Texans, Missionary Mile-Markers, and Creamsicle Colored Houses.

Crazy happenings are happening. Things got to happening so fast that I forgot for a minute (okay for two weeks) that I even had a blog. First off my cousins/grandma/aunt/second cousin is/are in town! (And by in town I really mean they are currently in Packwood enjoying stars, pools, and waterfalls. boo to them.) Butttttttt, I got to see them last week when they got here! They're the best. We enjoyed two family dinners, and some adventurous times at Redondo beach in Federal Way. Of course my mom is awesome and has an entire calendar of things to do with them (including the blue angels and warp tour.) So that was one happening. The Texans are here! :)

Happening number two. Two of my favorite missionaries hit/are hitting mission mile-markers.


Exhibition #1: Elder Kekoa Housten Riggin hit his 'ten-months-left' mark' yesterday... I still can't believe it. See you at the end of the school year!!! (P.S. Koa is only so much darker than me because he's half Hawaiian.)





Exhibition #2: Elder Thomas Hesselgesser hits his one year mark tomorrow!! Here's a toast to my favorite friend growing up who I still picture as the kid with constant bloody noses and asthma attacks. (And T.J. is only so much darker than me because he went to school in Hawaii. These fools.)


This is who I grew up with. These boys were my besties when I was younger. Loves to them both! I'm the proudest Mother, Girlfriend, Sister, friend a guy could have. And I'm sup excited to see them BOTH in Less than a YEAR!! Woot woot!



Happening number two is not a very happy happening. I came home early from work feeling like one of our sickly pea plants that is dying a slow death from who knows what to find that my house is being painted the color of a melted creamsicle. Awesome. My house. is being painted. the color of a creamsicle. As in, I now live inside of a frozen treat. Just in time for National Creamsicle Day. Here's to hoping it looks better with a second coat on and being grateful that it isn't the same putrid color of orange as our neighbors at the end of the street. The plus? My Mexis are back serenading me. Yup, I just said that.



So many other happenings happened in the last two weeks that there are too many to relay. My sister got back from Thailand in one piece, I started a new book (it's called "Inca Gold" and is so far fascinating... and I'm on page 3), I am becoming attracted to the idea of tea (everyone at work drinks coffee so I am trying to get into herbal tea), I got to see and catch up with Betsy last night, as well as Jeanette, and I can now drink half a glass of milk without gagging. Happenings are happening.



P.S. I will post pictures of my 'deliciously' colored house later (bad pun intended). When it's done. Assuming I haven't moved to the more delectable house made out of candy owned by the witch in a children's story. (Or to a house painted a normal color. You know the ones that are gray or white or tan.)

To Each Their Own.

I'm an admininstrative assistant at a research lab (one that I have to leave unnamed so it doesn't become 'public' information.) Like any job there are days I like it and days I don't. Usually I like it. What I love though is the people. Because it is a UW Research Lab there are people from all walks of life. Undergrads from Seattle, Visiting Scientists from China, and Principal Investigators from Russia. You should see our lunch room fridge. There are some interesting things in there. Or go to a lab party (which we have as often as possible. We just celebrated the founding of Boeing so we could have an excuse for a party.) There is always something 'new and authentic' to try.

There are crazy days and mellow days. Days when there are people sleeping in their offices because they were up all night with an experiment and days when everyone is super hyped up because someone just got a 2.4 million dollar grant from the NSA (National Science Association).

There is one thing that is constant and steady though. One thing that happens every day, twice a day. At 11am and 3:30pm if you walk into our lab on the fourth floor in Benjamin Hall, you will hear the familiar whirring of the espresso machine.

Because a lot of researchers are European and have instated their classiness in the lab there are ALWAYS two coffee breaks. Of course, being an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and observing the Word of Wisdom I don't drink coffee/espresso/cafe/java (and whatever other names their are for it.) When I first began working at the lab I would just stay in my office during these breaks and not go out even into the hallway or copy room. I wanted to avoid all contact and eliminate any chance of getting asked if I wanted any. I've now been working at the lab for a year and a half and this is no longer the case.

