Pseudo-Irish Lass

Update

2012-01-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

I went on a quick trip over Thanksgiving; the primary purpose was to cross the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame off my list, but I thought I'd squeeze in Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater and Kirtland, OH.

Long about Cleveland I started feeling a little, not right, so I decided to drive halfway home the next day (instead of spending another night in Cleveland). The next day I knew I was sick, and by the time I checked into the hotel I was in a serious amount of pain. I spent the entire night trying to decide if I should find a local ER to visit, and in fact, did eventually look up the hospital closest to me, but by 6:00 a.m. I started to feel a little bit better. I talked myself into driving the remaining three hours home and then deciding what I should do. After all, I already had a doctor appointment scheduled for the next week.

I made it home without incident, but spent the better part of the week in intermittent pain, but, of course, by the time the appointment rolled around I had a killer cold, but wasn't feeling like I might die at any moment. My doc ran a bunch of tests, and finally got a hold of the ER reports from my adventure in May. She called a week or so later to tell me there were concerns about the ultrasound results and I should 1) schedule an appointment with a surgeon for thing (a), and 2) call and scheduled a bilateral renal ultrasound at the hospital for thing (b).

Long story short, I spent December feeling the deja vu of medical madness, am scheduled for surgery in a couple of weeks for thing (a) (outpatient - hopefully no big deal), and then need to see a kidney specialist for thing (b) as well.

All while dealing with crashing waves of pain and nausea. Bottom line: Fallingwater may be the most awesome place I've ever visited, but I haven't felt up to writing about it (and it deserves a really long entry with lots of photos), Kirtland was just okay, and Christmas was nice, but swallowed up with my medical issues. The nubbins were super fun and cute, though. Someday, you'll hear all about it.

TMI

2011-12-02T17:22:00.001-07:00

This is what is happening in my sinuses right now....

And the Spookiness Continues

2011-11-15T01:17:00.000-07:00

I started the trip in Sleepy Hollow with the Headless Horseman and ended in Salem, Massachusetts with the most infamous witch trials in the nation.

Unfortunately, Salem pretty much closes down all the tourists tours at the end of October, so I just did some general walking around. Also, I tweaked my back hauling my suitcase into the car the morning before so walking was a little painful. All combined I didn't do a lot of walking around, but enough to see the 2 most famous statues in the city, and visit the oldest graveyard.

Bewitched Statue

"If I would confess I should have my life"
Even torturous witch-hunters love Rita's Water Ice!

Roger "Scary-Ass" Conant: founder and first governor of Salem

There's a Legend,Apparently

2011-11-14T01:10:00.000-07:00

Sleepy Hollow, New York takes its literary legend seriously. You can actually tour Washington Irving's home (and I may just spend another weekend there to do just that), and pretty much everywhere sells his work.

Also, Halloween is a BIG DEAL there. There are a lot of Haunted Hollow, Horseman Hollow, Halloween Hollow type activities in October and especially on Halloween. Unfortunately, this year Snowtober coincided with Halloween and many of the special activities had to be cancelled. Although, several places simply rescheduled for last weekend - it loses a bit of the hauntedness in November.

Anyhow, Sleepy Hollow...the legend is everywhere, on their street signs, in the public art, and in every single store, but it is a pretty cute little town.

The Next Generation

2011-10-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

The T3 Trunk or Treat got cancelled on account of Snowtober taking out the power to their church building so instead the kids trick or treated at home.

After the trick or treating, and obligatory eating of said treats, Nikita wanted to play Halloween Bingo. We were both surprised when a new Bingo caller emerged from the crowd. Ryker has apparently been training to take over Bingo calling duties during the Eggett camp-out at Mutual Dell. He doesn't have the same skills (or outfits) as Ferrin, but someday ... someday

Snowtober

2011-10-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

And I thought moving to the east coast would mean less snow, and certainly no snow in OCTOBER, but this is the view from my balcony today.

Counting Down

2011-10-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

Here we are on Day 5 of no hot water in my apartment building. We have luke-warmish water, but not hot water. It would appear as though two weeks ago when we spent a weekend without hot water it was actually an indication that the boiler was about to give up the ghost. An indication that our landlord (Morgan-Properties) totally and completely ignored; a fact Doreen quite frankly relayed to me today when I finally called to get a status update.

Now, you should all be keeping in mind that when I came home from an overnight trip to the Hamptons (why, yes, I am that fancy) there were signs up in the elevator guaranteeing that the hot water would be completely restored by Monday, October 17th, so I was showing incredible restraint waiting another 3 days to mention to management that no hot water was really, really a problem.

And wouldn't you know it, but the delightful Morgan-Properties employee that I spoke to on the phone told me it would be at least Friday before hot water was restored, and then proceeded to act shocked and offended that I felt inconvenienced by their negligence. When I mentioned that never-mind that showering is quite the adventure that I was also unable to wash dishes without hot water she told me that hot water isn't required to wash dishes?!?! Maybe in her house, but in mine...hot water is a requirement for clean dishes. To that she responded, "You know, you could just heat up water in the microwave". I am so ... just .... gob-smacked by their whole attitude, and right now I am pissed as hell that they ignored the warning signs, that their stupidity has left us in this predicament, and that on top of all of that they have the gall to give me ATTITUDE about my dissatisfaction? I am counting down the days until I am out of this place.

Occupy Philadelphia

2011-10-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

Protesters moved into Dillworth Plaza on Thursday, October 6, 2011, and by Friday afternoon there was an entire tent city of protesters living there. I was actually really surprised that the rain at the end of last week didn't disburse the crowd.

Some of the signs were awesome, some were funny, and some were angst-ridden. Overall, as I've walked through their impromptu neighborhood they have been boisterous, yes, but also respectful and fun. They do, however, smell really bad, and quite honestly, while I admire their dedication and passion, I think it's time for them to pick up stakes and signs and leave. It's time for them to funnel some of that passion into finding political candidates who represent their values and then working tirelessly on their campaigns, getting them elected, and making real change. Not just stinkin' up the Plaza.

This is my FAVORITE sign!

They've been very good at following all the traffic laws while they parade back and forth across the street listening to cars honking their agreement.

Why yes, that is a pull out sofa. During the day they fold it up, and during the rain it was covered with plastic sheeting...the occupant asleep under the "tent".

Camping/Protesting in downtown Philly is no reason not to exercise!

Travel and Such

2011-07-19T19:05:00.001-07:00

New posts will be appearing daily-ish on 1000 Places detailing my recent trip that covered Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusets!

Valley Forge

2011-07-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

Oh no! It was already the Calls' last day. Where did our vacation time go? They were flying out on a Sunday afternoon, so while T3 attended church Cort, The Calls, and I visited Valley Forge.

Nobody dared to approach the soldiers.

Like father, like son.

I noticed this creepy, screaming face the last time I was at Valley Forge and she has periodically been my FB profile picture. The kids all decided that they should all get in on the act.

I ended up without one of Brendan and the face. I started to take one, and Mack jumped in the picture. I was fine with that (see: love of candids), but LaNae told her to get out of the shot. So, at the moment I snapped the photo Brendan had shut his mouth and Macklyn's head was featured prominently.

I always suspected Gage was part of the secret society of Masons!

Sad flower. :(

George Washington's Headquarters

The banister is original to the house, so George and Martha Washington also touched that banister.

Hail to the Chief 'cause He's the Chief and He Needs Hailing

2011-07-06T14:45:00.020-07:00

On our last day in DC we drove out to Mount Vernon which is George Washington's estate just outside of DC. Did I mention the record breaking heat? I did? Well, it continued into Wednesday, and we all were about dead by then.

The Calls, Cort and I went through the house together, but T3 only ended sending Nate through. His ticket was for a few minutes after us and not even Nikita could be convinced to go. Ryker is famous for being a normal little boy who does his utmost to create havoc during any and all tours he is forced to join, so KiLee had just planned to sit in the shade with him, but Kita, was also done and chose to stay behind. Once we met up on the other side of the house tour - we walked down to GW's tomb.

The docent down there was also from Utah, and she assured us that even though she had lived on the east coast for the last 20 years she still wasn't completely used to the heat/humidity combo. So...that's something to look forward to.

Walking back up the hill was so tiring that we took a break here:

Seriously, look at how red Miss Macklyn's face is. It was HOT!

Once we made it back to visitor's center (and their A/C) the kids perked up enough to be really cute together.

After we cooled down sufficiently we all headed back into town to visit the Museum of Natural History. After looking around there, T3 headed back to Philly, Cort and I headed back to the hotel, and the Calls stayed and walked the all around the White House. I am still waiting for pictures, Madam President!

Washington, DC

2011-07-05T14:43:00.003-07:00

The days we spent in DC had record breaking heat and humidity so it was basically miserable. That didn't stop up from seeing what we had planned, although we all trudged a little more slowly, especially at the end of the day.

The first day we arrived mid-afternoon and went straight to Arlington Cemetery. I love the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as always have a special little moment of gratitude for all those who have served our country, and especially those who have given the last full measure of devotion to it.

Before seeing the changing of the guard, however, we trekked up to the Kennedy memorial and eternal flame. Even though I had visited Arlington before I had never stopped there.

I LOVE this photo so much! Photos like this is why I believe in taking candids.

We walked from the Washington Monument (well actually a little further beyond it) all the way back across the bridge to Arlington which means that on this day, we walked the distance from the Kennedy Memorial to the Washington Monument - in record breaking heat. It was worse than walking across the Brooklyn Bridge (which T3 and I had done a couple of weekends before.)

After Arlington we hopped on the metro and rode to the Washington Monument stop and then walked down past the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial, the reflecting pool (which is all torn up, drained and under construction right now), to the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. KiLee and Nate had a little car key mishap so KiLee had gone back to Arlington and then hightailed it across the bridge to meet up at the Lincoln Memorial. I didn't take any pictures during this time...I had photos from my previous trip, plus it was just so darn hot. I'm hoping to see some posted by LaNae, KiLee and Cort at some point.

In talking with KiLee we decided it would probably be fasted to nix the return trip on the metro and just walk back over the bridge to Arlington. We did, it was long and hot, but the pay-off was dinner at Oohs and Aahs. T3 discovered this soul food restaurant on a previous trip to DC, and it has become the standard. We have to stop there when in town. The portions are huge (easily shareable for 2) and they have the best fried chicken, mac and cheese and potato salad this side of the Mississippi River.

Lap of Luxury

2011-07-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

One of the things I told Cort we needed to do was spend a night at the Philly Ritz Carlton - primarily because she would have to join me if I were going to get the employee rate!

After we left PMoA we drove downtown and checked in. Let me tell you, the room itself was a little disappointing, but the bathroom was AWESOME. If I'd been there by myself I totally would've taken a long luxurious bath.

The were really fond of putting the RC Lion on EVERYTHING.

