Thurm & I had a fun day yesterday. We decided to go to the Arts Festival downtown after work. We first ate at Tony Caputto's for dinner, an Italian deli named after the owner. Tony served me my trio salad : ) If you have the chance, get the "Caputto" sandwich....mmm... good stuff.
Then we went to Library Square where the Festival was taking place. We stopped inside the library to use the restroom and saw they had a Salt Lake film festival going on. So we watched 82 minutes of 10 short films. The one we both voted for was a documentary about how our military censors the media. The guy who directed it was a soldier in Iraq. His job was to shoot film and give stories to the US media. But he was ordered to tell "happy" stories or at least stories that shed good light on the US. It wasn't surprising or shocking...we know that our media is censored and biased. But it was great that someone who was there and apart of it wanted people to know what was going on.
There was one other short that was really interesting too. A high-school girl who found out her step-mom was a meth addict decided to make a documentary. She was surprised to find out that Utah is #3 in the nation for meth users (isn't Wyoming #1?). And even more surprising is that its more common with women. She interviewed recovering female addicts and found out some of the reasons women liked meth so much in the beginning. They lost weight, some 20 lbs in the first week. They had tons of energy to clean the house, make dinner for the family, run errands, etc. But obviously after awhile, they didn't care about the clean house, making dinner, taking care of their kids... all they cared about was getting their next hit. And eventually it ruined their lives.
After we watched the shorts we went to the Art Festival. The most entertaining part of the evening was a fashion show. And people watching of course. Community events tend to bring out the most colorful people.
Tonight we are going to Kamus to a cabin with three couples from our ward. We have to make couple friends now : ( Tomorrow we are attending Thurm's cousin, Lexi's, reception. After that we are helping my brother, Wade, unload his u-haul. He is moving to SLC for a year for an internship at the U. And Saturday night is a ward BBQ at the neighborhood park. Busy weekend. And somewhere in all that I need to prepare for my primary choir and wash our sink full of dishes. All this and we don't even have kids yet.

The $800 Haircut

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/HomeMortgageSavings/haircut.aspx

At least I didn't spend $800 for a haircut!!!

I just paid $85 for a haircut. That is insane and yet I paid it willingly because I knew I was going to get a great cut. I rationalize this because in the last 2 years I've had long hair and have only cut it a few times. And I never paid over $35 for a haircut. So really I've been saving money. My hair is very short now. Its technically a bob. But its a very cute bob. I'll have to post before and after pictures.

Friday night Thurm & I drove an hour & a half to Mirror Lake which is in the Uintahs past Kamus. We found a great spot to camp away from everyone else near a meadow. It was really beautiful, other than the SWARMS of mosquitos. However, my brilliant husband figured out that if you burn tree sap it works as a mosquito repellant! I always think I love camping until about 4am when I’m freezing and sore from the hard ground. The next morning we walked around Mirror Lake and sang “Touch Me” by The Doors.
I also finally finished Jane Eyre. I loved it! We rented the A&E version of it and watched it on Sunday. I didn't really like the actor who played Mr. Rochester, but thought they did a pretty good job of following the book. I've started reading "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood. I read her book "The Handmaid's Tale" and have put it on my top 10 favorite books. "Cat's Eye", however, is not going to make the cut. I do like her writing style, I'm just not as in-love with this book.

High Expectations

I read an article today about how kids are delusional about money. They did a poll and most kids think they will earn six figure incomes. Here is the reality:

Median earnings of men who worked full time, year round in 2005, the latest year for which Census Bureau statistics are available, was $41,386.

Women working full time made a median $31,858.

Fewer than 5% of the U.S. population makes more than $100,000, according to the bureau. Only one household out of six report a six-figure income, according to the Federal Reserve's 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances.

Last night I woke up because Thurm was making sounds, sort of groans, in his sleep. I was afraid he was having a bad dream, so I woke him up. Turns out he was having a dream about Ben, his brother. They were in the basement of their parent’s house and there was a table with six hard boiled eggs the size of watermelons. Thurm turned around for a minute and when he turned back Ben had eaten all the eggs and was running up the stairs. So the sounds Thurm was making in his sleep was disbelief. For some reason this dream struck me as hilarious and I laughed uncontrollably for about five minutes. It was the kind of laughter that I couldn’t have stopped if my life depended on it. It was like I was drunk. Good thing Thurm isn’t cranky at four in the morning, he just laughed with me.