What's my trick I use now to avoid having to explain myself? I don't use one. Everyone at the lab now knows I'm LDS and "it feels so right yeah." You can only reject somebody's offerings so many times before they begin to think that you're a narcissistic dolt. After about the thousandth time I decided I should just let out. Now, I don't have to look like a jerk or try to come up with an excuse. I used to find myself apologizing. "Sorry" I'd say, "Thanks for offering though." No. No apologizing for my beliefs. I shouldn't have to try to make up an excuse, "I'm actually just on my way over to Chemical Engineering."

I don't have to hide in my office twice a day anymore either. Now I take an orange or other piece of fruit down with me to eat while they sip their caffeine and we all chat. I'm always complimented on my ability to function without caffeine. Some say they can't get up in the morning unless they know their home coffee machines with the fancy timers have their hot cup all ready for them. I silently think, 'That's the point.' Why would I partake in something that is a known stimulant that you can legitimately get addicted to. I don't want to be dependent on a beverage. How sad would that be? "Sorry guys, I can't meet you for breakfast, my coffee hasn't kicked in yet."

It's funny how our mind works when it comes to things like this. They need the coffee to be able to function during the day. As much as I believe in the very real effects of caffeine on the body, I also have to nod my head at the mental effects. Chemistry of the caffeine in the brain aside, I think Ferdinand de Saussure would argue that coffee or espresso in this case may be equivalent to a signifier. It's not what the coffee is, it is what the coffee represents. It signifies that it is time to wake up. It signifies that it is time to be at work and time to do those things that we must do while we are at work. What makes me argue this point? I now seem to get a boost of energy whenever I eat an orange. Yes it may partly be the natural sugars in it but I honestly think that an orange is to me what coffee is to my co-workers.

To this I say, to each their own.

Blessed, Honored Pioneers!

I haven't been to Utah since I was in fifth grade. And at that, I've only been three or four times in my entire life. And though we don't celebrate this Holiday here, we can still honor our heritage. So, Happy Pioneer Day! Today is the 164th Anniversary of the Saints entering the Salt Lake Valley. We didn't sing any Pioneer songs in church today which made me a little sad so I decided to have my own tribute to the Pioneers. I am dedicating today to reading stories, watching videos, and listening to music which honor Pioneers. There are several articles in this months Ensign that I plan to re-read about Pioneers. In fact, there is even a small portion of it dedicated to Latin American Pioneers! My favorite!! I'm pretty sure I've read those four times by now and copied them and sent them to my friends serving missions in Latin America but you learn something new every time you read something, so one more time cannot possibly hurt.

I've never been really into Pioneers before. You know when you're little, everyone has there little niche that they love learning about. A certain topic that for some reason or another they love. Mine was always Temples. I loved learning and listening and singing about the Temple. As I've gotten older, I've become more and more interested in Pioneers, heritage, and family history work. They all seem to be beautifully intertwined.

The main thing that I like to think about regarding pioneers is that they sacrificed for not only themselves, but for future generations. They endured physical persecution and hardships for us. They walked... they walked across the plains to settle the Salt Lake Valley for their faith and their families. Though I don't have to walk thousands of miles, losing my husband and children on the way, suffering from snow storms and starvation, I think we all in a way are modern day pioneers. We still stand before persecution, trying to save our faith and future generations. They endured extermination orders for us. They endured physically so we could endure spiritually. Two of my favorite songs are 'Come Come Ye Saints' (one I grew up singing because it is my Dad's favorite song) and 'They, the Builders of the Nation'. Even better, watch the Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert. Take a listen, and think about how relevant these are to us today. I think it will surprise you how much we have in common with our Pioneer ancestors. Here is a Pioneer Day Quiz you can also try to brush up on your Pioneer facts. Warning: It's pretty difficult. I promise you though, it's not as difficult as what the Pioneers did.