After checking in and then going down to the bar and eating an order of their spectacular pretzel bites and beignets, we walked over to Love Park and "the domino park" as Kita calls it, but I didn't bring my camera along for that part, so I've got no pictures. I may end up never having photographic evidence that I've visited the iconic LOVE statue ever. /shrug.

The next morning it was up and outta there as we headed down to DC with everyone for a few days. The Smithsonian stuff is up at 1000 Places, but look for Mount Vernon here.

PMoA

2011-07-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

The first Sunday everyone was in town the Calls went to church with T3 while Cort and I slept in and packed for our upcoming week of adventures. After church was over, we all met at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The first Sunday of each month is pay what you wish at the museum, so the timing was perfect.

I decided that I wanted to take Cort down Kelly Drive. It's really a pretty area, right on the river with the boat houses and such, but we soon discovered that the Drive was closed that day for a bike ride. This did not stop us from driving around lost in the Great Northeast and through some neighborhoods I felt less that comfortable in. Cort had mentioned that she wanted to so the PSPCA while she was in town, and I flat out told her no because it's located in this very part of town. So, I was really anxious to get out of there and back on track. We made it to the museum incident free, but it was a stressful drive for me.

Once there it took a little while to find the Calls and Nate/Kita. KiLee had decided to stay home and prep for vacation, as well, as have a normal day for Ryker to rest. We met everyone out by the Rocky statue.

The part ran, part walked, part ambled up those famous stairs.

This is just the top-most section of those stairs. :)

We finally got in and wandered upstairs to view the exhibits. It was so boring I nearly threw myself over the atrium. I can appreciate the inherent beauty and importance in Old Masters and Renaissance, pre-Renaissance work, but really, it just doesn't do anything for me, and the family was taking forever to look at everything. It wasn't until I broke away and went back downstairs that things started to look up.

There I found the good stuff. Impressionists, Pointillists, Dadaists, Expressionists, Contemporary and all things Modern Art. I hung out there until they announced the museum was closing and then found the rest of the group.

The Calls and T3 were going back to T3's for a birthday dinner for LaNae, but Cort and I had reservations for a little luxury at the Philadelphia Ritz Carlton.

Amish Country

2011-07-02T14:00:00.001-07:00

The first day that everyone was out here we drove out to Amish Country. KiLee and I wanted to take them somewhere besides just Kitchen Kettle so I did a little research and came up with an Amish Farm. I thought it was a little pricey for the tour, but I learned a lot of stuff about the Amish culture that I hadn't known before - things like what the colors stood for, and that they pin the aprons on with straight pins, and the shapes of their bonnets signify (generally) if they are Amish or Mennonite. I also learned a little about the misrepresentation of Rumspringa, and how the culture functions for those who delay baptism. It was really fascinating and educational.

Just in case you were unclear.

I loved the little school house and the opportunity to speak with an honest-to-goodness Amish schoolteacher. She was very kind and very funny. She indicated that she had a pretty big class of younger kids, and that she had pretty much decided that the school teacher life wasn't so much for her. I don't know why, but I had just assumed that once they became the school teacher that was the end of that. I was a little embarrassed that I had just assumed they couldn't change their minds.

Lesson plan

Bren was sitting at a regular desk, but in a super small chair.

The first of many cute cousin photo ops.

We also went to Kitchen Kettle, and while I love it there it is all about the food. The reasons I go include the excellent soft pretzels, the fudge shoppe, and the cinnamon toasted almonds. Last time I was there with KiLee and the kids I also discovered an awesome insect shop. They have glass mounted, really cool, colorful and sometimes creepy bugs/butterflies.

Vacation Stories

2011-06-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a two week vacation that involved meandering through nine states and the District of Columbia. Quite a bit of the vacation sites were chosen for their inclusion on THE LIST (you know, the list of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die), and, as such, photos and stories will be posted on the 1000 Places blog, you should see a post a day for the next several days over there. Everything else will show up here...at some point. :)

Rainbow Alert

2011-05-20T16:31:00.002-07:00

Nate sent me a rainbow alert this afternoon; I guess that means the world is not actually ending tomorrow. Sigh, now I really have to clean my bathrooms.

The Big 02!

2011-04-26T08:32:00.011-07:00

I love how his hands are mirroring the wave on the TV behind him. Unintended, but kinda cool.

Not only was the present a hit, but he really loved the Blue's Clues wrapping paper as well.

KiLee made this seriously awesome cake!

All the Thomas themed presents were a huge success. The kid totally loves trains.

He's very lucky to have this terrific big sister.

I (don't really) Love a Parade

2011-04-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 19th there was a parade downtown to celebrate Wachovia officially becoming Wells Fargo. I mentioned that I was thinking about going since it was a light work week, and KiLee told me I should definitley go because it "sounds like a blog post". I went, saw the stagecoach and had a pretty good time.

Brenda at the permanent stagecoach display

These kids were freaking fantastic. They did a full-on routine like the movie "Drumline". And some of them were only thistall.

1000 Places

2011-03-28T18:51:00.001-07:00

New post at 1000 Places ... I've crossed the Philadelphia Flower Show off the list!

The scene when I walked in:

And when I walked out:

Amelie

2011-03-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, the cover makes this movie look creepy, but really it an incredibly charming movie that I adore. I have also discovered that watching a movie in French is the best way to get Ryker to go (almost) immediately to sleep. No fighting, no fussing, just sleeping.

This is my favorite quote, and alas, I have been guilty of this train of thought here and there in my life...

Nino is late. Amelie can only see two explanations. 1 - he didn't get the photo. 2 - before he could assemble it, a gang of bank robbers took him hostage. The cops gave chase. They got away... but he caused a crash. When he came to, he'd lost his memory. An ex-con picked him up, mistook him for a fugitive, and shipped him to Istanbul. There he met some Afghan raiders who took him to steal some Russian warheads. But their truck hit a mine in Tajikistan. He survived, took to the hills, and became a Mujaheddin. Amelie refuses to get upset for a guy who'll eat borscht all his life in a hat like a tea cozy.

You should see the visual that goes with this quote. Love it!

Ice Storm

2011-02-02T19:18:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia had our second ice storm of the season, and both happened midweek - when I had to go to work and was, therefore, preoccupied by scraping off the car and getting to work. Today, we had a delayed start, and when I went out to ready my car the ice was already starting to melt, but as I passed the tree by the door all I could think about was how I wished I'd brought me camera out with me.

While I was scraping, I got a phone call saying the power was out at our office building so we were officially closed for the day. I was thrilled (free day off!) and headed back upstairs to grab the camera. I still have photos I haven't uploaded yet (thanks, Verizon, for your truly crappy internet service), but will get them up as soon as possible. In the meantime...enjoy, especially those of you in Utah who have never had the pleasure of an ice storm.

A Return to Civility

2011-01-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

I got this book for Christmas. A co-worker had mentioned it in a meeting more than a year ago, and I admit, it captured my interest. It is basically a little guide to help us all be a little more civil in a increasingly uncivilized world. I plan to share some of the things that I'll be working throughout the year with all of you.

The website linked in the title also includes a daily act of civility if you want something new every day.

So... first up a personal pet peeve of mine:

If you are invited to an event that requests an RSVP, respond, and do it in the time required. If you RSVP yes to an event, plan to show up.

Or let the organizer know as soon as possible if your plans change. Your RSVP could trigger decisions that cost money and time. Remember, too, that there may be someone on the waiting list who would be happy to take your place.

5 Things I'm Thankful for in Philadelphia

2010-11-25T08:15:00.001-07:00

Because the theme of the last six months has been "Nothing Goes Right in Philadelphia" I thought I'd instead focus on the things I am thankful for here. Maybe it'll turn everything around! :)

1-T3! It has been such a blessing and help to have them nearby. To have them feed me, and listen to me complain, and to have that family connection that I miss, and to bail me out when I suddenly need a ride to northeast Philly because my car broke down, and to invite me on fun adventures! Also, those kids are freaking adorable.

2-My job. I complain about it a lot, and in truth I don't really like working there, but without it I wouldn't have had the opportunity to follow my dream to live on the east coast. And regardless of the my feelings for this specific job, I do like the company I work for and (hopefully) they will continue to provide opportunities for me to progress in my career.

3-Location, location, location. Being on the east coast gives me easy access to almost every place on The List. In the 3-ish years I've committed to living here I hope to visit dozens of places, hopefully including at least 1 trip to Europe. In fact, I've already seen several in the 6 months I've been here.

4-The climate. I expected summer to be humid and miserable, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. In return for the occasional mugginess I get trees everywhere, the additional oxygen that comes from living at sea level, and ooh, did I mention all the trees? I may be regretting this come our first big "shut everything down" snowstorm, but right now, It's high 50s in Philly, while SLC had a blizzard warning.

5-After 6 months, I'm finally feeling settled. Like this might be home. My car is registered, my driver's license now says PA, and I'm enrolled back in school to finally finish my degree. I feel like I'm out of the rut that trapped me in Utah, and now, all I see are opportunities.

Obviously, I'm thankful for a lot of other things more general to life and some specific to Utah, but it seemed appropriate to focus on the biggest changes I've ever made in my life, and to say, "Hey, I finally feel pretty good about this...finally."

Thomas Jefferson

2010-10-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

I was at Monticello recently, and I had two really fantastic guides. The house tour guide made a point at the very end of the tour that made me really think, and yes, get a little teary. She was telling us where the family cemetery was and talking about the epitaph, which he wrote himself, on his tomb. It reads:

HERE WAS BURIED

THOMAS JEFFERSON

AUTHOR OF THE

DECLARATION

OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

OF THE

STATUTE OF VIRGINIA

FOR

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

AND FATHER OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

BORN APRIL 2, 1743 O.S.

DIED JULY 4. 1826

Of all the things this man accomplished, including being the third president of the United States, Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State, and Vice President he chose these thee things to be remembered for. The accomplishments he was most proud of all were based on Freedom:

Freedom of the people to govern themselves,

Freedom of religion, and

Freedom of the mind through public education.

Later, at the visitor's center I was watching the movie about the Declaration of Independence, and at the end there was a montage of the world governments that have been built on the prinicples that Jefferson espoused in that document. That all men are created equal, that we are endowed with certain unalienable rights, and during that moment I sat with tears streaming down my face, thinking how lucky we are to be Americans, and how often we take it for granted.

"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." --Thomas Jefferson

September 2010

2010-10-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

September was a pretty low-key month around here...thank goodness. After all the drama of moving and car troubles and a new job and the 1,000 other things that have gone on over the last 5 months I needed a little break.

I did manage to cross another place of my list, Winterthur, make another trip out to Lancaster to visit Amish Country, and enroll back in college to finish my B.A.

Unfortunately, things are notlooking any brighter at work, and at this point I'm merely counting off the time to fulfill the time in job requirement to post out, but at least it's not worse. Although a friend recently coined a new theme of my life, "Nothing goes right in Philadelphia".

But here is hoping that I can get through the next while without any major catastrophes.

