I vowed (to myself) that this blog would never talk about weird or gross things. Apparently, I'll make an exception for certain things.
One of my nieces swears she has the longest bum crack of any human being. We (as a family) tend to agree with her. I decided today that she shouldn't feel too bad because I think my bum crack is off-center. Every time I put on a pair of pants (or something else with "legs") the middle is off-center. My bum is the only common denominator! Gross, I know. And kinda weird.
Yesterday at the doctor's office, I had to fill six (or seven, I can't remember) vials with blood for whatever tests he ordered. The nurse had a hard time getting a vein (thanks, Mom, for giving me your deep and disappearing veins). When she finally hit one she exclaimed, "Wow! Your blood comes out really fast!" Um, ew. Sure, it did only take a few minutes to fill the vials, but you don't go around telling people their bodily fluids come out fast. Thank goodness I've never done any passing out when giving blood since I ran like a cheetah once the band-aids (plural, since I got stabbed three times) were on. That's gross. And weird the nurse would say that to me as my blood is gushing out into vials.
I made some whole wheat sugar-free banana bread a few weeks ago. Instead of leaving it on the cupboard, I put it in the fridge. Good move, right? The other night, I had a sugar low (totally weird!) in the middle of the night. Somehow, I buttered a piece of said banana bread and ate it. The next morning, I realized said bread was moldy. Gross!!! What happens if you eat moldy bread? Can it kill you? Or can you develop some kind of disease? Good thing I wasn't coherent when I ate it because there may have been vomit to clean up.
On another (non-weird and non-gross) note, I made an awesome dinner last night and ate the leftovers today for lunch. It was SO good! And healthy. The recipe is below. Hopefully, it will look and taste so scrumptious that it will make up for the weird and gross things I've vowed never to talk about on this blog.
Shrimp and Artichoke Pesto
1 Box Whole Wheat Pasta -- I used this kind:
The flavor was really good, and the entire box was supposed to make four servings, but it made more like seven servings.
1 pound frozen shrimp (51-70), thawed - like this:
One jar pesto sauce - jar pestos are better than mix pestos, in my opinion. Like this one:
One can artichoke hearts (not marinated), broken up in pieces. It should be a large can like this one (except that I don't know what kg is in American weight, so just get a large can):
Cook the pasta like it says on the box, but make it al dente.
Reserve three large serving spoonfuls of pasta water (or more if you like your sauce kind of wet). Lightly drain the pasta (don't shake all the water loose - leave it a little moist). Return it to the pot it was boiled in over low heat on the stove top. Add the shrimp, artichoke hearts, pesto sauce, and reserved pasta water. Mix well, until the pasta, shrimp, and artichokes are well covered.
Serve it with a little Parmesan cheese on top. It's delish! I normally think re-heated pasta is disgusting (mainly because it turns soggy or gooey), but this was not like that, probably because it was boiled only to al dente and not to mush. And I bet there are lots of other things that could be added to it to add more flavor or texture. Ooh! Pine nuts might be really good in it! Guess that will be on my "to-do" list the next time I make it. Yum!
Today, I canceled my membership with online dating sites. Yep, it was my final attempt at the online dating scene, and as my previous experiences with online dating foretold, it was a complete waste of time and money. Can I please get a refund?
Why did I call it quits? Because EVERY man/match listed passion as an important factor in their love life. Now, I'm all for feeling passionate about things. After all, the definition of passion is a powerful or compelling feeling or emotion (like love or hate). However, no relationship, no matter how much love you have for the other person, can sustain passion 100% of the time. It's not possible! There are always ebbs and flows in relationships. What happens when the passion dies? Does the relationship get flushed with it? What do you have in common then?
You can, however, sustain sparks of romance. The definition of spark is to kindle, animate, or stimulate an interest, spirit, activity, etc. This is easily maintained in a relationship, and can happen multiple times a day in various ways. Sparks are a much better way to live in love than passion. Sparks help you grow, serve, and express love, desire, and honest feelings. Sparks happen in conversation, over a good meal, reading the scriptures together, or having a new experience together. Those are things that can be found every day in the little things.
So, if any man exists that is passionate about life, learning, and being their best self, but understands that passion can never exist all the time in a loving, enduring, eternal relationship, please preserve him in stone (or through some other amazing scientific method) and let the women of the world know that there was at least one man who got it. Also, make sure to get an interview with him before the preservation so it can be sent to the men of the world in the hopes they'll get it and realize the women they should be dating are the ones who create sparks - not passion - with them.