Blessed, Honored Pioneers!

America's Favorite Past Time, My Favorite Past Time.

I love baseball. So when one of our 'July that flies on by' events was a movie night watching the Sandlot I was stoked! What is it about it? I grew up in a small country town that revolved around it. Proms were moved if our boys were at state and whether or not your boyfriend played, you were at the games aviators on, sunflower seeds in, and sandals off (the fewer tan lines the better.)

There's something about it. Whether a small town high school game or a big city major league game there is just. something.about it. When I watched The Sandlot with my friends tonight it all came rushing back. Summer nights. Childhood friends. Red vines.

I think that's what it is about baseball. Everyone can remember one unforgettable night that involved it. Whether it was what happened before, during, or after doesn't matter. If you had a great day or night and being at a baseball game fit into that time somehow, baseball serves as a porthole to that memory. I have so many. First, it was baseball games with family. Driving the two and a half hours to my cousins in Bothell, and then our entire families going to get subway before to take in with us into the Mariners games and eat red vines and peanuts during (though I have to admit I don't like peanuts, if I'm at a game I'll eat them.) Then it was baseball games with friends. Sitting in the hot sun of central Washington cheering on our one and only Selah Vikings. It was at this point in time when cute, baseball appropriate outfits became necessary. This was middle school and high school and the boys looked good in their baseball pants so we needed to look good in our shorts. Then it evolved to attending baseball games with significant others, again returning to Safeco field. These were the good ones. The ones at which you looked onto the field (at eye level because you could afford good seats now that you had a job) and thought that everything was right in the world. You had your strawberry lemonade, the field lights were turned on in that miraculous building and the roof was open on a clear night in the late Spring and Summer. Life was good.

My baseball attendance has now further evolved into me. Just me. Just how I like it. I don't mind catching a game every now and then with a friend, and my sister and I make quite good baseball buddies because of our mutual upbringing in that small baseball town and our mutual love for the game, but the best games are when I'm by myself. Just me, the game, and my red vines. When I go with friends its fun but I never get to pay attention. We always end up talking about boys or school when all I want to do is watch the game. Whether it's Vikings, Mariners, or Huskies the mascot makes no difference. I would be just as happy watching eight year olds play because it's the memories.

Oddly enough, when I got home tonight (or should I say back downstairs as we watched it in the living room of my housemates) and got online to blog about my love (though some may say it is an obsession) for baseball, the first headline on MSN was this. Call me crazy, but that's the works of baseball in play. Magic.

P.S. If you want to hear one of the greatest songs ever written, listen to this. R.I.P. Dave Niehaus.

"I hope I find one!"

These words were not in response to a discussion on four-leaf clovers nor were they in response to a discussion of a penny found heads up. They were in response to a discussion on Eve, the "help meet" of Adam.

This is what I love about being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Being LDS (and single, woot woot), I have the opportunity to go to Institute. We have a new teacher who is awesome. Every Thursday night I come home with my mind blown trying to hash out, recap, and review what I just learned. Usually my sister is home and I get to spill everything to her. She asks questions which make me think harder and deeper, and reassures me that whatever I am hyped up about is quite an interesting point. I love having her around. When I come up with ridiculous questions about gospel topics she always either has an answer for me or is my voice of reason and steps me through what may logically be a plausible answer if it is a super abstract or out-there inquiry.

We are studying The Pearl of Great Price and are in the first few chapters of Moses. The Creation. So awesome. This is the matter that my mind is blown over tonight; The Earth goes through the same processes that we do. Creation of Spirit, physical creation, baptism by water, baptism by fire (or the Spirit), then eventual perfection. Ho.Ly. Cow. I knew all of these things happened to both man and the Earth but never connected them before. We are so connected to the Earth. This was the main subject of tonight's discussions. Our connection to the Earth, the Father, and to each other. We are connected to the Earth in terms of our elements and make. This is what Elder McConkie has to say about it,

"Those natural elements that make up the physical earth are sometimes referred to in the scriptures as dust. Thus Adam was created from the dust of the ground meaning that the physical body which he received was created from the elements of the earth. Similarly all men are created from the dust of the earth; that is, the elements organized into a mortal body are assembled together through the birth process."