October will hopefully bring another 2-3 things off the list and starting school.

1000 Places Update

2010-08-14T09:13:00.001-07:00

New posts will be up shortly at 1000 Places to See. Complete with pictures.

July 2010

2010-08-13T18:56:00.003-07:00

Friday, back in Salt Lake, another dinner at Chihuahua, this time with a bunch of the family, a rental car switch, and checked in to my hotel for the remainder of my stay.

Saturday was Porkfest 2010. It was a little scaled back this year. Brendan and Mike were getting home from Scout Camp later in the day, Macklyn had practice for Stadium of Fire, and T2 had family pictures so things broke down early in the day, but there was still frosted crack (Thanks for getting up early to make it, LaNae!), and a BBQ. LaNae and I then headed over to Provo for Stadium of Fire (Fire!) to watch Mack perform and enjoy Carrie Underwood. I’m a huge fan, so I was definitely more excited by that than LaNae was. Mack did great! Even with a slight firework malfunction.

Sunday I just hung out at my folks house and again most of the family showed up to say goodbye. There were more tears, but they’ve all promised to visit and participate in an upcoming family reunion (with river rafting) so it’s all good. Early Monday, I got up, returned the rental and winged back across the country…”home”.

Crock Pot

2010-08-02T19:01:00.001-07:00

You know that crock pot that has been moving around with me, still in its original, unopened packaging for approximately 8 years and 4 homes? I busted it out of the box and made taco seasoned chicken this week. I am now a crock pot convert. Thanks for the recipe/suggestion Nate!

New Planet Moving and Storage SUCKS!

2010-08-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Remember how way back in June the mover’s pushed and pushed to move up my load date so they wouldn’t have to pay to have an empty truck sit for 2 days in Salt Lake City? And how when I finally agreed to that they showed up 4 hours late causing me to miss another commitment?

I foolishly though that was the one glitch for this move, and whew! wasn’t it nice to get it out of the way early on? If I’d had any idea what was to come I would never have put my stuff on their truck.

Second of all (first of all, being the pressure and then the lateness) they arrived with a big-ass semi truck, which did fit in the parking lot, but they parked it as far away from my door as they possibly could and then told me that I would need to pay CASH for the “long carry”. I knew this was a possibility (they only include carrying 75 feet from door to truck), but seriously you couldn’t maneuver 15 feet closer? So I had to run to the bank and get $80 for that.

After they got the truck loaded and ready to go, the driver told me they were required by law to give me a booklet outlining my rights and responsibilities. He told me, “This law says we give, you no take though, right?” Hmmm, yeah. I will take, Einstein. Not that it did me any good, New Planet Moving and Storage managed to violate nearly every right assigned to me, and it’s is clear that they’ve never read the pertinent sections of code.

When I had originally spoken to their sales person, Trish Cardenas, she was very nice, and sweet and helpful. Little did I know that she has no idea how her company actually functions and would not be available to address any concerns about the initial contract after she had my credit card and signature. Thanks, Trish, I’d say you’re a peach, but really you’re just some kind of rotten fruit.

I was incredibly worried that my stuff would come and by $2000 more than the estimate. I asked Trish repeatedly to estimate high so I wouldn’t be blind sided at delivery. She repeatedly reassured me that with a move as small as mine there was no way it would exceed the 3500 pounds she was estimating. LIE! (Maybe)

Anyway, I told her that my new apartment had insane rules for moving in and out and would New Planet be able to accommodate. She said yes, of course, she was trying to make the sale at any cost. I also told her that I would need an elevator appointment (Trigger the ELEVATOR FEE!) and that I was certain in would more than 75 feet from truck to door (Trigger LONG CARRY FEE!). She said she would give me the 3rd floor pickup (New Planet only covers the first flight of stairs in their quotes, and they consider 5 stairs a flight) for free, charge me $50 for the elevator at delivery and $50 for the long carry at DELIVERY. Fine. Given the situation with the apartment rules, I asked if there was any way to work with her to get a delivery day in advance. Absolutely, she said. LIE! Not a problem. LIE! Just put down the “first available date” as July 8th or 9th and we’ll get it to you on one of those days. LIE!

So, the mover’s came, charged me more, tried to get out of giving me legally required documentation and were finally on their way. I got back to PA after finishing my vacation in Utah on July 5th, and by July 7th still hadn’t heard anything from New Planet about delivering my stuff on the 8th or 9th. I called. “Oh, Trish can’t help you any more you’ll need to speak with Jessica in Dispatch.”

Jessica at New Planet. Here is the deal with Jessica. She is very nice and speaks perfect English. However, she is pretty unresponsive to messages and emails and does not possess the logical reasoning skills to figure out that PA is FREAKING 3 hours ahead of Las Vegas. She needs a remedial school, I think. But, she was pleasant to deal with on the rare occasion I could actually get her on the phone. And after sending her 2 weeks of available dates my stuff wasn’t even scheduled to be delivered yet. This brought us to July 21st.

On July 22nd, I was near a breakdown. So stressed out by the lack of commitment or customer service from New Planet and living like a hobo I finally got Jessica to go to her boss and get a frakking deliver date. I had sent her the available dates for the week of July 26th and asked that if there was any way to avoid delivery on Monday, July 26th it would be great. The elevator was already tentatively reserved by someone else, so please, any other day that week.

That evening I got a message from Jessica saying my shipment had been weighed and my shipment was 120 pounds over and that the final changes were going to be more than anticipated. I immediately called back, asked to speak to a manager and told them that considering their F-UP at pickup with the lateness, and the me saving them money it was time to repay the favor. They agreed to a small discount and my final amount would be $1000. About $60 more than the estimate. Fine. Whatever.

Jessica then told me that the delivery was scheduled for Monday, July 26th. “Wait, isn’t that the date I asked you to avoid?”

“Oh yeah, I guess it is.”

“But my stuff will definitely be here?”

“Yes.”

“What if I can’t get the elevator?”

And here is where Jessica started the path toward rotten fruit. “Listen, your stuff will definitely be there Monday, July 26th at 8:30 a.m. If you can’t take delivery at that time then we will have to charge you a redelivery fee for sometime later that week. That’s all. That’s the deal. The driver will call you on Sunday to verify everything.”

…

“Fine, I’ll work it out.”

I went on a little weekend vacation, and when I came back Sunday night there had still been no call from the driver. I started to get a worried feeling. Monday morning I was up and at the bank to get a cashier’s check. I was speaking with the teller about options should the mover not show because now it was 9:15 a.m. and I still hadn’t heard from them. The teller assured me that I could cash in the check and have it reissued if needed. As it turned out. The bank were the only people with half decent customer service skills in the picture!

At 10:30 the mover’s still had not shown up, nor called to tell me there were delayed. I called Jessica. Since I can adjust for various time zones my message said something like, “I know you’re not in the office yet, since it’s only 7:30 there, but, um, it’s 10:30 here and they haven’t shown up. If they’re going to be done by the 12:30 promise time they need to be here now. So, call me as soon as you get this!”

At 1:00 Jessica finally called me back, acting infuriated that they hadn’t shown. I assured her that I would be expecting some sort of reimbursement considering I had taken a day off work to wait around and have them not show. With her on the phone I double checked available days for redelivery (sans fee).

Me: “I’ve got Thursday or Friday morning, but would really prefer Friday so I can take the whole weekend.”

“Let me just double check with them about Thursd….you know what? Screw them. They screwed up they can sit there until Friday and deal with it. You’re rescheduled for Friday morning.”

“And the discount.”

“Let me talk to my boss and call you back.”

At 8:00 p.m. ET I got a call from some guy affiliated with New Planet, called Andrei that I had never heard of or talked to before. He was incredibly rude, abusive and unprofessional. He told me that delays happen and it’s “too bad” that I took a day off for nothing, but I have to be available “24/7 for the 21 days required by contract” to take delivery. He also told me that one way or another my stuff would be “off his truck by noon tomorrow” or it would “disappear, gone, poof!” I told him that threatening me didn’t seem like a very good idea. He got even louder and more abusive. “you want to me to lie, fine, I lie. Stuff will be there Friday, but really it be gone! Poof! Tomorrow!”.

I was near tears at this point so I called Jessica (the advantage to PT was that it was only 5:30 p.m. there), they told me she was unavailable, but I asked to hold, and sent her an email telling her what had happened, that I was holding, and that I needed to talk to her tonight.

While I was on hold, someone else, Joe, from New Planet, left me a voice mail. I called him back, he apologized for Andrei’s behavior and seemed to not know that my issue was the no-show was that they HAD NOT CALLED TO TELL ME ABOUT THE DELAY!

Okay, seriously, guys. Stuff happens when you drive across the country. People don’t show on time, there is bad traffic, there might be severe weather, there might be mechanical difficulties. I get it. My problem is that NO ONE CALLED TO TELL ME ABOUT THE DELAY! And in my mind it is inexcusable and incredibly unprofessional to not have basic communication skills. Not only did no one tell me that they were delayed, but once the issue had blown up into a no-show, after I had told Jessica and demanded reimbursement, after she had promised to take it to her boss, SHE HAD NOT TOLD HIM about it. ROTTEN FRUIT!

Anyway, Joe told me not to worry, that they truck would wait, and if it was possible could I find out about delivery Thursday. I, foolishly, agreed. I should’ve made them sit there until Christmas. Joe also said he would talk to Andrei, tell him not to contact me again, and that I would only deal with him or Jessica for the rest of the move.

On Tuesday, July 27th I sent this to Jessica:

Hi Jessica—
I’ve been thinking about the delivery no-show yesterday and in light of the situation I believe that a discount equal to the “redelivery fee” you mentioned to me last week is appropriate compensation for my time and inconvenience and New Planet’s unprofessional behavior.

As you’ll recall, when the delivery date of July 26th was scheduled, I wasn’t sure I would be able to secure an elevator reservation for that day. You told me then, unequivocally, that the truck would be there Monday, and if I was unable to accept delivery the only option would be storage and to pay a redelivery fee when my shipment was delivered later that week. When I asked about cost you told me that the fee usually was about $250.

I begged and cried to my landlord to secure a reservation for Monday, July 26th and then New Planet neither called to tell me about a delay nor arrived with my belongings. Obviously this meant that I had to take a day off work on Monday, July 26th, but that I’ll have to take an additional day off when the shipment arrives on Friday, July 30th.

Given the fact that the mover’s also asked me to move up my pick up date in Salt Lake City to save New Planet the cost of having an empty truck sit overnight, and the fact that once I agreed to the earlier date they arrived 4 hours after the promised time (they promised 8:30, they did not arrive until 12:15) causing me to miss a previously scheduled function, combined with the delivery no-show I feel the $250 credit is more than fair.

I will, then, have a cashier’s check prepared for $750 as a complete and final payment when the truck arrives at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 30, 2010. Please let me know if you have any questions or issues. Thank you for a quick resolution to this matter.

