Winner, Winner

Each week my supervisor comes to my office to provide me an hour of supervision to meet criteria for my LCSW license. She stepped into my office and said, "It is freezing in here." She then proceeded to instruct me to buy a heater and charge it to the company.

Done.

I will stop by Wal Mart tonight...maybe.

I Need a Heater

My office is frigid. I can't even really concentrate on work because my hands are like ice and I just want to curl up with a blanket and some hot cocoa to keep warm.

Stupid work in a stupid cold office.

Maybe I'm just distracted because all I really want is to be home right now. Not home, 10 minutes away home. Home, Utah home. I am ready for Thanksgiving right now!

I'd Hate to Disappoint

I'm sure any of you who have seen Aunt B's post knew this was coming. So here are more details than you need about me! Aren't you all so lucky?

Who are you? Hit forward and place an X by all the things
you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not.
Answer the 27 questions at the end and send it to your
friends (including me).
This is for your entire life!

(X) Skipped school?---PROBABLY MORE TIMES THAN I SHOULD HAVE

(X) Gone on a blind date?---GOOD TIMES
(X) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
( ) Been to Florida
(X) Been on a plane---QUITE A FEW TIMES
(X) Been lost
( ) Used a GPS---NOT PERSONALLY BUT I'VE BEEN WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS USING ONE
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country----THE EAST COAST IS A FANTASTIC VACATION DESTINATION
(X) Gone to Washington, DC----I WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK
(X) Swam in the ocean:
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robber
(X) Recently colored with crayons:
(X) Sang Karaoke----LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only---MAYBE AT A WENDY'S DRIVE THROUGH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't---SO MANY TIMES. SOMETIMES GOOD THINGS COME IF IT, SOMETIMES NOT SO MUCH.
(X) Made prank phone calls---YES. SEVERAL TIMES.
() Exercised today ....... IT'S SUNDAY. I WAS TOLD I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BREAK A SWEAT OR IT'S BREAKING THE SABBATH
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose---PROBABLY BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue---STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO WITH THE FIRST SNOW FALL.
(X) Danced in the rain---SOMETIMES PLAYING IN A WARM SUMMER RAIN CAN'T BE BEAT.
(X) Used a Palm Pilot---YES, BUT I PREFER THE GOOD OLD FASHIONED PAPER PLANNER I HAVE NOW.
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus:
() Been kissed under the mistletoe
() Shaken a movie stars hand
() Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
(X) Blown bubbles –
(X) Gone ice-skating---I LOVE ICE SKATING.
( ) Watched a sonogram to first see your child or grandchild:
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors
(X) Gone to the drive-in movies---YEP, BUT I MISSED IT THIS YEAR.


1. Any nickname? YES...LOADS...SANDY, SAND, DRAPEY, JUST TO NAME A FEW

2. Sisters name? LYNDA, SHANNON, MARYANN, MARY ANN (IN-LAW), KAREN, DIANA, MEGAN (IN-LAW)

3. Favorite drink? WATER

4. Tattoo? I USED TO WANT ONE.

5 Body Piercings: JUST MY EARS
6. How much do you love your job? ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN I GIVE MINE AN 8

7. Birthplace: PROVO UTAH
8. Favorite vacation spot? SOMEPLACE NEW. IT'S MORE ABOUT WHO I AM WITH THAN WHERE I AM AT.
9. Ever been to Africa? NO AND IT'S NOT HIGH ON MY LIST OF PRIORITY
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? PROBABLY
11. Ever been on TV? YEP...PRICE IS RIGHT!
12. Ever steal any traffic signs? NO, I WAS A PRETTY GOOD KID.
13. Ever been in a car accident? A FEW...BUT NONE OF THEM WERE MY FAULT!
14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 DOOR
15. Favorite salad dressing? RANCH BUT OCCASIONALLY I LIKE BLUE CHEESE OR ITALIAN

16. Favorite number? I PROBABLY DON'T HAVE ONE SO WE'LL SAY 5

17. Favorite movie? ABOUT A BOY
18. Favorite holiday? I AM WITH YOU JOSH: CHRISTMAS WITH 4TH OF JULY AS A VERY CLOSE SECOND

19. Favorite dessert? ICE CREAM. AND JOSH MENTIONED A REALLY GOOD TREAT SO I'LL STICK WITH HIS...PEPPERMINT ICE CREAM AND MOM'S HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE SAUCE.
20. Favorite day of the week? SUNDAY OR SATURDAY

21. Favorite brand of body wash? I PREFER SOAP

22.. Favorite Toothpaste? I DON'T REALLY CARE

23. Favorite smell? FALL LEAVES, JUST BEFORE IT SNOWS, BAKING BREAD, OR BAKING ANY KIND OF TASTY DESSERT

24. What do you do to relax? WATCH TV OR MOVIES, BROWSE THE INTERNET

25. How do you see yourself in 10 Years? MARRIED WITH A FAMILY
26. Furthest place you will send this message? PROBABLY ALABAMA, NO WAIT CHINA

27. Who will respond to this the fastest? ??????

Walrus

Walrus is a locally owned and operated ice cream shop that happens to be about a 1/2 block away from where I work. They have delicious ice cream. I may even like them better than cold stone.

