Things that make it worth it

There are some days when I just want to pull out my hair and scream at the top of my lungs, "GET ME OFF THIS RIDE!" Obviously I never really give into this urge--given the fact that I still have lots of hair (ask my hair stylist...she's swimming in hair by the time she's done with me.) But then, there are the tiny little things that make all the stress and pain and weariness melt away and seem like not a big deal at all. This isn't to say that I've been especially overwhelmed lately or anything... I'm just saying that sometimes it's great to revel in the small joys that make the everyday crap seem much easier to deal with. Like...

...getting to work on a Monday morning to discover a gift of cashews (my favorite!) and a thank you note from a study team I helped a couple weeks ago--hours on the phone, a visit to their office, and countless emails of explanation. But their study did not expire. And I feel good about that.

...letting my niece brush my hair into a 'new style' on Friday night. All of my hair was forward in front of my eyes. When she pushed the curtain of hair aside slowly and saw me looking at her, she piped up and said, "Hello!"

...walking down the hall and seeing a guy with the size sticker still stuck on the back of his new jeans...and then, after he had turned into a room, saying to Lacy in that covert, hush-hush voice, "Please tell me you just saw that." Her: "Of course I did." It's great just knowing that we can spot the same motley characters we see around work.

...having the lady sitting behind me at the play put her hand on my shoulder and say to me, "Whoever put the streaks in your hair did a really good job!" 'Streaks' isn't exactly the word I'd use...but I appreciated the sentiment. She kept saying, "No really, it looks SO nice!"

...receiving my rewards statement from Famous Footwear in the mail. Included in the envelope was a $20 gift card toward a purchase--no strings attached!

Never mind that taxes are still on the horizon and my laundry is a never-ending nightmare (currently living out of the baskets of clean laundry, thank you very much!)...it really is these little occurrences that make me smile and realize that I don't need everything to be perfect right here, right now.

Cutting it close

In two months, I leave for Ireland. Having never been to the British Isles, I'm kind of excited about this venture. I got thinking the other day, "Huh...when does my passport expire?" I got it when I was a junior in high school, so I knew it was coming up quickly for renewal. (Ugh...has it been that long?)

Tonight, I was watching Chuck, and they talked about Chuck traveling to Paris. It jogged my memory about checking my passport expiration date. So, I hit pause and went and found it.

I'm happy to report that I will not have to renew it for my upcoming trip. BUT, I get home from Ireland on April 11th. My passport expires on April 23rd.

Phew.

Mamma Mia!

Sometimes I think about how surreal moments in life can be. Example: the text I got this evening from my younger sister, Natalie, saying "I'm going to the hospital." Yes, I've known for the last seven months that she was going to be having a kid. But for some reason, it started to hit me: WHOA. My little sister is having a baby.

Keep in mind, this is the same girl who:

...we caught on video snitching the Thanksgiving pie before dinner when she was about 5 years old. And to cover up her transgression, she flitted about and did a little dance, pretending like everything was per usual.

...jumps at every opportunity to write the word "poo" or "poop" or some other synonym for fecal matter in any forum possible. My car windows really got it one night when it was cold and the defrost was taking awhile to warm up.

...put pink streaks in her hair when she saw that they did it on Gilmore Girls.

...took forever getting ready in the mornings in high school, causing me to yell "IT'S TIME TO LEAVE...NOW!!!" basically every morning.

...can talk her way out of any ticket a police officer may think about giving her.

And now? She's going to be a mom in a matter of hours. And I think she'll do a great job. Whenever she puts her mind to something, she rocks at it.

For instance:

...when she didn't make drumline in high school, she tried out for the colorguard and did that instead. And she was awesome. When the band marched in the Rose Bowl parade, she was the only one in the group who got a close-up on television.

...after working at Best Buy for awhile, she wanted to be on the Geek Squad. She listened and learned and made friends with those who could make this possible. (I think it's kind of awesome that this is ultimately how she found her husband!)

...she wanted to get her culinary arts certification, so she took the classes, (even made friends with the insufferable boys in the class!) and got that certificate. And now she teaches classes all over the place.

She's in labor right now. I do not envy the pain she will endure. I do not envy the nights of sleep she will be losing from this point henceforth. But I know she'll be a great mom.

Dirty dancing

Last night, I walked into Cafe Rio and got in the long line for my pork salad (my little stamp card got me a free meal!). I wasn't even in line before a small, middle-aged lady with graying hair pointed at my feet, looked at me and said, "I love your shoes!" I told her thanks and figured that would be it. She continued, "Where did you get them." My response: "Payless...can you believe that?" Again, I thought it was the end of discussion.



Her further question: "Do you think they'd stay on when you're dancing?" I was kind of taken aback..."Uh...I'm not sure? I mean, I walk around in them, and they're good. Maybe if you don't get too crazy when you dance..." Her final reply: "Oh, I get pretty crazy...it's like diiirty dancing." I laughed at the awkward turn in the conversation, and mercifully, the line moved so we were no longer in such close proximity.

Thank you, Mysterious Stranger, for validating my taste in shoes and then turning around and making me somewhat squeamish at the thought of your 'dirty' dancing.