Late to Work

This morning I woke up a few minutes before my cell phone alarm usually goes off. When it didn’t go off I went to look for my phone and purse and came to the realization that I left it in the car last night that Thurm took to work an hour earlier. My purse had all my money, my phone, and my keys. My first thought was to get a taxi to take to work… oh wait, no money, no phone to call one. So I walked over the Sinclair and tried to use a pay phone (it was out of order) but ended up using their store phone. (Side Note: I was a little intimidated to use a pay phone. I’ve only used one few times in my life and they were mostly in a foreign country, which is a nightmare to try and figure out. I don’t think I’ve ever made a call from a pay phone successfully by myself). Anyway, I called work and told them I’d try to find a way to get to work, but don’t expect me in unless they heard back from me. I called Thurm who had the brilliant idea of riding the bus. I looked it up on the internet (thank goodness for the world wide web) and found a route that would take me 1 hour 45 mins (if all ran smoothly) and 3 bus changes. How is it possible that people use public transportation every day of their lives? Running one errand would take up your whole night! I found $3.00 in change lying around the house, which was enough to make it to work and back on the bus. Luckily, a co-worker, who I had emailed about not coming into work today, offered to come pick me and took me to work. With no traffic it only took up a half-hour out of her day, but I still felt bad and like a total space cadet.

The point of this story is I felt completely lost without my phone and a car. I am so used to being completely independent and never needing to rely on anyone or anything but myself, that I didn’t know what to do besides stay at home for the rest of the day. I don’t have any phone numbers memorized because they are just programmed into my phone. I wouldn’t even know who to call because Thurm and I have been living in marriage bliss for the last 6 months and haven’t made any friends in the neighborhood. And what friends I do have in SLC I haven’t kept in touch with because again “marriage bliss.” I always use a debit card, so I don’t keep cash lying around the house. Whine, whine, whine. I realize that this all sounds so “American Middle Class.” And I have lived without a phone and a car before and I’ve done just fine. It just really through me for a loop this morning. It made me very grateful for the conveniences I have. And I have made a vow to use public transportation to run an errand, make a list of phone numbers to keep at my house and at work, and to keep a $20 bill in my underwear drawer.

Working For The Weekend - Loverboy
Everyone's watching, to see what you will doEveryone's looking at you, ohEveryone's wondering, will you come out tonightEveryone's trying to get it right, get it rightEverybody's working for the weekendEverybody wants a little romanceEverybody's goin' off the deep endEverybody needs a second chance, ohYou want a piece of my heartYou better start from startYou wanna be in the showCome on baby lets goEveryone's looking to see if it was youEveryone wants you to come throughEveryone's hoping it'll all work outEveryone's waiting they're holding outEverybody's working for the weekendEverybody wants a little romanceEverybody's goin' off the deep endEverybody needs a second chance, ohYou want a piece of my heartYou better start from startYou wanna be in the showCome on baby lets go(quick break)You want a piece of my heartYou better start from startYou wanna be in the showCome on baby lets goYou want a piece of my heartYou better start from startYou wanna be in the showCome on baby lets go