Jalaire Taylor

See, that sounds reasonable and polite, right? I received no response. Finally, I called Jessica back, of course she was unavailable, so I left a message. When someone finally called me back it was Joe, wearing Andrei’s delightful personality.

Joe started with the raised voice, saying things like it is a small profit margin and they already gave me a discount (yes, for your bad behavior up front) and blah blah fishcakes. On and on about how this isn’t their fault, and I don’t understand, and what the hell ever. I don’t care. I read him the passage from the federally mandated “Rights and Responsibilities” manual saying that they were legally obligated to reimburse me if they missed a scheduled delivery without notification and finally, finally we settled on a final price of another $900 payable by cash, cashier’s check or money order.

I made Jessica email me an invoice, because I already knew those dirty bastard would try something at delivery. Then I had a breakdown, in the bathroom at work because seriously, this is totally frakked up.

The mover’s did show up outside my apartment building at 8:30 a.m. They sat there for 40 minutes arguing about how the couldn’t fit a semi into the parking lot and they’d have to rent a smaller truck and charge me another $400. Yeah, you read that correctly. I kept telling them that they had to use the SIDE entrance and that both Asshole Joe and my building’s management had assured me that a truck that size would fit. And after 40 minutes of arguing they finally TRIED, and they fit. That’s right, they were going to charge me $400 without even attempting to turn the frakking corner.

Then the argument started about long carry cost. I maintained that I had pre-paid. They steadfastly refused to acknowledge it. Again, they had not even attempted to pull up to the loading dock, but instead parked perpendicular to maximize the carry distance. I told them fine, I would pay the maximum amount the law allowed and sue them for the difference later. No, they said, all of it now or your stuff disappears. (side note: did they want to be magicians when they were little, what is there fascination with making stuff disappear?) The only east coast contact, Asshole Andrei. Perfect. I argued with him for another 30 minutes. Finally, I gave up, gave in and said I’d pay them and file the complaint later. I gave them the cash for the bullshit long-carry ($150) and the cashier’s check for the $900 Joe agreed to.

OMG!

“No. cannot take. Need money order only.”

“But Joe told me…”

“No money order only.”

So I ran back to the bank to get a money order.
I went back to the truck with the money order.

“No cannot take, must be Postal Money Order.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?!?!?!?”

“Cannot take. Cash only. No unload without money.”

ME: Taking a very deep breath so I don’t beat them to a bloody pulp with my bare hands. And I head back to the bank.

The poor bank tellers got to witness first hand the flushed and sweaty me slowly losing my marbles, as dealing with the mover’s got worse and worse. Again, they were super professional and understanding. Shout out to them!

This time I had them give me cash. Because, just no, you know. By this time it was 11:00 and they hadn’t even started unloading the truck.

So, I took the cash back.

“No cannot take cash. Must pay with own blood!”

Okay, I made that last sentence up, but it feels true.

They started unloading the truck. Every single box was crushed. A bookcase was totally destroyed. Like a million pieces destroyed. I took a lot of pictures. And finally they started taking stuff up to the apartment.

So, finally tally:

Destroyed: 1 bookcase
Lost: 1 bookcase
3 boxes of books
1 box of artwork and computer stuff
Damaged: 1 Antique sewing machine
1 set of book shelves

And now, they haven’t done anything about the claim I filed. I think this is headed for either arbitration or a court room.

To sum up: DO NOT EVER HIRE NEW PLANET MOVING AND STORAGE. I will be doing my best to completely put them out of business so nobody has to deal with them again.

Conclusion: It would have been cheaper. less stressful and likely less damaging to my property to rent a U-Haul and hire day laborers from outside Home Depot to load/unload.

This is the summer of Frustration!

2010-07-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

Still waiting for my furniture to arrive. It’s ridiculous and I’m frustrated. I’m frustrated by a lot of things recently, but I’m hoping that once I’m settled things can start working themselves out. In the meantime I’m taking a lot of deep breaths, crying, and making decisions and plans for my future…including finally getting my Bachelor’s Degree and possibly an MBA. I’ve also planned a trip to cross another 3 things off the List. Right now it’s been moved back into “tentative” status until my move stuff gets settled. That should happen tomorrow.

June 2010 – Part Three

2010-07-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

The mover’s had called several times wanting to move my pick up date to Saturday, and finally they talked me into letting them come early. Then they were ½ day late (they promised to arrive by 8:00, but didn’t get there until 12.15) causing me to miss my cousin’s wedding shower. (Little did I know that this was just the beginning of my trouble with the horrible New Planet Movers.) We did manage to see her before she left, and I got to visit with my sisters and J&F. By about 6:00 p.m. I was ready to be done so with my apartment all packed up I went back to my folk’s house for a couple of days. My bed had been moved down there so I’d have a comfortable place to sleep.

Sunday was the most boring day ever. I went up to the apartment pretty early to meet the purchaser of my w/d. Then my sister, Cort, came over and we hung out, talked, got some lunch, while waiting for one of the other sisters, Jodi, to show up. I HATE to clean, especially the bathroom and kitchen, and Jodi loves to earn a little extra money so I’ve hired her to help clean every time I moved last year…which means 3 times. In a year. It is insane to see that in writing.

Sunday night, most of my siblings came over to my folk’s house to say hey and check in. I had a couple of nubbins who were going to scout camp/girls camp during my trip and wanted to be able to see me at least the once. I was super happy that they did. It wouldn’t have been right without them!

Monday, I had lunch with my former boss and her new admin. Had a fabulous time with them both. Sent Susan to the airport for a business trip and went over to the old office to check in with all my friends there. It was great to be able to see everyone and say hi. Especially since I don’t know when/if I’ll see them again. Thank goodness for Facebook, right?

Then I went back downtown for drinks with a friend, and again it was so relaxing and so much fun. I forgot what a big difference friends can make!

Tuesday, I had a dentist appointment. I know, what a great vacation, but I didn’t want to have to find a dentist first thing in PA so I figured since my dental insurance didn’t change I’d just get the cleaning out of the way. Then I did my final walk through on the apartment and turned in the keys, and headed to T2’s to babysit their nubbins while they got a temple trip in.

Those kids are so freaking adorable, but man, I’m tired just thinking about them. The best part is that the instant I stepped through the door, Emma started chatting and chatting about everything and anything. It was so cute! The other best part is that Leo has also become quite chatty-even going so far as to learn to say my name. It just turned my heart into a big pile of goo. Which is fortunate because otherwise, I may have left him at the park? I took the kids to watch Jarom’s T-ball game and all Leo would do is run up the stairs, to the slide, down the slide, around to the stairs, and repeat. LaNae would text me when Jarom was up to bat so I could watch, but it was pretty much making sure Leo was still around. I was surprised that Jarom wanted to actually play a team sport and even more surprised that he’s pretty good. Even with a borrowed glove.

After the game, we all went back to T2s for homemade JumPizza. It was the most delicious pizza I’ve had for a long time…even if some of the crust was a little extra “rustic”.

Wednesday I had lunch with the old CPG crew and then headed up to Idaho for my vacation within a vacation to cross 2 things off the List. Check out 1000 Places for those details.

June 2010 – Part Two

2010-07-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

The trip back home started off in almost the worst way possible. I was running late and so we didn’t leave for the airport on time (Thanks, KiLee, for the ride! I will repay you in September!) and then, of course, traffic was…well Philly traffic. Terrible. It took forever to get there and I was getting more and more nervous. When we finally made it to the airport it wasn’t quite an hour before my flight, but security at the Delta terminal is normally not bad, so I was feeling a little nervous, but still pretty confident. By 5:15 I was still standing in line at security, not even to the metal detectors and staring down the possibility that I would most likely be missing my 5:30 flight. Luckily, the excellent TSA agent sent me to the “best” detector operator on duty and I sprinted through the entire E terminal, frantically double checking every monitor to make sure my flight still said “Boarding” as I sprinted past.

When I finally arrived at the gate there was no one around except one guy standing by the door. Whew! Barely made it. I was so tired and thirsty and relieved that I thought I’d pass out and as soon as I made it on the plane I wheezed out, ”Could I get some water?” The flight attendant took one look and gave me a whole bottle of water. The flight was totally full and mine was literally the only empty seat left. I had barely fastened my seat belt and stowed my carryon under the seat when they taxied away from the gate. To top it off, I was incredibly sick during the entire flight….feverish and nauseous and just totally miserable. It was also the most turbulent descent I’ve ever had coming in to Salt Lake City. Add more drama with the rental car…Thrifty sucks, and Alamo saved me…and I was more than ready for dinner at the Chihuahua.

I don’t know what made me so sick on the plane, but Chihuahua sure made everything all better. I also got to check in with Ana and Jim…catch up on all the gossip. Finally, I got back to my apartment where I found welcome home balloons and a card that made me cry before I collapsed into bed.

During This Trip I...

2010-07-02T22:10:00.002-07:00

slept in 5 rooms
in 4 beds
had 3 rental cars
crossed 2 places off my list, and
spent 1 holiday back in Utah with my family!

June 2010 – Part One

2010-07-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

Mover’s hired? Check.
Plane ticket purchased? Check.
Hotel/rental car booked? Check.
Things to See Stuff Planned? Check.

The first part of June has been pretty much like May, settling in as best I can without furniture or dishes, and trying to figure out what the heck my job is, but things are going well. I’m really looking forward to spending the 4th with my family, and checking a couple of places off my list. I’ll have the details of the trip in Part Two.

SYTYCD Bryan Gaynor Does Robot to Fireflies

2010-06-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

Lil C LXD League of Extraordinary Dancers

2010-06-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

May 2010

2010-05-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

I started my new job on Monday, May 3, 2010 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and spent the remainder of that month trying to figure everything out. Everything here is so completely different and new, but so far I’m outrageously optimistic in spite of some pretty compelling reasons not to be, but I feel confident that this is the right decision for me. I’ve already got several trips planned that will take me to see almost a dozen places on my list this year. Starting the end of June when I head back to Utah to close up my apartment and move all the stuff that wouldn’t fit in the car (finally, furniture!), continuing to the Finger Lakes in July, and Kentucky/Tennessee this fall, not to mention several trips that are day trips from home planned for a Saturday here and there. This is going to be good!

April 2010 – Part Five

2010-05-04T19:17:00.001-07:00

I was anxious to get settled and get things taken care of, but LaNae and Mom were here to be tourists so I didn’t get to really enjoy the fun things we did. I was always worried about this or that, getting set up, finding an apartment, etc. We only managed to look at one apartment a day while everyone was in town and that is not the way I like to handle such things. I knew that with one full day dedicated to apartment hunting I could find something appropriate, and if I had to do it over I’d have rearranged my travel schedule to do that up front. Then I could’ve forgotten about it and enjoyed myself a little more. You can read up on the fun things we did that week here.