How cool right? And being Mormon we then moved the discussion along to an "help meet" for Adam. AKA. Eve. Eve was created from the "rib" of Adam. As one person put it, she came from the rib, to be equal to Adam not below nor above. She came from the rib, close to the heart to be loved, and under the arm to be protected. Awwwwww. How cuteeeee! I wonder what pre-fall dating was like. Everything was perfect at this point in time so I guess Adam and Eve must win best first date ever by default right?

We got to discussing marriage (you know how we Mormons do from time to time) and I was reminded of my initial thoughts while listening to this talk during the latest General Conference (Skip ahead to 2:00). We watched a clip of it in Institute tonight and I was able to revisit those thoughts. I've always had this notion that progression stopped once married. That I needed to become the perfect me before I was married so I could help my children become their perfect selves before they get married. It's not like that. All of Elder Scott's stories allude to learning. To progression. He comments on what he learned from his wife and what they learned together. I was reminded that this entire life is about progression. Whether a member of the LDS faith or not, we are all here to progress. We are here to go to college, to have children, to gain experiences in our careers. All to learn. To become better and wiser people. We are all here to help each other.

This "I hope I find one!" comment may have been a funny one that got us all off track for a minute or two but when I think about every concept that is intertwined with it I am grateful for the opportunity that all of us have to "find one." Even if it is not right now or if it is not necessarily a husband or wife but a brother, friend, or neighbor instead. We are all here to make at least one other person have a better day. We are all worthy of "an help meet."

Though this fulfills about eighty different Mormon stereotypes I love the fact that everything we do can eventually be tied back to marriage or family. Just for kicks and giggles, here are a few other Mormon stereotypes/ "You know you're a Mormon if"s that ring true.
-names on the bottoms of plastic tupper ware containers and casserole dishes
- you have ever played water pong
- most of the staff at Costco, does indeed know your family
-you are 18 but have to date 20 somethings because all the boys your age and within 3 years older than you are gone on missions

*And my personal favorite: You can be given any random subject out of a grab bag and relate it back to marriage or family.

Oh the life of a single LDS individual. Mine is filled with game nights, Institute, Harry Potter parties, Harry Potter wand making parties, chalk drawing, water balloon splatter painting, camping trips, Saturday morning Temple attendance, 3 hour long church on Sundays, drive-in movie theaters, Moroccan dinners, suits and ties, softball games, etc. And I wouldn't have it any other way. People who say Mormons have less fun or less fulfilling lives are wrong. I am convinced that due to the necessity of creativity because of the lack of alcohol in our lives we Mormons have quite a fun, full life being us. Oh, and my mind gets blown every Thursday night. Mostly that.

P.S. I just picked up four books from the library today. Let's just say one is called, "The Tortilla Curtain" and I'll probably be going to bed no time soon.

The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden.

In April of 1978 President Kimball addressed the Saints and encouraged anyone listening to plant a garden. Who would have known that something said over 30 years ago would ever be so popular among the LDS and non church members? What with community pea patches springing up everywhere and rooftop gardens being all the rage, my sister and I decided to try it out for ourselves. Late this Winter, we started seeds in egg cartons and by the time March rolled around (about the time we thought we'd have nothing to plant in our garden because all of our sprouts would be dead) we had successful starters to place in the ground. Though some of our sprouts didn't make it, we were determined to have tomatoes and cucumbers. Instead of giving up, we bought plants of these to put in.