Rise and Shine

So, 7 am for a session with my personal trainer...not too shabby. We'll see how the rest of the day goes, but I might become converted to morning workouts. Maybe.

I do think I am going to be feeling some serious soreness today and tomorrow. I haven't worked my muscles quit like this in a long time. I'm ashamed to admit how lazy I have been over the past year and a half. It's sorry really. But all that will change.

Now if I could just motivate myself to work on my lousy eating habits. But ice cream is just so good, and Walrus is just too close!

Game On!

I'm a pretty simple person. It doesn't take much to make me happy or entertain me. Give me a good group of people and a good game and I am a happy girl!

And last night I was a very happy girl.

I am a gamer. I love games! It doesn't even matter what kind of game. I love boardgames, card games, and sometimes even those cheesy group games every BYU student has played at some FHE or ward activity.

Yesterday I got to play one of my favorite games: Chinese Checkers.

I play this one quite regularly with Jacob. I think he plays not just to win points for feeding my Chinese Checkers obsession, but because he likes the game as well. Which really is a bonus. But I digress. The moral of the story is, he usually wins. I have been utilizing my time tested strategy against him. It never fails. Well, clearly not never. But Jacob is only the second person to beat it. The first time the strategy failed I lost a couple of games in succession to a kid in my ward and it actually turned kind of ugly. I had to ban myself from playing for awhile. Again, I digress. So, I demanded a rematch last night because I had thought up a new plan. A new strategy that I thought just might throw Jacob for an unexpected loop. It worked! I won. And I was happy. (It should be noted that I have learned to control my poor losing reactions since the infamous ban from the Chinese Checkers, and can actually enjoy playing even if Jacob wins).

I also had the chance to learn a new game. It's called LOSER. And obviously with a name like that it was bound to be a good time. And it really was. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. But this was real, belly aching, laughter folks. I intend on passing this game on over the holidays. It is certain to be worth repeating. I don't think I won one round of the game, but man was it fun! It might have had something to do with the crazy fun people I was playing with too. Good times.

I also thought I'd take a second and make a TOP 10 GAMES list, though it is a very rough draft.

10. Muggins (Just for the Christmas Eve memory it evokes)
9. Speed (A classic and a real good tournament game)
8. UNO- house rules.
7. Balderdash (Remember Dad laughing SO hard at poopclinch (was that the word?))
6. Scum (Some really good stadium terrace memories)
5. Rook (a family classic)
4. Catch Phrase
3. Time's Up (a recent favorite)
2. Clue (I almost never lose)
1. Chinese Checkers

Yeah, making that list I realize all the good memories of friends and family associated with a good game night. So much fun!

"I Wish My Life Could Feel Like a High School Musical."

Go ahead, mock me. I deserve it.

I am a sucker for "teen pop trash." I enjoy almost any cheesy, ridiculous movies set in high school. I sometimes even indulge in a little "pre-teen pop trash." Like this afternoon. I have the day off for Veterans Day and so I took the opportunity to go see a matinee movie all alone. I enjoy going to movies alone and usually feel no accompanying shame. Not today. I felt the shame but I persevered. I felt the shame so keenly I couldn't even purchase the ticket from an actual person. I opted for the machine. The shame comes not from going alone, but from going to see High School Musical 3 at the fine age of 28.

But guess what? I liked it. Not that the plot was anything remarkable, or some of the singing, or the acting for that matter. But man...I love a high school musical. I don't wish I were back in high school by any means, but I do wish that the biggest worries I had were about being asked to prom or passing high school finals. And maybe I also wish I were a little bit more like I was in high school. I remember feeling like anything was possible and I had all kinds of romantic ideas and ambitions.

Turns out I am pretty practical. I guess that's what age does for you. I grow a little more skeptical and cynical every year. Or is it just having more realistic expectations?

I guess I'm also feeling a little pensive about high school and how I've changed because I dug out "the list" that was created up in a cabin, in Island Park, with my 6 best friends. "The list" comprises all the characteristics and qualities I wanted my future spouse to have and how I saw my future going. Nothing is really how I imagined it would be when I was 17. Okay, maybe not nothing, but definitely most things. And actually, I am grateful. There is no way the 17 year old version of myself could have known what the 28 year old version would need. If I had to recreate that list (which I will never do) there would be very few things that remained the same. I am a different person than I was at 17 and I place greatest value on some very different things.

