a picture and her hands were shaking!

Emily and Phaedra with their signing pictures, and me with nothing (he had 4x6 photos there for those who aren't obsessed).














Well, I'm still not on the Korver train. Sorry ladies. It's not that I think he's ugly, he's handsome and nice and has a slight midwest accent, but he's just not my cup of tea. Perhaps if he could grow some facial hair, but until then, my only interest in him is when he's playing on the court and helping the Jazz win. And really, I'm just glad that some little girl will get to wear a super cute coat this winter because of the Korver Coat Drive.

A Concerto and a Symphony

For a couple weeks I had been hearing commercials on the radio for the Brahms Piano Concerto at Abravanal Hall. My cousin Phaedra, who has season tickets to the Utah Symphony, came through as she always does with a ticket for me. The show was amazing! I don't know a lot about classical music, I don't know the difference between a concerto and a symphony, I don't know what a Maestoso or Adagio or Rondo is; I have no idea what's going on most of the time. But I do know the way the music makes me feel and the grand power of it all; I know that I can be deeply moved by the sound of a violin, a triangle, a piano, a cello, and the entire orchestra working together to create something beautiful. I have a secret dream of being a great musician and playing violin with an orchestra in a grand hall. Unfortunately, my musical talents were thrown by the wayside when I stopped taking piano in junior high school. So for now I'll just have to be content with experiencing the talents of others.

Courtside Photo Shoot

My mom, sister, and cousin are Jazz season ticket holders. Along with getting to attend all home games (and becoming quite obsessed...in a good way) there's a multitude of other perks only available to the season ticket holder. Tonight it was getting to take pictures in the empty arena (the Jazz were away in Dallas losing their second straight) with life-size player cardboard cutouts.

We brought along the grandkids, and they had tons of fun just running around the court and playing with the empty chairs. How often will they get to do that?! Very cool. Heck, I was even slightly in awe of being in the middle of the Jazz court. Granted, it was empty, but still a cool experience.

So here's a few pics from the night. I didn't have my camera that night (of all the time to forget it) so thanks to Phaedra for letting me use hers; my mom and sister are unfortunately slightly camera-picture-transferring-to-computer-to-email-to-people deficient.



Aren't they adorable in their Jazz jerseys, posin' with the ball. They're such cheeseballs, especially Moses. He would pose and say cheese with every photo taken.

And I just couldn't resist posing myself...

Returning to New York

Not me (for now) but the Phillies! They came back after losing last night to win 8-7 and keep their hopes alive for back-to-back World Series Championships. I am not a baseball fan by any stretch, but when it gets to be the World Series it can be kind of fun to watch. Plus no other team than the Yankees elicit such strong love-hate reactions; I for one hate them. And even though I root for anyone going against them, this year I at least have a soft spot for the Phillies because they've been my dad's team forever. So as the Phillies travel the short distance to New York, I'll remember how much I love New York and how much I hate the Yankees, and hope that the Phillies can pull off something miraculous.

Happy Birthday Cat!

Today is my wonderful friend Cat's birthday. Since moving back from New York we have spent a lot of time together and have become even better friends. Cat is amazingly kind and generous, a wonder with a sewing machine, a nurse at Primary Children's, and just one of the best people I know. Whenever I'm in a tough spot she's there to offer any sort of assistance she can, and always reminds me to have perspective and to not worry about the past. Without her I wouldn't have made one of the most important decisions in my life that has brought peace, learning, and understanding.

Tonight we had dinner, cake, ice cream and presents at her parents' home. The Drake's are kind enough to have me over for dinner fairly often, and even remember that I don't like my vegetables cooked and always leave a little out raw for me.

Happy Birthday Cat! You're amazing and I can't imagine my life without you!

Sweatin' it Out

Happy Halloween!! It was a beautiful day. I did some grocery shopping and walking around Sugarhouse, and I loved seeing people dressed up for the holiday. I love that there is a day when it is perfectly acceptable for everyone to dress up as something, anything, and not be looked at strangely. You can show up to work dressed as Edward Scissorhands and no one bats an eye. You can wear a cat tail and paint your face and people smile at you. It's just so great that we have this day out of the year where it's okay to not be in your normal clothes.

I unfortunately didn't get to see Ivy, Elliett and Moses in their costumes due to a lack of proper communication. Mo was Indiana Jones and I'm super sad I didn't get to see him with a fedora and whip. I also didn't get to bestow candy on any trick-or-treaters, since I was planning on being out with the kids and didn't buy anything. I had to turn off the lights and ignore the door knocks because I didn't have any candy to give out!

To cap off the night and end the holiday in style (and to start early on the celebratin' for Cat's birthday tomorrow) we went to a Stomp at the Institute. I can sum it up in three words: hot sweaty fun. There were tons of people and they were all sweaty. You could actually see the sweat glistening off of people. Guys would run into my arm in the craziness and leave a wet mark! Gross! But no one seemed to care, because we were all sweaty. And having tons of fun dancing the night away.

We retired our Ghostbuster costumes and went as a witch and fairy who is a BYU supporter.

The stomp was right after the Utah Blackout game, and when I donned the shirt prior to going it looked like Utah was going to lose and I would wear my shirt with pride. Well, they won. A few people asked if my shirt was a costume, and one guy even came up to me and said he liked my shirt and was glad to know there was at least one other fan amont those crazy Utah people. I've decided wearing a Y shirt in U territory is a great way to meet guys and weed out the ones who are non-dateable based on school affiliation. (This is said a bit facetiously, as I wouldn't discount a guy entirely by him being a U fan; many mixed marriages work.)

I've become quite inhibition-less on the dance floor in the recent years. I love to just get out there and move, even if I have no moves and no rhythm. I've come a long way from my high school dance days, and am even wondering when next it'll be that I can get on a dance floor.