Nate & Misty Engagement Photos

http://nataliejensen.blogspot.com/

My weekend started Friday at 3pm when our office was let out early for the holiday. I said good bye to Thurm as he, Ben, and Amy took a road trip to Washington for the Saskwatch Festival. I was in a mood and decided to chop off my hair. I called JCPenney, and an hour later, my hair was just below my chin. I had instant regret and my only solace was that my 11 inch pony tail was going to Locks of Love. I felt like I was on an episode of Seinfeld because I know the hairdresser was talking about me to her friend in Iranian. I told her I didn’t like the back and it wasn’t what I asked for. She was, I’m sure, telling her friend how particular I was being. Voice inflection is the universal language.
I went to my friend, Becca’s, wedding on Saturday. It was the only other wedding I had been to besides my own. I kept watching her face and could see all the feelings I had felt on my wedding day. She looked really happy; it made me tear up a little.
I went home for the rest of the weekend. My little brother came over and told me he was engaged to his girlfriend of two months!!! They got engaged Friday night, picked out their wedding announcements on Saturday, and Monday I took their engagement pictures (I will post a few later)! Geesh!! They seem to fit and I’m really happy for them.
I found out my dad wears Crocs. You know the shoes I’m talking about… hideous, foam, neon clogs. I loath them. I don’t normally care about fashion, but those shoes are hideous. It was all I could do not to ridicule my dad for wearing them : )

PICTURES, PICTURES!!!

I've posted some overdue pictures from the last few months.

Salt Lake Bike Race

Thurm's cousin Dax, a fun guy.

Rupert with a View

Thurm was an asparagus hunting maniac last weekend in Rupert. We got five FULL grocery bags of asparagus. Friday night when we arrived in Rupert, he equipped us with knives and flashlight to go hunt down those sneaky asparagus's.

Lunch at Aguila Con el Taco

Weekend in Rupert

Thurm and I spent last Saturday in Rupert. The men moved a fence, the women gardened and cleared out a small field. All the grandkids sleeping on the floor Saturday morning.

GAMES!!! If there are more than two people in a room, you must play a game.
Ryan, my new brother-in-law, striking his winning pose.
THE INFAMOUS CANAL!

The cutest face! Look what I get to wake up to every morning : ) Our cute friend Amy who was in Taiwan with Thurm and Ben.
What our house looked like for the 3 weeks Ben stayed at our house.
Ben staying at our house : )
Handsome, handsome man.

Thurm gave me flowers for our 6 month anniversary : ) Our new 2002 Toyota Camry
What Thurm looks like right before he kisses me. Haha
A cool picture of Ben.
Thurm gave me flower for my 28th birthday!

Birthday Wishes

I found myself without a birthday wish yesterday. I hadn’t even thought about making a wish and blowing out candles and when I was faced with flames last night I had to quickly come up with a wish. The reason this was a problem was because ever since puberty, my birthday wish was to find my soul mate (I realize this makes me sound desperate and pathetic). In the last few years my mom and my niece have both used their birthday wishes for me to find Thurman (not requested by me, out of their own lack of faith that I had the skills to snag me a husband). It took me a minute to come up with something new, but it was a strange realization. I’m getting most everything I want in life : )

Read this on MSN, thought it was funny : )

The Lazy Woman's Guide to Reinvention
If the mere thought of making over your life induces a hot flash, try one of these low-key alternatives.
By Karen Karbo