We cleared a little patch of our back 'yard' that was overgrown with weeds... In one night. It felt good. We were working hard, strengthening our relationship, and becoming more self reliant. We borrowed a shovel from the guys two houses down and got to work on our hands and knees digging up dead rosemary bushes and these crazy root plants that looked like sweet potatoes. We also discovered loads of onions that weren't any good and had probably been there forever. It appeared someone had just kind of thrown them in and let them take off. They were everywhere. We got it all cleared out a little over three hours later and got our plants in. It. Was. Awesome.

Today, our little garden is still growing and we are slowly reaping the benefits of our hard work. Though, not everything is producing as much as it could, we are learning how we can do better next time. We are learning hard work and patience. We are learning that even though a few of our pea plants are struggling, we can appreciate what we do have. We have now eaten about 6 peas and tonight we picked our first batch of lettuce! We have several bell peppers coming in and our broccoli is daring to poke its head out. Though our tomatoes are still far from ripe, the plants are abundant with small green bulbs and looking healthy. Our cucumber has spread significantly and our radishes are thick and bright red.

I am grateful for the self reliance that our little 6'x6' garden has brought to us. Though we are still buying our produce from that cute little stand down the road we are learning and growing for our future. I am grateful for our Prophets call to "plant a garden" and the blessings I know this will bring to my life.






Right: Our garden in it's 4th of July best!
Happy Birthday America!

I Heart Mexicans.

Anyone who has spent ten minutes with me knows that I love Mexicans. All Latin Americans really. But especially Mexicans. Where this infatuation came from I don't exactly know. I spent my childhood growing up in the Yakima Valley where, due to agricultural reasons there is a high population of Mexicans. In high school Spanish class we had to make Spanish music videos and take dance and cooking lessons. I'm sure this had somewhat of an influence on me but what was it that caused me to only be able to fall asleep to Spanish music come nap time when I was young? What is it that makes me actually miss seeing Mexicans everywhere I go, now that I live in a city that is not as heavily populated with Latin Americans? I legitimately named my space man toothbrush Rodrigo and the tissue paper Spanish dancer hanging on my closet door Magdalena because I missed Spanish names. What is it that made me write "Own a Mexican Hacienda" on my bucket list?

Confession: I am not fluent in Spanish and I have never been to Latin America. Why then this genuine love? The answer is this. I don't know. What I do know is that I woke up this morning to a Mexican man singing Spanish songs outside my bedroom window. As much as I wanted to imagine him being my night in shining armor, it was our handy man instead. Even so, I was okay with it. My house is being repainted and had it not been for the serenading by this totally adorable older man I would have been real pissed that I woke up to scraping and a pressure washer. They have been here several days now, working hard and being awesome. There are two. An older man and a late twenty something or early thirty something. Perhaps a father-son duo. I have gone out to my car, the garbage can, the garden, and to get the mail about a gazillion times just so I can run into them and be greeted by a "Buenos dias Senorita" or a "Hola Senorita." Creepy? Maybe. A day-maker? Absolutely. Had it not been for these two lovely men and their pressure washer I would have surely had a much worse day. Gracias to my new Mexican friends.

P.S. This is one of my favorite Spanish songs. A little silly, sure. A lot awesome, you better believe it.

Oh heyyyy! I did it. Or something like it.

It's official. I now have a blog. I am a blogger. I can now join this blogger's club. What have I done?? I never thought I'd be one of Thoooose people but apparently I am. I've been trying to re-convince myself that I'm a semi cool person and thought that perhaps by keeping a journal-esque database of some sort may be helpful to put my everyday life down into words. Words that other people may or may not care about but nevertheless will help me organize my life and help remind me that I'm not so lame after all.

Even so, I'm going to wait 24 hours to publish this in fear that I may say something stupid, offensive, or just flat out ridiculous. You know those texts that you write to a boy you like and then save it to your draft box for a few hours so you can think about it some more and make sure it is just right? This is one of those. This is my text, and you are the boy. Enjoy.