End of story, thank you, and amen.
Almost every morning as I leave for work I have to say goodbye to Bear (my favorite four-legged friend). It's so hard because he's so cute!!!
He's so cuddly and cute and fun and adorable. We go through a routine where he comes into the kitchen, I throw down a little shredded cheese for him to eat while I fix my lunch, and then I tell him over and over again how much I love him and that I'll see him when I get home from work. Sometimes I promise to take him on a walk, which he really likes. At least, he cocks his head to one side and acts interested. (Hey, it's more than I get from any other male in my life. Don't judge!).
Anyway, this represents the look I finally close the door on:
Sad, huh? This morning it was especially sad. I'm not sure why. All the way to work I thought how awful it must be for mothers to have to leave their children and go to work. If you choose to do that, I have no sympathy. But if you have to work to make ends meet, that's a different story. It's so heart-wrenching! And I think if I ever have to be a working mom I'm going to be an absolute wreck before I get to work each morning. If I can't even leave my dog without feeling sad about it, imagine what it will be like to leave my own flesh and blood! Agony!!!
One more reason that I hate goodbyes. They totally suck and I wish we never had to have them (unless, of course, we could just say goodbye to all the idiots in our lives that cause us more pain or problems than they're worth - those goodbyes aren't so bad). I think I need a hug 'bout now. Maybe I can speed home and cuddle with Bear. And NOT think about the goodbye I'll have to do all over again tomorrow. :o(
What is it with guys who always want to be "just friends"?
Every guy I've talked to about marriage wants to marry his best friend. But every guy I've ever liked has only wanted to be just friends. What is up with that?!
How come I can be their friend, or even their best friend, but not the kind of best friend that they want to spend any time (much less eternity) with? How exactly does that work?
I'm not complaining - just trying to understand the mentality.
See, I don't understand how a man who has served a mission, is faithful in his callings in the church, honors his priesthood, and reads his scriptures and prays and regularly attends the temple can really believe that he's going to achieve the highest degree of Celestial glory if he doesn't find a woman to marry in this life. Where is the work for the eternal reward? You don't get something for nothing in this life OR the next.
And why, oh why, do men think there's such a thing as the "perfect woman" when that person does not exist? Women know a perfect man doesn't exist. Why are women held to a higher standard? I don't get it. If a guy is looking for perfection, he better be perfect himself before he comes a callin'.
Somebody please help me understand it. Because I'm getting tired of being the (un-marry-able) best friend to every man walking the face of this planet. Don't misunderstand. I don't want to get hitched tomorrow. I'd just like to know what, exactly, it is I'm doing that prevents me from dating and being wooed and finding eternal companionship.
If it's not something I'm doing that's causing the "just friends" scenario, how do I knock some men's heads together so they actually get it?
I'm a fan of this guy:
This is one of my favorite soundtracks of all time:
And I'm going to see him in concert tonight, which should be great fun!
Can't wait! Jack Johnson, here I come.
My semi-annual teeth cleaning appointment was today. (Allow me to preface that with the disgusting admission that I had not been to a dentist in over a decade prior to February of this year because my old dentist really freaked me out and his hygienist was - nicely put - rough on my mouth. I mean, if you're gums bleed for a week, and it hurts to floss or brush or CHEW, you'd have a hard time going back, too.)
Anyway, there are no cavities (thanks, Dad, for giving me your good teeth!) and the hygienist says I'm doing a great job flossing and brushing. She made me laugh by telling horror stories about patients who never brushed and expected a cleaning to make their teeth perfectly white and gorgeous. It was a nice visit.
Then, she tells me my insurance covers fluoride treatments, so she'll do that today as well. Great! And then my brain recalls my last fluoride treatment with Miss Meanypants and I start to squirm a little. I'm gearing up for that big wad of goo they put in your mouth that takes two weeks to rinse completely out. To my relief, she explains they do fluoride differently now. It's like a "paint" they cover your teeth with, it feels a little grainy, but smooths out within a day and then you're good. Phew! Gag fest averted!!!
She starts "painting" my teeth and then says: "Now, you should avoid eating anything rough, chewy, or sticky. No carrots, chips, or gum today. You can eat whatever you want tomorrow though. Oh, and one other thing. Don't floss OR brush tonight. It will take the fluoride off your teeth. So wait until tomorrow morning to brush again, and make sure to do it a little more gently than you normally do."