Instead of going with everyone back downtown and then to the airport on Wednesday, I said goodbye to Mom and LaNae at their hotel (yes, there were tears) and went back to T3’s to get organized and formulate a game plan. I felt great once that was done, appointments were scheduled, calls were made, employment confirmed, etc.

I spent the next day (Thursday, April 29th) visiting many, many apartment complexes and I did, indeed, find a suitable match. I signed the lease the very next day and had a permanent address in Pennsylvania on Friday, April 30, 2010.

April 2010 – Part Four

2010-05-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was the longest day of my life and I don’t really want to talk about it. We went from Keokuk, IA to Cleveland, OH on the back-est of the back roads. I swear the GPS was giving us directions akin to: “Turn left in what looks like Farmer Joe’s field, but will turn out to be a cow-path-like intersection in .2 miles”. Honestly, it was one lane roads without striping or anything. I felt pretty lucky that we had a full tank of gas or else we may have experienced first hand that famous mid-west hospitality. Cleveland certainly does rock after 11 ½ hours of driving.

Thursday was our last day of travel and we were planning on arriving in Willow Grove around 6:00. My sister, LaNae was flying in to spend a few days sight-seeing and helping me get settled and she would be getting to T3’s around 6:00. Perfect, right?

I wanted to stop in Pittsburgh to eat lunch at The Original…The O. It had been featured on my favorite documentary of all time, “A Hot Dog Program” and it seemed a shame to pass it by. We made it to Pittsburgh in good time, and the GPS got us right there, however, there was no parking except street parking and good luck finding a space at lunch time near a bazillion hospitals and a university. So, while I drove around trying to find parking, not accidentally turn the wrong way down a one way street, or hit a pedestrian (students, it seems, will universally walk into the street without concern for oncoming traffic) I kind of lost track of where we were in relation to The O. We finally ended up parking in a hospital garage, and before I take my Mom on another road trip she is going to have to learn how to use the GPS. I am not joking, MOM.

We asked about The O and got directions, it wasn’t far we were told and started walking. After walking approximately 17 miles we started thinking the directions were faulty so we asked, and asked, and kept getting either no help or bad directions. Honestly, I was just about to give up on eating there at all when we ran into someone who told us that the street we needed ran PARALLEL to the street we were on, and so, we had to look for “this” cross street. Angel in Pittsburgh is what I call that lady. We finally made it, and it turns out it wasn’t that far from the hospital.

I’m not sure if all the stress of finding parking and being lost and walking about a mile in the wrong direction, but I was not so impressed. I actually had a hot dog…my first in many years, and it was okay, but not great. The fries were as ginormous as advertised and they were good dipped in the accompanying gravy, but the service was poor and unfriendly and the food was really just okay especially for the price. (My milkshake was excellent, but I would have rather tried Stella’s.) Anyhow, the detour for The O cost the schedule big time and now the GPS was telling us we wouldn’t be getting to Philly until 7:30.

Shortly after leaving Pittsburgh, we were approaching the on ramp for the eastbound Penna Turnpike. The GPS was telling us to keep going straight, but I knew that T3 lived just off the Turnpike and that it was the fastest route there. And that is when it hit me. Our adventure across Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio…It was because I’d disabled toll roads when I was in PA in January. When I was here before, I had no cash and didn’t want to get caught at a toll booth with no way to pay, so I disabled that feature. When I went back to Utah it didn’t matter as Utah doesn’t have toll roads. Suddenly the trip through Farmer Joe’s fields made sense. Head. Slap.

A couple of hours away from T3’s the lack of sleep (I may have had an angry bear sharing my hotel rooms, at least that is what it sounded like) started to catch up to me, so I finally pulled over and asked my Mom to drive while I slept for a little while, and to please not squander the time I’d made up by driving on the Turnpike. When I woke up, we were still on the Turnpike, going 45 mph with a semi barreling past us. And that is why I did most of the driving. Mom wanted to check into her hotel before meeting up with T3 and LaNae for dinner, so we hurriedly did that and finally, finally we were there.

KiLee made chicken alfredo with home made breadsticks for dinner (my favorite), and it was nice to sit, relax and chat with everyone. At last, LaNae and Mom headed back to their hotel, Nate inflated the air mattress (I was crashing at their house to save money), and I went to bed, a Pennsylvania resident.

April 2010 – Part Three

2010-05-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Tuesday (although I will be honest and tell you at this point, I wasn’t sure what day of the week it was) we left Des Moines for a quick trip to Nauvoo, IL. This was my big concession to “vacation” on this drive. Even though I wasn’t starting work for 2 weeks, I was fairly anxious to get there and get things taken care of. Looking back at how it worked out I would’ve taken more time to drive out there. I wish we had stopped to see the American Gothic house. Bygones.

We booked it to get to Nauvoo by noon so we could go on the Wagon Ride around the town, and we barely made it. We pulled in about 2 minutes to twelve, and luckily the wagon hadn’t left yet. After the wagon tour we drove around town and embarked on our day long journey to re-find Heber C. Kimball’s home. We stopped at the Printer, John Taylor’s home, the bakery (I was getting a gingerbread cookie!), and generally just looked around. The fantastic missionaries had also suggested that we come back for Rendezvous that night so now we had after dinner plans, as well.

After looking around a bit, we headed to Carthage to see Carthage Jail, and I will not lie, I pretty much cried the entire time. It was such an amazing experience, and an amazing place to be…Both Nauvoo and Carthage. We grabbed dinner at a Dairy Queen (choices were extremely limited), marveled at the farmland of the mid-west and drove back to Nauvoo.

Rendezvous: it takes a brave person to commit to putting on a song and dance show every night when they have no training and (sometimes) no skill. Willingly because they have to. But it was a lot of fun to watch and participate. Afterward, we drove over to the Smith family cemetery. The sun had just gone down and it was dark and quiet and so peaceful; the spirit there was amazing. I could’ve sat by the river all night.

Nauvoo is an incredible place, with an especially incredible spirit and I’m sure I would’ve been emotional any time I visited, but on the particular trip I was struck with the parallels to my own circumstances. The whole spirit of Nauvoo is exodus. We were repeatedly reminded how the early Saints had built a beautiful city and a wonderful life and they left it all behind. Packed whatever they could fit in their wagons and headed west, to an uncertain life and an uncertain future. I was in the process of my own exodus. Leaving everything I had built for myself, my family and friends, and heading east to a new job, a new life and an uncertain future - my car loaded with the possessions it would fit, and hoping that I had everything necessary to start over. And so, after visiting the grave of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and watching the Mississippi roll by, I got back in my car and drove up the trail of hope moving east instead of west to my new life.

April 2010 – Part Two

2010-05-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

The last week I was in Salt Lake was incredibly hectic, there were a lot of good bye dinners, lunches, and cocktail hours. Oh yes, and an abscess with a raging infection that forced an emergency root canal and cap 2 days before I left. You heard correctly, emergency oral surgery 2 days before I left. Super fun!

My sister threw me a big goodbye party the Friday before I left, and my sweet and crafty (not in the devious way, but in the, “Hey, I can make super cool stuff out of thin air” way) made me the cutest little picture book of all the “Nubbins”. Thanks, Stacy! I love it, and yes, it made me cry. A lot.

On Sunday, my folks came up early helped me load the car (Mom was driving cross country with me) and we were off. We drove to Cheyenne, Wyoming and spent the night. We ate dinner at Chiles, and it was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. Service was extremely slow, the food was all cold, and the server(s) were indifferent to our existence. Blech!

Monday morning we were off again, and almost immediately were in Nebraska. Nebraska looks pretty much like you think it will; also, cows smell really, really bad. No, I mean really, really bad. And the only exciting thing to see is the Great Platte Archway that spans I-80. No exit, but a huge arch.

We made it all the way through Nebraska and to Des Moines on Monday. You may assume that Des Moines is not a happening place (and it’s probably not), but before we left I’d looked up some Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives places and found Stella’s Blue Sky Diner. We went there for dinner and it was quite the experience. First of all, it’s located in end cap of a strip mall so you are completely unprepared when you step through the doors…and into the 50s. The whole place is done in pink and blue with kitschy memorabilia including TVs, juke boxes, toys and disco balls. I tried to order the loose meat sandwich, but they were out of loose meat, so I settled on the crispy grilled cheese. It’s coated in cornmeal and fried(?...maybe, I’m not sure how they get it like that). It was really good, tasting sort of like a scone and sort of like a grilled cheese, and their fries were delicious. We talked about ordering shakes, and we really should have. You can have it served by placing the cup on your head, your server climbs up on the divider between booths (or you lay on the floor and they stand on a chair), and pours it from the mixer into your cup. They have great aim! The only time they missed was when the poor kid’s dad started poking him in the ribs so they kid squirmed away. There were also 2-3 birthdays in the restaurant. The counter-guys take a megaphone, announce the birthday, and have the entire restaurant sing while the birthday boy or girl rides a stick pony around the place. So, if you’re ever in Des Moines, I give Stella’s 2 thumbs up!

April 2010 – Part One

2010-04-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

I was reminded recently that my monthly blogging goal has fallen behind, but I’ll tell you something…moving across the country…it is hard, and stressful, and time consuming. Don’t let anyone ever tell you anything different. Also, I’ve got pictures to go along with some of this, but because I don’t have my computer or cables I haven’t uploaded any yet. So, pictures to follow…eventually.

So I was offered a new job in Philadelphia on March 30th and gave my official acceptance on the 31st. I also tendered my resignation to my boss who was very supportive, but not very happy. For the next 2 ½ weeks she would ask me every day, “Have you changed your mind, yet?” or “You know they have a lot of Catholics in Philadelphia, are you sure you want to go?” or occasionally even, “This is a huge mistake, you should just stay.” Always said half in fun, at least half serious.

Because I was leaving this job on good terms I put in a lot of work to make sure all my major projects were closed or appropriately handed off, spent hours and hours making a binder for the new team member with all the information they would need to do my job, and saying goodbye. I worked really long hours, and was absolutely exhausted every night. And that was just at work.

At home, I decided to pack only the “necessities” in my car and leave everything else for later. I wasn’t able to cancel my lease so I decided to help alleviate some of my stress by not worrying about moving all my furniture immediately. I decided to sell my washer/dryer and pack up as much as I could before I left, knowing that I would have to be back in Utah to close out my lease in June.

I got a fair amount of packing done; mostly it will just be packing those darn odds and ends and cleaning.

My last day of work was scheduled for April 16th and I planned to leave for Philly on the 18th.

It seemed like so much time, and yet, it ended up being so little. I was totally exhausted.

Doing It's Part

2010-04-05T18:38:00.002-07:00

I left my front door unlocked while I ran out to get some food. I knew I'd only be gone 10 minutes, and the cable guy was wandering around somewhere on the roof fixing my reception, so I left it unlocked.

When I got back, the front door was wide open the cable guy totally gone, but alas even though the Universe is trying to help me out, my possessions were still where I left them. Sigh.