I used to marvel at people who could reinvent themselves in midlife. Like the woman I once read about who quit her job at a brokerage firm and bought a 1,000-acre spread in Wyoming to run her own guest ranch. What determination! What bravery! What disposable income! "How terrific it must be," I thought, "to just stop being a person who carries a briefcase and start being someone who gets up at four a.m. to muck out stalls."
How did she do it? I have no clue. Like many women I know, I have trouble remembering where I left the novel I'll never finish reading, so it's unlikely that I'll move to Istria (the Tuscany of Croatia) and renovate an 800-year-old farmhouse while learning to harvest truffles. You see, when it comes to the desire to reinvent myself, I am below average. My kind are not hyperorganized alpha reinventers but unfocused, exhausted, and weirdly content women who believe there are too many satisfying things to be done in a bathrobe, such as finding and reading the aforementioned novel.
What we do possess is an abundance of self-knowledge. Translation: We are smart enough to know that to reinvent ourselves might mean moving, which also means filling out those change-of-address forms no one ever heeds, putting all of our belongings in storage, or entering an internship program -- all of which would seriously impede our watching Law & Order reruns and mastering five-star-difficulty sudokus. Of course, everyone could use a little change now and then, so in the spirit of no midlife woman left behind, I offer three re's for the reinvention challenged.
Remodel
This is the equivalent of spending 20 grand to redo a kitchen rather than buy a new house. To remodel your life might mean taking a class, but never going for a degree. You will not be required to become fluent in Farsi or learn how to insert an artery stent. In other words, remodeling takes motivation, but not nearly as much as a full-scale reinvention requires. If you're a veterinarian, rather than close your practice to become a real estate agent (reinvention), you remodel yourself as a Cesar Millan-style dog whisperer.
Be careful. Remodeling can be easily confused with reinvention. Remodelers redo themselves by improving the selves they know. They never risk going into therapy, which could produce a life-changing epiphany. A friend who worked for years managing a local theater troupe recently quit to form her own company. This is an example of a judicious remodel. But had she decided to cash in her IRA to take acting lessons and remake herself into a star of stage and screen, that would have been, well, just plain stupid.
Refurbish
I like to think of refurbishment as slapping on a new coat of paint, because it's all about appearances. Instead of signing up for an online book group devoted to reading the works of Proust in one year, you opt for a set of porcelain veneers. It means saying yes to Botox, along with anything else that can be filed under the heading "Makeover." The refurbisher knows that with the proper attitude, a great new pair of boots can produce something akin to a spiritual awakening.
A refurbishment is just the ticket for the short-attention-span crowd. It never entails learning a new skill, although you may be asked to do the hard work of imagining yourself as a platinum blonde or someone who can wear dreadlocks with elan. You might say, "I'm not that superficial, just overwhelmed with the thought of dumping my life to summit Everest." But refurbishment is the re of choice for those who want the quickest return on their investment. If you're unconvinced, splurge on Lasik surgery and then get back to me.
Reframe
The successful reframist changes absolutely nothing about her life; she simply reframes the way she thinks about it. Let's say you're an aspiring novelist who makes a living working in human resources for a computer start-up. Rather than berate yourself for failing to have written that best-seller, think of all the fans you won't have to fend off and the nice nest egg you'll have when your company goes public. Are you the mother of a horrendous trio of video-game-playing teens who view taking out the garbage as a major imposition? There is cause for joy. Those sullen slackers who will never get into a decent college in a million years are just typical young folk whose lack of ambition will actually save you loads of money.
In short, reframists know how to take a fresh, appreciative look at what is. If she has pin-straight hair, she decides that all chic women have sleek hair. If she has curls that make her look like the sister of Hagrid, she rejoices in the fact that she will never have to buy Women's Rogaine. To opt for a reframe is to not change one bloody thing, but as our sainted mothers once urged, to be glad for what we have.
Beyond Reinvention
Frankly, there's nothing beyond reinvention, except possibly resurrection or reincarnation. The Jesuits have an ancient maxim: "Give me the child until he is seven, and I will give you the man." What this roughly means is that if you weren't into self-reinvention by second grade, you're probably not going to be the go-getter who closes her chiropractic office at 47 to enter local politics.
Still, reinvention is in the air, and like most communicable viruses, it's impossible to avoid. Even I've been infected. Last year, in a remodeling move, I bought a horse and partially reinvented myself as an equestrienne. It's going well, but I'd be lying if I said the sight of myself in breeches didn't have me thinking about scurrying back into my bathrobe.

I woke up this morning to Thurman telling me “don’t forget to put the package out for UPS, here is the house key (we are sharing at the moment), I brought in the laundry, I made your lunch and it is in the fridge, love you, have a good day.” Last night he did the grocery shopping, brought me home some flowers for my birthday, organized our storage closet, did our laundry, cleaned the ceiling and walls in our bathroom, made nachos for Ben & I, helped me with some stuff on-line, and was in a great mood doing it. Super husband! I think I managed to do some dishes and pay some bills on-line while he did the rest of that. He had a coke at lunch…hmm…
The new car that we bought has a CD player, which I haven’t had in a car since 2002, when it was stolen out of my Volkswagen my first month living in the big city of SLC. I haven’t even had a tape player so I’ve listened to a lot of radio, and got hooked on NPR a little while ago. And now when I drive the new car I have an internal battle of really wanting to listen to NPR, but feeling like I should take advantage of the CD player. NPR has won out more often than not.