WHAT?! I can't floss my teeth tonight?! I can't brush my teeth tonight?! Ew!!! We just got through talking about how gross some people's mouth habits are and you want me to NOT floss or brush?! I am ANAL about flossing and brushing my teeth. Every night. It's part of my bedtime routine. I'm already grossed out about what my mouth is going to feel (and taste!) like when I wake up tomorrow. This is not happiness, people! So much for smiling with nice, clean teeth ....
Today's blog post is about totally random thoughts.
Why won't the font on my blog default to Georgia? And why, after I change it manually to Georgia font, does it revert back to Times New Roman? For real. That's just stupid.
Why, when I take this,
do I still have to use a million of these
every stinking day?!
How come the only meal I want to drink a barrel of water at is lunch?
Why does Yoplait Greek Yogurt taste like rotted cream, but this yogurt
tastes delicious (even the blueberry flavor, which I normally abhor)?
I wonder sometimes what my kids will look like. Nobody wants to have ugly kids, right? Do you love them any less if they are ugly? Or do you just think they're cute because they're yours? What happens if they get beat up because they're so ugly? That can't be good, and it would be all my fault.
What was said to be "the best thing" BEFORE sliced bread since the phrase is "the best thing SINCE sliced bread"?
If I've already shrunk an inch-and-a-half in life, does that mean I won't shrink anymore as I get older? Or will I eventually be 4'2" tall and have to declare myself a little person?
Some day, I'd like to tour the entire United States in this car
or on this bike
with this kind of guy
and not care how long we are gone or what we miss while we are away.
Best friends are really hard to come by, and no matter how hard you try, some of them aren't really as good a friend as they profess to be. Email buddies or "convenience" friends never measure up to what I'm willing to give in a relationship. Thankfully, I have very few "convenience" friends in my life and they are easy to identify. We won't list names.
My parent's 46th wedding anniversary is less than a month away. That seems like an interminable amount of time. Is it really possible to love someone for that long and be happy about it?
If I died in my sleep tonight, would it really matter? Would people really miss me, or would it be a fleeting "aw, shucks" moment in their lives? In other words, have I really made a difference in anyone's life?
Is it possible to get too much sleep? I mean, could too much sleep really kill you?
Should I write another Christmas story this year or call it quits?
Is it wrong to think about Christmas right now? In August? Because usually I start listening to Christmas music in September (with the exception of last year). Why is that not normal? All the baking and wrapping and decorating make me happy, and it only happens once a year. How is that right?
Maybe the Excedrin I mixed with the highly caffeinated Rockstar Recovery Non-Carbonated Lemonade I chugged this morning should not become routine since apparently it makes my brain vomit in blog form.
My name is Katie, and I'm addicted to books. Have I admitted this once before? It feels like it ....
There's been a lot of talk about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. On my week off of work, I finished two books in the Percy Jackson series and also finished The Hunger Games. I'm now reading Catching Fire. Now, this blog is not a book review site in any way, but sometimes it's fun to talk about the books you're reading. Maybe others have different points of view or explain something that didn't make sense, etc. Perhaps joining a book club is the way to go. But then I wouldn't enjoy reading because it would be something that was "assigned" rather than a hobby. Like Oprah's book club. I think I started two or three different books she suggested, and ended up hating them all. Not a good way to read.
Anyway, it took a while for me to get into The Hunger Games.
Everyone said how addictive it was once you picked it up and started reading. Honestly, I kept reading because there wasn't much else I wanted (or needed) to do. It's a fast read, which I like, but the story seems so unbelievable. It's not like the world of Harry Potter. I got lost in that, even though I knew it was totally unrealistic. This series isn't like that. This series is more like let's-see-how-unbelievable-and-out-of-this-world-we-can-make-it. The third book, Mockingjay, comes out at the end of this month. I find myself hoping it's the last book in the series ....
Mom and I went to Costco last week. They always have a large selection of books. I found a series by V.C. Andrews called the Dollanganger series.
It's five books, and Costco had two books in one for $6.97, so I got the first four books in the series for practically nothing. That will be my next read (probably after I finish the last three of the Percy Jackson series).
I guess the point of this blog is that it's nice to have a hobby I really enjoy. One of these days, I'm going to have more time to enjoy books that are church-related rather than young adult fiction or fun stories. Because of time constraints with school, work, and life, I'm not able to focus on books that take a lot of thinking since my brain is already pushed to the limit with other information that's supposedly going to provide me with income the rest of my life.