It's also interesting how much I am the same. I'm still sarcastic (despite my numerous efforts to change), I'm still really trying to get comfortable in who I am and who I want to be (though I have become much more self-confident than 17 year old Sandy), and I'm still probably 12 at heart.

I guess that's why High School Musical 3 and other such "teen pop trash" speaks to me.

For Shannon

Which are you more grateful for?

Ghiredelli or Guittard? Guittard.

Morning or Evening? Evening. I love staying up late. I love the stars. I love getting off work. And most of all I love dusk and a good sunset.

Bagels or muffins? Muffins, and now thanks to Shae I am craving a Mimi's Cafe honey bran muffin.

Computers or Cell Phones? Computers

Cotton or Polyester? Cotton. Definitely cotton.

Tennis or Bowling? Bowling though I am no good at either.

TV or Radio? Television. A time sucker for sure but one I am grateful for.

Military or Police Force? Military, maybe just because I feel a little more connected through Jason.

Electricity or Plumbing? Hmmm...this is tough but I think I side with Shannon...plumbing.

Spiders or Snakes? Snakes. I like snakes, well most snakes. Not that I want them creeping all over my house or anything. But, I hate spiders.

Elementary teachers or high school teachers? High School. Maybe just because I was more relaxed in high school and learned to appreciate learning for learning's sake.

Books or Magazines? Books. I wish I was more well read. It's a goal really. And occasionally I will go to the book store and pick up a few classics just to have on hand. I am currently in between books so I'm asking for feedback on which of the unread novels on my bookshelf I should pick up first. The Poisonwood Bible, The Count of Monte Cristo, Great Expectations, or The Picture of Dorian Gray?

Money or Time? Time. I wish I had more of it and I wish what I did have I used more effectively.

Pumpkin or Pecan pie? No to Pumpkin. And absolutely yes to Pecan.

Summer or Winter? Winter. Though that is changing as I have greater difficulty staying warm. Not sure what that is all about. I pretty much have to have a jacket with me all the time. Even in the summer.

Sewing machine or Washing machine? Sewing machine. I get the day off tomorrow (I know it's strange) and I intend on working on a quilt that I started a few months ago. Really I intend on finishing piecing it all together.

Board games or card games? Ewww....this is hard. But I think I have to say boardgames as my favorite games continue to be of that variety (clue, Chinese checkers) but I also really love a good card game. I'm just a gamer in general.

Mountain or Beach? Mountains, no question. And it turns our I really prefer the Utah mountains. I appreciate others but I LOVE Provo Canyon.

Spring or Fall? Fall. I love everything about it!

Christmas or Thanksgiving? Christmas. I love the spirit that comes with the holiday and I love having time to reflect on the birth of Christ. I also love all the family traditions. I find myself becoming very excited about it all. The excitement doesn't usually hit until after Thanksgiving for me but this year I have outside influences (read: Jacob) that are promoting early Christmas excitement.

Blogging or Facebook? Blogging. Who would have thought? Though a good Facebook stalking session is always a good time.

Chili's or Applebees? No doubt about it, Chili's. Especially since Applebees got rid of their sizzling Caramel apple pie. It was the only thing worth eating on the menu.

Carpet or Hardwood? Carpet. I'm not sure why. Maybe because I haven't really lived with hardwood.

Dishwasher or Microwave? Totally the dishwasher. I hate doing dishes.

Boston or Las Vegas? Boston.

Ballet or Baseball? Baseball.

Mashed potatoes or Candied yams? Mashed potatoes. I don't care for candied yams. I eat the obligatory tablespoon full each Thanksgiving to see if my tastes have changed, but they haven't.

Milk or Juice? Milk...not to drink because that is a big no in my book. But I do love milk products. Especially ice cream. I've been known to say that in Heaven I think I will be able to eat ice cream for every meal with no negative consequences. I love ice cream!

Lincoln or Washington? Lincoln. Did you know he was 6' 4"? I have always had a bit of a fascination with Abraham Lincoln. I did a report on him in the 5th or 6th grade. I have a bunch of his speeches that I intend to read. And I used to have the Gettysburg address memorized.

Homemade or Store bought? Homemade!

Shannon: From the blog you want to copy, highlight the text. Right click and then click copy. Open your blog and paste the copied text in your new post. Hope that helps! And thanks for the fun list...I love 'em!

Missing Home

I am sitting here in my living room and my house is full of the smells of fresh apple cake and I am missing my family just a little. It's amazing how much a little smell can affect a person. I'm also amazed at how homesick I become. I don't remember feeling homesick so often last year. And I wonder if I will ever think of Fort Collins as home. No slight to the Fort...it is a great place...and I'm happy here. It's just not home.