March 2010

2010-03-30T07:24:00.001-07:00

The short version:

I got a job offer the last week of March and am moving to Philadelphia in April! Everything else will have to wait until I have a quiet moment to gather my thoughts!

I will say this, I'm both super excited and very sad. I think this is going to be a great adventure, a very good thing for me, and as my Scottish friend said, "You just fancy a change?" Yes Rich, that sums it up beautifully. I fancy a change.

Sad because of all the great friends and especially family that I'm leaving behind. But I'll be back in June/July and I fully expect a lot of visitors. After I have an actual place to live and I'm not living like a hobo, that is!

February 2010

2010-02-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

I’ve spend a good amount of time giving my friends and family a hard time about blogging more, and while I think they have an infinitely easier job (cute kids, doing cute things = easier, and also more interesting, entries) I’ve decided to do at least a monthly recap, lest they decide turnabout is fair play.

So...February. It is a good thing that February is such a short month because it is the month where I just can’t take it anymore! I’m itching for spring weather, sunshine, and other wonderful things that aren’t the bleak, dark, cold suckiness of short days and winter weather.

February started out with a huge possibility of a job offer that never materialized. In fact the folks I interviewed with didn’t contact me, and eventually reposted the job mid-month. Another job opportunity was posted, I applied, and after a mediocre interview they at least told me, “No thank you.” I used the time to curse the moving gods and specifically spell out timelines to make it work and feel like I have a plan.

The month ended with an email from the recruiter saying that the job req had been cancelled and reissued and I should reapply. Sigh...so, I did.

In the meantime, there was the Super Bowl (which I didn’t watch) along with a party (which I greatly enjoyed). I don’t know if I can tell you really who played, let alone who won, but I did eat a lot of really tasty food, and have a lot of really fun conversation. I really do have the best family, and I love hanging out with them.

Also making February tolerable: The Olympics. Really, I don’t think I need to talk about my love for them, and now I have become a rabid fan of both the biathlon (They have to ski penalty laps! On a little penalty track! I love it!), and curling. Seriously, I don’t understand the rules at all, but I love the Norwegian teams’ pants, and how every player is mic’d and you can hear all of the team conversation. I also enjoy that there is an Olympic sport which you can successfully participate in while 7 months pregnant. Rock On Curlers of the World!

I love the Olympics, I really do, but it seems as though Vancouver was the red-headed stepchild of Olympic Games in recent memory. Nothing really worked quite right, the venues had more than the normal amount of problems (from the mechanical failure during the torch-lighting, to the lack of bathrooms and concessions, to the dangerous bobsled track that caused a tragic death) and everything seemed...just really low-budget, and unsafe.

I was so eye-coveringly embarrassed by parts of the closing ceremonies that I just had to turn if off. I mean really: dancing, Rockette-kicking Mounties (so out-of-sync, why didn’t they take lessons from Beijing Organizing Committee)...Michael Buble lip-synching really, really, poorly (think Ashley Simpson during her Saturday Night Live debacle)...and half-nekkid maple leaves twisting around. Not to mention the painfully unfunny bits by Catherine O’Hara and Michael J. Fox. Eek! And don’t even look at the giant inflatable beaver and moose, so reminiscent of the terrible, terrible bear from the Opening Ceremonies.

And last, but not least, in February a move that was thankfully not mine.

So February was kind of a mixed bag of events, but March is off to a quick start. Even though it is snowing today. Stupid snow! I also promise a list of books I’ve read so far this year with at least a one sentence review coming in the next couple of weeks. And if you’re lucky a recap of job status and job potential.

THE OLYMPICS!

2010-02-13T20:15:00.005-07:00

You all already know how much I love the Olympics, especially the Opening Ceremonies where we pay respect to all the athletes and their hopes, dreams and accomplishments. Most of them won't win any medals, won't be named in any news stories, but for those few moments during the Parade of Nations anything is possible for them. I love it! And I might be getting teary just thinking about it.

Shut up!

But this is a terrible, terrible bear. It is the old ceramic Dalmatian from Wheel of Fortune that they were forced to buy because they still had $250 dollars left...

And while the ceremonies were a little more subdued after Nodar Kumaritashvili's death earlier in the day, they were still very, very cool. Except for the terrible bear, of course.

January 2010

2010-01-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

So, let’s face it. 2009 sucked. Hard.

It actually started way back in November of 2008. I was involved in a hit and run accident that left me unharmed, but totaled my car. My car. That I’d had for 10 years and loved. That was completely paid off. Three days after I bought new tires and renewed the registration.

I started 2009 with a new-to-me-car and car payment. Sucked. The first quarter was fairly insignificant. I now had a car payment, which put a little strain on my budget, and then in April I got the news from my landlord that they would be raising my rent, again, at the end of my lease term. So, I decided to move somewhere less expensive, save some money and use it to go back to school. The hunt was on.

The complex I decided on was brand new, with a glorious layout. Bottom floor, no stairs, nice and shiny brand new. The downside (during the initial decision making process) was that it was waaaaaay out west, in the boondocks. I figured from my time as a home owner in the boondocks that I would readjust and everything would be fine.

It wasn’t. I hated the location from day one. Then the neighbors started in with the wall-shaking bass pounding from their stereo and video games. I complained. Politely. They responded. The way you expect white trash to respond. The police became involved, as did the management. Finally, after needing a police escort to go home, management decided to evict them. And then, they didn’t. Sucked.

After weeks of half-truths and full on lies from them, I reminded management that a contract went both ways, and they had legal obligations to me as well. They let me out of my lease and I moved. Again. It would have been cheaper to stay downtown and suck up the new rent increase.

The new place is adequate. It’s fine. It’s the same management company (it was the trade-off to breaking my lease) and I hate them. I decided I wouldn’t stay after my lease was up this summer.

My job was growing increasingly frustrating, leaving me unhappy and work and unhappy at home.

I had been saying for a couple of years that if my brother went someplace cool for grad school I would move too. He went someplace cool to grad school, and the more dissatisfaction I felt the more it seemed viable to actual pick up and move cross country. The call of easy, convenient travel, a big city, and family nearby to help me get settled and ease homesickness became stronger and stronger.

The decision to just go for it was made in late December/early January. I had several phone interviews with a group in Philadelphia. The last weekend of January they flew me out for a final interview. It went fine, but I was underwhelmed, and I think they were as well. Don’t get me wrong. This job....I could rock it, but the people didn’t jive. They were perfectly lovely, but I found myself thinking that I didn’t have anything in common with them, and if I took this (mostly fluff-filled) job I would have neither the satisfaction of challenging work, nor the fulfillment from a great connection with co-workers. I flew home less than sure of my decision to pursue the opportunity to move.

Despite all of that, January was good. A successful month. A month where I feel as though I’m making decisions and moving toward something.

The few days I spent with T3 were fun, and the kids were about the cutest things ever. I will always remember a certain someone in a little pink coat dancing through the parking lot, tugging on her dad's hand, and so excited to have me eat dinner that my plate was set rightnext to her's. And the baby laughing uproariously and adorably for no reason other than to make me laugh back. I loved spending time with them, and getting a feel for what living there would really be like. Of seeing how it has worked for them, and how much they enjoy it there. Of being able to babysit in exchange for a Sunday dinner and stuffing everyone in the car to drive to New Jersey to touch jellyfish and sharks.

Bring on February...I’m ready, and more positive about my future than I’ve been in a long time.

Congratulations T4

2009-08-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

Zombie Mistress?

2009-07-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Seriously, Wade Robson

2009-07-27T19:20:00.002-07:00

More SYTYCD

2009-07-15T20:30:00.003-07:00

I know, I haven't posted anything "real" in a long time, but for those who don't know I moved a couple weeks ago, and that consumed everything for a very long time and I promise there is a post coming about it. I've also been battling a wicked flare up of carpal tunnel, which has *mostly* kept me off the computer at home. But really, if you're not watching So You Think You Can Dance then you are totally missing out of the best part of the summer television season. Here are my 2 favorite dances so far this season...both from last week.

Wade Robson is a genius!!

Mia Michaels is a raving lunatic and I probably couldn't stand to be in the same room with her, but this is just fabulous. The backstory...he is the addiction and she is trying to break free, but can't quite get away.

Yes, Exactly!

2009-06-10T18:31:00.003-07:00

SYTYCD

Remember Bleeding Love:

or

The Garden:

or...old school with Sweet Dreams

And so many others...the bench dance, the one with the door. The one to Daisy in December...that is now a regular song on my iPod, and already tonight, some amazing performances! So You Think You Can Dance (dance) (dance)

Slap Chop Rap

2009-05-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

5 Years

2009-05-03T09:41:00.002-07:00

Today is the official anniversary of PseudoIrish Lass, 5 years.

I love reading through my archives and remembering what was going on in my life during those posts.

And while I've definitely slowed waay down on posting, I still enjoy the outlet. And I'm glad that several members of my family have embraced the blog as a way to keep everyone updated on their lives.

Here's to 5 more!

Quote of the Day

2009-04-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

The idea in this country is that no one gets to be the boss of what everyone else thinks. I like it that way.

--Rick Steves

Flickr Photos

2009-03-24T19:34:00.002-07:00

Photos from the recent trip to Southern California (Along with photos from December...yikes, I forgot those were on the camera!) are up on flickr...I've included my favorites here.

Inventory

2009-02-13T20:55:00.002-07:00

Everyday begins alike. The alarm intrudes into my consciousness, squawking that it's time for inventory. I take a moment to imagine others waking up with the last remnants of a dream in their minds or a list of mundane items that must be crossed off before bedtime and I envy their normal thoughts. I wonder if they realize how lucky they are.

Sigh, inventory. The pain that wracked my body during the heart of darkness has subsided. Not completely gone, but it no longer requires active debate of when I should call 911. Curled into a ball and begging for death, I win the argument to not call for help by suggesting the act of argument voids the need for help. If I truly needed help, there would be no room for debate. I might be delusional, but at least I'm delusional in my own bed.

My chest hurts. Deep, stabbing pain, like a screwdriver has been driven between my ribs. Oh God, it hurts, but not enough to call in sick. This morning it has settled beneath the right side of my rib cage. I take a deep breath. No change. Good, if it moves upward toward my heart...I will struggle.

Back, between my shoulder blades. Aches dully.

Occipital nerve, where it disappears into my skull. Tingles, like my blood is carbonated.

Fingernails, all ten. Throb.

Left ankle. Smarts.

Right calf. Cramped.

Everything else. Well, it won't kill me, at least not today.

Morning inventory completed, I sit up, grab my blue speckled cane and hobble unsteadily down the hall. It will be a good day.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The President of the United States of America

2009-01-20T18:53:00.004-07:00

The Big Picture

My fellow citizens,

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them— that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence— the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive ... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

5 Things

2009-01-19T20:29:00.003-07:00

Superstars of Dance Edition:
1-This show is seriously a train wreck...I train wreck I can't look away from

2-Most of the judges are so serious and self-important, but the Russian judge...the Russian judge, He. Is. Killing. Me. with his communist joking hilarity. "Your dance reminded me of my family, it is the way we dance when I got my U.S. visa."