On a side note (that has nothing to do with books), I slammed my right middle finger in the bathroom stall door at work. THAT was pleasant. Maybe I should write a book about it ....
My 77-year-old friend got married yesterday. Happy day!
We went to the reception. Lots of food, small cake, totally the way it should be done.
UNTIL she sends her granddaughter out to collect the "single girls", specifically me, so she could throw the bouquet. Now, I don't put weight on silly things like that. Just because you catch a bouquet does not mean you will be the next to marry.
I tried to get out of it. Tried to talk Mom into leaving. Tried to hide in a group of people. Tried to pretend like I didn't exist. It didn't work. She wouldn't throw the bouquet until I was standing in the group of single women.
As she's getting ready to throw, she notices several little girls at the front of the "pack" of singles and says, "No, no. You girls are too young for this. You go play." I (from the back of the crowd) say, "Oh, no. They're fine. Really! Let them be a part of this."
Thank heavens for little girls!!! She looked at me, tried to "aim" where the bouquet went, and totally missed. All the little girls ran for the bouquet and one of the taller ones caught it. She had a huge smile on her face and was overjoyed that she caught it.
I was smiling, too, until I saw my friend's face. She was NOT happy that I had avoided catching the bouquet. In fact, I think she was rather upset. I gave her a big hug and told her thanks for trying. Relief! I'm glad I didn't catch it!
When I found Mom, I told her what happened, laughing about it. Then, when I said my friend looked kind of upset, Mom said, "I bet she was. She really wanted you to catch it."
Oh, well. I feel bad she was upset, but you know, catching a bouquet really doesn't mean anything. It's just a tradition we do. And it's kind of a silly one at that. Catching some flying flowers in no way means you will be the next to marry. Because if that's all it took, I'd have been married for the last 20 years.
Mom and I wanted to do something fun this year that didn't cost a fortune. We opted for the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City - and it was SO much fun!!! We invited my mom's sister, Kathi, and their aunt, Nadine, to come with us. We saw three plays (The 39 Steps, Pride and Prejudice, and Much Ado About Nothing). They were wonderful, and so funny!
We only stayed one night, but it was the perfect amount of time. Alex came and "tended" Dad during the day and then stayed the night to help David listen for him if he needed anything. I think Bear (the poor dog) missed us more than any human. We are already planning another trip next year because we had such a good time being together and getting "cultured."
Here are some pictures of our time together. I also took several pictures of the sunset as we drove home. It was incredible! The weather was great, but lightning storms were coming in as we drove home. There were beautiful, fluffy clouds in the sky and the sun tried to peek through. I've included those as well.
Mom bought us all a "tiara" to wear. You can't see hers because her hair is so much lighter than the rest of us, but it was fun to wear them and feel like princesses for a little bit. The lady who took our pictures was funny. She kept hitting the button on my iPhone and we ended up with LOTS of these pictures. Several of those pictures included her finger. Nice! And in one of those with the finger, Mom said it looked like Nadine was going to throw up. We laughed so hard over that none of us could breathe. I'm sure the people trying to watch the greenshow really appreciated the idiot ladies laughing their heads off. Oops!
One of the things we did was shop in the gift shop. Mom found a display of hats, so she made me try them on and take pictures. Every time we saw a hat after that, I put it on and she took a picture. I don't know why we thought it was so funny, but here are her photos of our hat fun.
I don't know why, but the last hat made me think of Strawberry Shortcake. I used to love her! I had a doll that smelled like her, had a board game with her theme, and just loved to watch the cartoon. That phase only lasted a little while, but I have fond memories of Strawberry Shortcake.
These are pictures of the sunset I caught out the window of Mom's van as we drove home. There's no explanation needed, but I will say that God has truly created some beautiful things in this life, and sunsets in Utah are one of the most beautiful.
My obsession with sunsets (and the occasional sunrise) continues. I don't know why, but there's something about the picture that Heavenly Father creates when the sun goes up and comes down. No two pictures are ever the same. It just makes me appreciate how small I am in this world, and yet how much I am loved that I could witness something so beautiful. It was the perfect ending to two wonderful days with three of my favorite people. I'm really looking forward to next year, and hope that we really and truly do it again.
One last thing - if you're ever in Cedar City, you have to visit The Pastry Pub. They have excellent food, and their pastries are to die for! Now, I don't eat pastries anymore, but when I did, these were the ones I craved. We had a wonderful lunch there on our second day. They have good food and it's a fun environment. I didn't get any pictures, but you can check out their website at www.cedarcitypastrypub.com.