I Might Be A Sucker...

So, the story goes like this...

A couple weeks ago I joined the gym. It had been far overdue as I really let myself get back out of shape since Graduate school. With the gym came a free consultation with a personal trainer. In my 2 gym experiences prior to this I had always bypassed the free consultation but, for some reason, this time I decided to check it out. I went this morning and I was surprised by how much I was liking it. I had my measurements taken (not fun), skin fold fat test (really not fun), and then the trainer had me squat several times to see where my muscle weaknesses might be. The whole process was fascinating. Then she took me through several exercises. Turns out I have been lunging wrong (or at least less-effectively) for several years now. I really didn't do that many exercises but I can already feel the muscle soreness because they were executed properly and really targeted the muscles to be worked. We also talked a bit about nutrition. I know I don't have the best eating habits so she discussed accountability and tracking what I eat. The gym has an online program to enter everything you have eaten in the day and then the trainer can check out what you have consumed.

At the end of it all she asked if I was interested in buying an introductory package to meet with her for 5, one hour sessions. Here's where I really surprised myself, I SAID YES! What!?! Then to add to the shock of this whole experience, I scheduled two of those sessions at 7 am. I am not a morning workout person!

All this leads me to wonder what came over me this morning. Weird....

Computers Crashing

Our computers at work keep crashing and it's basically driving me crazy. So I decided I would take a few minutes and do this little quiz that I saw on another friends blog. I really am ridiculous when it comes to these things. I love 'em! (Thanks Kim!)

You can only type ONE Word! Not as easy as you might think. Change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers.

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Where is your significant other? work
3. Your hair? short
4. Your mother? FUN
5. Your father? tall
6. Your favorite thing? people
7. Your dream last night? forgettable
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream/goal? health
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your hobby? crafting
12. Your fear? loneliness
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? family
14. Where were you last night? Jacob's
15. What you're not? Easygoing :)
16. Muffins? okay
17. One of your wish list items? clothes
18. Where you grew up? Orem
19. The last thing you did? evaluate
20. What are you wearing? jacket
21. Your TV? small
22. Your pets? none
23. Your computer? Dell
24. Your life? fantastic
25. Your mood? annoyed
26. Missing someone? always
27. Your car? dirty
28. Something you're not wearing? earrings
29. Favorite store? Target
30. Your summer? short
31. Like someone? YES
32. Your favorite color? Red
33. When is the last time you laughed? minutes
34. Who will retake this? unknown

A Good Weekend

I had a really enjoyable weekend with my guests Tyler, Scott and Mary Ann. I guess I should really only call Mary Ann my guest since the boys were here for the BYU vs CSU football game. I was really just a place to crash. But, I suppose if I were forced to choose a highlight of the weekend I would have to choose the game too. It was a close game, way more close than it should have been, but it made it exciting. I haven't been to a football game in ages and I sort of forgot how much I enjoy watching it live. Especially with good company. I appreciate that Jacob is a little bit of a rambunctious fan. People that just sit there and don't cheer drive me a little bit crazy. Why pay the money if you aren't going to get into it and appreciate the atmosphere? I don't get it.

I think my favorite part of the game was walking through the CSU student section after the BYU victory. CSU fans are a little rowdy. It was pretty funny when a group of hecklers saw all of our BYU blue and changed their language from pretty crass to a more cleaned up vocabulary. I think they thought they were mocking us when they said stuff like "dang" and "shoot" instead of the actual words. Turns out the cleaned up language was just appreciated. Can't say I've ever been heckled like that before.

I also learned this weekend that I will NEVER again play CLUE with Tyler. There are a few games that I consider "my" game. CLUE is one of them. I don't lose. At least not very often. And I take it very seriously. Tyler did not. I know that is shocking, but it's true. And I lost. Scott won. It was a total fluke and it won't happen again! Bring it on Scotty!

So...I don't have any pictures to prove it was a good time but I do have some that I recently received from Jacob's sister. They were taken when she was out for a visit earlier this month. So, I'm going to attach them just because I'm told some people only look at the pictures and some of them are pretty fun.


You can't really tell, but I am in Sunday clothes. We just got out of church and the leaves were irresistible. We didn't have rakes so Rachel and I began kicking the leaves into a pile. It caught on and several others came out and joined us. I jumped in twice in my skirt and nylons. It was fun, but I don't recommend it. You can tell by the next picture it was slightly awkward, and the leaves stuck to my nylons, corduroy skirt, and sweater like crazy! Still a good time...


These were taken in Rocky Mountain National Park.


Jacob and his youngest sister, Rachel.