3-Could Ireland really not bring anything new to the table. Really? Old Lord of the Dance routines for EVERY DANCE?? And I love Irish step dancing. **tears**

4-The Goovaloos

*the quality is a lot better from The Groovaloos link, but it's nearly 8 minutes long.

AND

Shaolin Monks

5-I recognized all the flags from GeoChallenge. It really is educational. :)

Phalanges!

2009-01-12T21:17:00.002-07:00

I've just recently become a HUGE FAN of Bones...and this is probably one of my favorite moments. I dearly hope that Emma Jo can be convinced to do "dancing phalanges" with Leo.

Jodi Tagged Me

2008-12-04T18:32:00.005-07:00

Oddly enough, I don't really keep any pictures on my computer (upload the good ones to Flickr, and move the others to CDs), so I currently only have one photo folder. In short, I cheated and just used the only folder on the hard drive and picked my favorite.
Me = 1, System = 0!

Ooh, also...this one, just for Mack.

Girl Power!

2008-12-02T21:10:00.001-07:00

Top 3...all girls.

Tagged

2008-11-24T20:28:00.001-07:00

10 Years ago I. . . .
1. My, now totaled, car was brand new
2. Moved into the 100 year old house in Lehi

5 Things on Today's "To Do" List:
1. Get insurance on the new car
2. Work—sort of
3. Get the oil changed in SG’s car
4. Finish watching Season 1 of Eureka
5. Sleep through the night without another false fire alarm

5 Snacks I Enjoy:
1. Wheat Thins and Laughing Cow cheese
2. Soda
3. Albertson’s brand peanut butter granola bars
4. yogurt
5. chocolate

5 Things I would do if I were a Millionaire:
1.Pay off my debts
2.Travel the world.
3. Retire
4. Start college funds for the nubbins
5. Buy books (More, than I already do...without justifying that it’s for my birthday or Christmas)

5 Places I Have Lived:
1. American Fork, Utah
2. College Station, Texas (very, very briefly)
3. Lehi, Utah
4. Saratoga Springs, Utah
5. Salt Lake City, Utah

5 Jobs that I have had:
1. Cook, Pizza Hut
2. Indentured Servant, GHC
3. Senior Accounting Clerk, EM City
4. Admin Assistant, WFB
5. Most awesome sister, aunt, friend in all the land.

My New Favorite Snack

2008-11-10T21:03:00.002-07:00

It's super delicious spread on a cracker.

Gracious

2008-11-04T22:32:00.003-07:00

What an incredibly gracious concession speech, and while I didn't vote for John McCain, I must admit it made me a little teary.

Yes We Can

2008-10-23T19:21:00.003-07:00

I'm stealing this from Ms. Linda Holmes who expresses these sentiments much more eloquently than I can:

"I assure you that I am not voting for Obama because of this video. I have met and befriended politicians and political staff of all stripes. I still owe my former pal, the high-placed Republican staffer, his Adam Sandler CD back. I have been on a legislative floor at three in the morning watching a bill pass; I have attended countless committee hearings; I have written laws.

I require no lectures about the significance of public policy or the importance of substance in politics.

I also believe that rhetoric matters. Inclusive versus exclusive; plans for the future versus fear of people in other parts of the country; the stomach-turning claim that we should enter another age of separating “pro-American” and “anti-American” people into separate camps. These things are important; what you say is important. Saying “yes we can heal this nation” is important, because it is, in fact, an extraordinarily bold stand against cynicism.

The implication that if you can allow yourself to be moved by rhetoric and music, then you must by definition be incapable of thinking for yourself, is offensive and presumptuous. Inspiration is not only appropriate in politics; it is critical. And being inspired is not inconsistent with thinking clearly.

Yes, I am inspired by this candidate and this campaign, and I recognize this particular video as an emotional appeal. But emotional appeals sometimes allow you to tap into what you feel is missing from the discussion, and I’m not at all embarrassed by the fact that one of the things I think is missing is a smart, thoughtful person who draws inspiration from the civil rights movement and the moon landing in asking people to believe that the country can be better than it is."

“I, like many on both sides of the spectrum, am sick of the deification of Obama like he’s going to revolutionize this nation with his broad-sweeping change…who was the last president that single-handedly did so? None in my lifetime.”

As far as I know, this view of Obama by his supporters is an invention of Redstate.com and Fox News. I have never, ever, EVER spoken to a single person who thinks anything this ridiculous. I have not seen deification; I have not seen anyone argue that he can single-handedly “revolutionize” anything.

Yes. We. Can.

Hear that? “We.” You and me. This is why he has a thing about inflating your tires to address the energy crisis, and this is why he always talks about parents being the most important force in helping their kids be better educated. He’s not asking you to FOLLOW him; he’s asking you to JOIN him. It’s not “stand over there while I wave my wand over you,” it’s “let’s get a really big group of people together who are convinced that we need a different kind of country/world, and that really big group of people — not him, but US — we can make it different. He is a Donors Choose kind of guy; lots of people doing what they can. That’s why he did great with small donors; that’s why he has such an enormous volunteer network.

I have never seen him as someone who wants you to act out of your love for him; I have seen him as someone who wants you to act out of your love for your country and your commitment to what you believe. I see him as extremely pragmatic, dedicated to the idea that there exists a set of principles that, in fact, a critical mass of people agree on (”we are not as divided as our politics suggest”), and that if they would act instead of becoming increasingly disengaged because they’ve grown cynical, they can in fact effect certain critical kinds of change. And this is what he sees as the genius of America (”it was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of the nation”).

I have never believed that HE can single-handedly change the country, but I do believe that he is the most successful politician (I never said he wasn’t, nor did anyone else) in many years to tap into a strong progressive streak among enormous swaths of America while managing not to wildly alienate people who are moderates.

The messages in that video, as has been pointed out, are coming directly from him, and none of them say “I will fix everything.” What they say is that — and I quote — “Nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.” And that, I do believe. I believe the civil rights movement bears that out, I believe women’s suffrage bears that out, I believe the fact that gay people can now legally marry in several states bears that out, and I believe that a variety of other things in our history bear that out. Nobody’s going to fix everything; in four years or eight years, no matter who the president is, we will still have problems.

But I do believe that we are much more cursed by the reticence of people to act on what they believe than by the failures of any one political figure. So contrary to the common theory of Obama supporters believing he can single-handedly solve problems, what draws me to his candidacy is his argument that the best thing he can do is motivate and unite individuals to take a stronger role in public life, because that really is going to do more than any single act of any president.

And honestly, music has played a role in practically every important struggle in American history, from labor to civil rights of all kinds to the protesting of war, so if this is to be a movement, it is going to have songs, and this is one. I also, on a more academic level, admire this piece enormously as art, in its recognition of the close relationship between good speaking and good music, and its ability to bring out the musicality of statements like, “In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.”

We are one people. We are one nation. YES. WE. CAN.

Something Sweet

2008-10-20T20:44:00.001-07:00

Halloween Candy Quiz

You are a Toffee Apple

Like the toffee apple you are sensible inside but mischevious on the outside

Find out which Halloween Candy you are at Quizopolis.com

Decision 2008

2008-10-15T19:47:00.001-07:00

Ha! You thought this would be about the Election, didn't you? Although I do have some thoughts about that as well. For example, Sarah Palin? SARAH PALIN?! First, she is not "just like me" and secondly, I don't want someone "just like me" to be vice-president. I want someone who is smarter and more experienced than me. There, I said it.

But no, this isn't about the election. This is about a personal decision I've made in the past couple of months. I'm moving. To Prague. To teach English.

Well, first of all, I'm going to Prague at some point in the future when I've saved enough money to pay for TEFL school, and you know...moving to Europe. Then I'll attend and graduate from said TEFL school, and then, then the move to Prague will actually be reality.

Again, the timeline is ill-defined, but hopefully I'll have enough saved to go in late 2009-early 2010. The key is saving money while not depriving myself of glorious other travel opportunities.

A Very Belated 5 Things from the Olympics

2008-10-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

1- This was hands down the best Opening Ceremonies I've seen. Terrifically intricate and flawlessly executed. My only beef was that the show was meant to be seen large, from the top of the stadium, and I hate when they have the camera on the floor showing, like, 2 guys. Come on! I want to see it as it was meant to be seen.

Also, it is the Parade of Nations not the March of Countries....Dad!

2-The venues were also spectacular. The Birds Nest...breath-taking. The Aquatic Center....spectacular. They were innovative and unique and built for the once in a lifetime feeling that the Olympics embody.

3-LIVE!!! I adored how they scheduled events so that they could be broadcast live in the U.S. It takes so much THRILL out of the watching when you know the results already.

4-Michael Phelps

5-MICHAEL PHELPS!! He is worth mentioning twice. His performance was spectacular, breath-taking, and injected real excitement into the games. His accomplishment is unlikely to ever be repeated, and I got to watch every race...LIVE!

A New Post, It's a Miracle

2008-10-13T18:15:00.004-07:00

I know, I know. I haven't been around in quite sometime. In my defense, however, I never really accepted the fact that August or September came and went. I have been crazy busy and semi-sick and have been incommunicado for ages.

Do not be alarmed, it was not just this blog that didn't hear from me. In the last couple of weeks I've had several friends call to make sure I was still alive and around. I even wrote a list of things I wanted to talk about here including the Olympics. Ya'll know how much I love the Olympics....but it just never quite happened.

In the meantime, I did manage to snag a weekend in Southern California for my annual pilgrimage to the Huntington and the Getty. Pictures are *mostly* up on Flickr, and I promise to write at least a little more often. :)

Updated to add: Pictures are all up at Flickr.

I Love This

2008-07-01T19:57:00.003-07:00

Hooray!

2008-07-01T17:11:00.001-07:00

My noisy neighbors are moving out! Hopefully, the new tenants know how to keep the noise to a minimum.

Marriage Advice

2008-06-10T19:01:00.002-07:00

My cousin's wedding was supposed to be tomorrow. They had postponed the blessed event a couple of times already, and when they finally had a wedding shower, we were all asked to give advice with our gift.

**I hate this! I don't have marriage advice; I never been married, and, quite frankly, I like it that way.**

So when it was my turn, I was slightly tongue-tied, and idea-less and blurted out, "Well, you shouldn't get married. It's advice I've lived by my whole life, and it's made me pretty happy."

**Not that I have anything specific against marriage, just that I'm unconvinced being married would make me happy. Maybe someday I'll meet someone who I have to been with forever, but it's not happened yet.**

So my advice got some laughs and everyone kind of joked about it. As I was hugging my cousin goodbye and telling him congratulations someone mentioned my advice. He turned to his fiance and said, "Well, you have 6 weeks to decide if you're going to take it." hahahah

Today, she called off the wedding. I am not feeling particularly responsible, because EVERYONE knew something like this was coming, but I'm feeling a little disconcerted.