Jumbled

On the way to work this morning, the train passed an accident on the other side of the tracks. An SUV had tried to turn left in front of the train and, unfortunately, lost. That thing was smashed. I felt physically ill just looking at the scene. People, when it comes to trains and cars, train beats car every time--it's like rock, paper, scissors...

I went to the Sundance Film Festival for the first time ever last night. I saw a film called It's a Wonderful Afterlife. A funny film, definitely (a review will probably go up on my other blog soon). The director warned us that it was "weird," but that if we just went with it, we would enjoy it. She was right. Afterward, we even got to 'meet' Sendhil Ramamurthy, the main squeeze in the film. (I tried taking a picture, but felt somewhat foolish...the one I got was zoomed in way too far, so it's distorted.)

My car has a burned out headlight. That Wallflowers song has been in my head off and on since this discovery. I can only imagine that I'm bringing glee to young children playing the 'Perdittle' game on the freeway.

I have officially been Facebook-less for three weeks. Woo!

And I've lost 5ish lb. for Biggest Loser. Booyah.

Questions, complaints, concerns...

I turned on White Collar today to enjoy my Matt Bomer fix. This episode included a Wall Street scam the FBI is trying to crack. So who's the guy they've chosen to play the handsome, young, corrupt, broker-type fella? Jonathan Tucker--a.k.a. Tommy Donnelly. Question: Shouldn't the fact that he's playing a two-faced, crooked, filthy rich investor make me feel disgusted and repulsed? Quite the opposite. Jonathan, it's inexplicable, but I kind of want you...

I was driving home from seeing my sister, Rachel, in Provo this afternoon. Utah freeways have always been somewhat the bane of my existence, but there are some things other drivers do that I just cannot grasp. Complaint: Even when I'm going 75 in the middle lane, passing cars in the right lane, completely empty lane to the left, cars zoom up right behind me, thisclose to my bumper, trying to edge me over. It really can't be that difficult for them to switch lanes and pass me in the passing lane...and yet it happens over and over. There really is no answer to drivers in this state. And the worst part: I bet sometimes I'm one of them.

Lots of things seem to be stressing me out lately. Concerns:
1) As it turns out, finding someone to live in one of the bedrooms in my Provo condo is proving quite difficult.
2) I'm horribly behind at work, and there's nothing I can do about it but keep plugging away at it, slowly but surely.
3) Natalie is due to have her baby any day. Prayers and fingers crossed that things go well.

Facebook update: I haven't logged onto Facebook in 18 days.
Biggest Loser update: Some of my extended family is doing its own version of Biggest Loser. The pot is upwards of $200. End date is June 30th. I plan to post a weekly (give or take a few days) update of my progress. As it is with all posting on my blog, this is mostly just so I have a forum to keep myself in check. And so (drumroll, please!) I have lost 2 lb. since inception--11 days ago.

A few of my favorite things

Julie Andrews sang about them...and Oprah has entire show dedicated to them every year: favorite things! Here are some things I've come across lately (or rediscovered) that I love.

1) Scrabble cupcake (found here amongst a lot of other nerd-worthy cupcakes...)



How can you not love cupcakes with cute, miniature versions of things you already love on them? As is evidenced by my last birthday cake, I'm a Scrabble lover.

2) Express cardigan

I found this gem last Saturday during my quest for a simple black cardigan. WIN. And pretty cheap, too. Usually $49.50, now $19.50. And I had a 15% coupon to boot. Clothes are always better when you get them on sale.

3) Librivox



I'd heard about this from a co-worker a couple years ago, but in a recent conversation with a friend, this little gem came up. I'm currently listening to Jane Eyre on my way to and from work. I gotta say--this is a fantastic way to catch up on classics.

4) Jamba Juice



At my old job, we'd have "Jamba Juice Fridays," so I got to try tons of different flavors. My favorite is Strawberry Surf Rider with raspberries. If I'm feeling the need to be good (as far as caloric intake goes), I go for one of the all-fruit flavors, Mega Mango with raspberries. Fruuuit...mmmmm....

5) How I Met Your Mother - 100th Episode - Barney's "Suit Song"



This was aired on Monday night. Barney Stinson (played by the awesome actor, Neil Patrick Harris--Doogie Howser, in case you've been living under a rock), huge womanizer that he is, is trying to choose between a woman and his suits. His musical response made me clap with glee and rewind for a second helping.

6) Around-the-back earmuffs



I got a pair of these babies for Christmas from my sister, Sarah. I can now do the following: a) listen to my iPod; b) keep my hair kempt; c) arrive at work with unfrozen ears. If you ask me, that's kind of a fabulous combo.

7) 500 Days of Summer





I am the guy in this movie. I know that's a weird comparison, but I could feel his heart-wrenching pain as I watched every scene. The first time watching this movie is difficult and sickening. The second time made me want to buy a copy of the DVD. I can't explain this phenomenon--all I know is that if you haven't seen it, you should. Guys, this means you, too.

8) Conjunction Junction



...and Schoolhouse Rock in general. I had my music on shuffle, and this beaut came up...English language usage AND a catchy tune? Sold.