Skagway, Sitka, College Fjord

2008-06-09T18:46:00.002-07:00

In Skagway I went to the top of White's Pass, again the scenery, you just can't believe it's for real.

Sitka was a tender port which means once you're off the ship, you're off. And once you're back on, you're back on. Not technically, but it's such a hassle otherwise. It was also the first day that we had less than 70 degree weather. It started out high 50s and a little chilly, but warmed up later in the day. The raptor center was awesome!

As we entered College Fjord we were at dinner. The waitstaff, they left, went out on deck to take pictures. They told us that they had never seen it so clear, and some of them had been there a dozen times. Again, so blessed by wonderful weather.

Iceberg, Right Ahead!

It's a Whale...A Whale

2008-06-09T18:38:00.002-07:00

Juneau. I went on a whale watching excursion and it was fantastic. Whales galore, everywhere we looked. My cruise-mate Elna, who was cruising solo, and I went together and had glorious time. Again, 70 degree weather, lots of whales, eagles, and sea lions, followed by lunch at the Red Dog Saloon. It was a great day.

You can actually see the whale in the foreground, and the blow from another whale in the back.

When I got to dinner that night, a found a miniature road cone on my plate. The story of the stolen road cone and guerrilla art having now become legend.

Alaska

2008-06-09T18:29:00.002-07:00

We took the Quick Coach (not so quick) from Seattle to Vancouver where we boarded the ship, got all settled in, and met up with the rest of the travel party, and yes, Carnival still has warm chocolate melting cake on the menu. When they take it off, they will lose me as a customer.

The next day was a sea day, which we spent wandering around, playing trivia games, reading and gazing at the spectacular scenery.

Our first port was Ketchikan. The weather was great low 70's, completely clear. Very picturesque and lovely. I walked all along the creek and then met up with the official tour to go to Totem Bight State Park. It was meh. Our guide had a lot of good stories, but lacked any story-telling ability.

Yelling Pig Ladies and Road Cone Mischief

2008-06-09T18:08:00.003-07:00

The vacation was wonderful. We had beautiful weather, and it was pretty much the best vacation ever! WONDERFUL!

We flew into Seattle a day early to meet up with a cousin who lives there. She took us to Pike's Place, lunch at Lowell's (the turkey club is fantastic), where I got yelled at by a ceramic pig lady, (NO PICTURES!). I just thought, "Lady, you're in a stall in the most famous public market in the USA, and last month....last month, I got yelled at by an Amish guy. You, do not scare me."

After we walked through the market we went to a sculpture garden. There is a sculpture there that looks kind of like a giant prehistoric bird, and AL was telling us that someone came in during the night with a miniature replica and a nest that was laid at the foot of the original bird sculpture. It caused a huge controversy and was eventually removed. (I didn't take a picture because I didn't think this bit of guerrilla art would be important). As we walked among giant road cones, I mentioned that we should find a regular road cone and duplicate the previous guerrilla art. I should say here, that I'm all for throwing out ideas like this, but have never been strong on the follow through. AL, however, delights in this sort of mischief, and the end result is:

After leaving us to check in at the hotel and freshening up a bit, we met back up for dinner and wonderful conversation.

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T15:56:00.003-07:00

To all the mothers out there, but especially to mine. Because I could not have asked for a better one!

Pictures

2008-04-28T21:09:00.002-07:00

I've got new posts up for each item from The List on 1000 Places to See, and all the photos are up (with some duplicated...Flickr was being finicky) on Flickr.

Hopefully in the next couple of days I'll get new posts up here with some of the funnier (and for us the most memorable) moments of the trip.

Home

2008-04-22T15:12:00.003-07:00

I got home late last night, early this morning. After missing our original, non-stop flight by minutes, we had to rearrange and nearly missed the next (and last flight of the day) out of Baltimore. But we made it home safe and sound, exhausted, with piles of dirty laundry, tons of photos, lots of great memories (Hall of Presidents, Is there something wrong with it?, and CROAKER NORGE!), and tons of photos which will hopefully be posted soon.

It was a great trip, and I'm already thinking about going back. I didn't see nearly all of what I wanted!

FYI

2008-04-14T18:17:00.002-07:00

Just for your information, I am writing this from a hotel lobby in Virginia. The great vacation (Round 1) of 2008 has begun, and apparently, the Pope will be in town tomorrow.

I however, will be driving through Shenandoah National Park and visiting Monticello.

See you next week!

Semi-serious

2008-04-08T19:22:00.001-07:00

You Are a Semi-Colon

You are elegant, understated, and subtle in your communication.

You're very smart (and you know it), but you don't often showcase your brilliance.

Instead, you carefully construct your arguments, ideas, and theories â€“ until they are bulletproof.

You see your words as an expression of yourself, and you are careful not to waste them.

You friends see you as enlightened, logical, and shrewd.

(But what you're saying often goes right over their heads.)

You excel in: The Arts

You get along best with: The Colon

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Back East

2008-04-06T10:48:00.002-07:00

We leave next week for the big trip. It's a completely packed itinerary that will leave me needing a vacation, a vacation that I will take when I go to Alaska in May.

People keep asking where I'm going and I've taken to saying "back East". It started out as DC, but then I kept adding places in different states, and further and further away. I actually wish that I was staying at least twice as long so I could add more, and stay longer at some places. (One day in New York?! Not nearly sufficient!)

This trip will take me through 6 states and to 13 places on The List. I'm simultaneously excited and disappointed. So excited to go and see all these places and all this history, and disappointed because I won't get to see or do everything I want.

I take comfort in the fact that I'll have to revisit at least New York because I cannot live without having seen The Met.

Quote of the Day

2008-03-11T20:01:00.002-07:00

"Do you know why Satan is so angry all the time? Because whenever he works a particularly clever bit of mischief, God uses it to serve his own righteous purposes."

"So God uses wicked people as his tools."

"God gives us the freedom to do great evil, if we choose. Then he uses his own freedom to create goodness out of that evil, for that is what he chooses."

"So in the long run, God always wins."

"Yes."

"In the short run, though, it can be uncomfortable."

--Orson Scott Card
Ender's Shadow

FYI

2008-02-25T19:19:00.003-07:00

I am in love with Viggo Mortensen. I had a crush on him in Witness, which was solidified in Young Guns II, "Sheriff, I need to have a movement." and made certain in various other movies culminating with Eastern Promises.

I just thought you should know.

5 Things

2008-02-21T18:31:00.003-07:00

1-There was an earthquake today in Wells, Nevada. We felt it here, I was shaken awake.

2-I am sick, SICK!, of winter. It snowed again this morning, and I want spring!

3-I just spent nearly $1000 on my car. The check engine light came on late Saturday night (I was afraid my car would explode, but I was told that hardly ever happens.) and it turned out to be a faulty catalytic converter. Add to that the new tires, alignment, oil change, etc. etc. and it was expensive. Not as expensive as a monthly car payment, but still.

4-I'm starting to really work on the itinerary for my trip in April. My wish-list includes 18 things (in 5 states and DC) from the list, but I'll probably cut out 4-5 in order to make it do-able in a week.

5-I need to do my taxes. Since I sold the house in 2006, this will take approximately 10 minutes because I can again use the EZ forms.

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

2008-01-27T22:04:00.000-07:00

Gordon B. Hinckley
1910 - 2008

Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T21:05:00.001-07:00

The Box

2007-12-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

So, the Little Blue Box. I'm leaving it at this, for now. I met someone who is delightful. Extraordinarily kind, and smart, and funny, and wonderful. Brilliant. Someone with obviously good (and expensive) taste. And the contents of the Blue Box were a gesture of what? Affection? Appreciation? Both?

And as wonderful as he is, I'm not quite sure of his intentions...or mine for that matter. But *hopefully* it will be fun to figure it out!

Blue

2007-12-13T18:08:00.001-07:00

Tiffany
Originally uploaded by pseudoirishlass.

Have you ever heard girls say that their heart skipped a beat when they saw the blue box?

It totally does!!

Snow

2007-11-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today was the first "real" snow of the season. Sure we had flurries a while back, but today, today was a lot of the white stuff, and right during the commute home. I have to admit, I'm not quite ready for winter.

My Memoirs Will Be Titled:

2007-10-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

I Had to Walk From the Souvlaki in the Rain.

Wouldn't you buy that book?

The Rat Bastard

2007-10-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

During my few days of serious emotional upheaval and general emotional breakdown I, in a exceptional moment of weakness, sent him an email.

It wasn't "Let's get back together" or "I miss you so much" it was just, "You were always good for a sanity check and a laugh, I hope you are well."

The instant I hit send all I could think was how stupid it was. What was I thinking. How desparate must I be to email him. And commenced praying, "Please don't respond, please don't respond, please don't respond!"

And he, being well and truly a Rat Bastard, answered in a way that has devasted me all over again. BOYS SUCK!

Ready to Flee the Country

2007-10-21T18:19:00.000-07:00

My passport came in the mail on Friday. My fugly photo notwithstanding (seriously it looks like I've got a huge cold sore on my lip!), I like the idea of being able to pick up and fly away at a moment's notice.

p.s. My passport came 3 weeks after I turned in the application. A lot sooner than I expected.

I Quit

2007-10-09T20:57:00.000-07:00

You win, I'm done....happy?

David Anders = Hero

2007-09-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

David Anders = YUMMY!

News of The List

2007-09-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

I'm going to Alaska in May! I found a really cheap cruise that will take me everwhere (Alaska) on The List. It also leaves room for some time in Seattle/Vancouver which would be great for some List items in one or both of those cities.

Vancouver has a bunch, I don't think I could cross them all off, but all the better to save for my "Rockies by Rail" adventure next year.

Also, the *almost definite* plan to spend a week in Washington, D.C. in April where List items abound. I've really needed something to look forward to, and now I have it.

5 Things

2007-09-05T20:32:00.000-07:00

1-Welcome to Nubbin #14! "L"-Bo shares his birthday with his namesake, my Grandfather.

2-I went to a Bees game recently where I nearly got hit in the head with a foul ball. It hit the seat right behind me! (I still had fun.)

3-I fell. Which doesn't seem like it would be a big deal. I was distracted, thinking about other things, was maybe a little upset and not paying attention. But it came on the heels of the recurrence of some other medical madness symptoms. (Several symptoms reared their ugly heads in a 2 week period.) Given the previous craziness I immediately made an appointment to see the neurologist. My appointment was today and I left with an appointment for another MRI and something new called...something...vascular...something. Those are scheduled for next week. Think happy thoughts, please!

4-Nicole Tucker, if you are reading this: email me at work, or at pseudoirishlass.

5-I know I've been slacking on the entries lately, and promise I'll try to do better.

More Cute Geese

2007-08-06T20:42:00.000-07:00