I'm a Pisces. Can you tell?

So last Sunday the talks at church were all about talents and spiritual gifts and how important it is to find yours and nourish them. I'm still not really sure what my talents are, or what I'm good at, but here are some little hobbies I enjoy doing in my spare time. I think that is a good way to start.


Cooking:

I didn't discover this until after I was married, but I love trying new recipes and preparing meals. In the single life I didn't really have anyone to cook for, and was on the go so much my diet mostly consisted of can soups, frozen dinners, snack wraps, and what ever Kaye would graciously fix me.

Some of my favorite things to make are steak, chicken fried rice, chicken casadillas (I have no idea how to spell that. Spelling is definitely not one of my talents.) and cheese stuffed pasta shells.



Painting:

I haven't done this in a long time, but it's something I've always enjoyed. My mom got me into oil painting when I was home-schooled my freshman year. She signed me up for an oil painting class with a bunch of other weird home-school kids starving for social interaction.

Oil painting is really alot easier than it looks. It still takes talent, of course. But anyone can do it and make a few brush strokes look like a majestic pine tree. Mixing the colors and creating endless possibilities is really fun. I made a couple of really nice ones, but unfortunately, my mother reduced them to ashes in a fit of rage.

I painted a "fantasy" looking tree for matt a year or so ago, the first time he left me to go to school. Oil painting was something I'd like to get back into. But it is quite an expensive hobby.


Dance:

I started dance when I was four years old. My best friend was doing it so I begged my mom to let me take lessons with her. Within six months, she'd quit. But at that age I loved being in the spotlight, and I soaked up every ounce of it.

I've never really stopped dancing, but I'm missing it since I've stopped teaching. The closest thing I can find out here is a preschool gymnastics coaching job. I love going to work every morning, but being there with all the other gymnasts makes me a little intimidated sometimes. I just don't feel like I belong there.

So to fill the gap for the time being, I plan to take an Adult Ballet class over the summer. I hope dance is a big part of my life again someday.


Ghost Hunting:

I've never actually done anything like this, but I've had several experiences with the paranormal through out my life. Haunted places fascinate me and I love reading about other people's experiences I watch every single "ghost hunting" show that is currently on television. My husband has politely voiced that he thinks I have a problem :)


Writing:

I've published a few short stories, but right now I'm amidst the exciting process of editing my first full-blown novel.


Shopping:

Okay, this may seem superficial but I'm a big fan of retail therapy. I have fifteen pairs of shoes in my closet and at least six or seven different outfits for each one of them (mix and match, of course.) Like most girls, I love dressing myself, dressing my friends. Even shopping for groceries and laundry detergent is fun for me. You know that "Confessions of a Shopaholic" movie? I could so be that girl if I let myself slip out of control.

But I can't be to hard on myself. I hold onto things a loooong time. I still have jeans I wore in high school. And I don't by something I don't need or won't wear. Just ask my friends.


Reading:

I LOVE to read. It's probably my oldest hobby. Lately I've been mostly into fantasy. One of the best books I've ever read was "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. I was introduced to Orson Scott Card because of a school assignment in college and have been loyal to him ever since. I'm not a big fan of vampires but I really enjoy the author Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. She doesn't know it, but she's my inspiration and my role model.


Gardening:

I just started this one today! Matt got me a miniature indoor green house for my birthday so I could grow flowers inside the apartment. I'm really excited to see what kind of flowers will bloom. All day I've walked by it and stared at it, expecting to see buds peeking out of the soil within hours.

Also, the aroma of fresh soil is really refreshing!


So some of these hobbies could evolve someday into real, true talents. I hope so. It would be so fulfilling to have something like that to call my own. But what really defines a talent? What is a gift? How skilled at something do you have be to call it a talent?

I hope I find out.

Demon Battles, Peach Bottom Pants, And the Green Death

What a crazy weekend.

It all started when I stole away an hour on Friday to have lunch with Aubrey. I was complaining to her about my horribly tedious job that I am "so grateful for," when she, of all people, convinced me to just blow off my 9 hour shift on Saturday. Aubrey promised me a blissful day of sleeping in, shopping, dining, and quality girl time. Who can say no to that?

Instead of sleeping in, I went with Matt to the gaming convention and spent quality time with him rolling dice and battling orcs and demons. (I'll pause for your snickering laughter....done yet? Good.)

Laura, Aubrey's friend from Montana came to visit for the weekend, so I joined them on their shopping conquest. I'm not sure what is so therapeutic about swiping a credit card, and carrying around those heavy plastic bags all day, but I felt so refreshed at the end of the night. Aubrey just got her tax money and needed "professional" looking clothes to wear to her new internship. Laura and I shifted through all the racks, loaded up our arms with cute expensive things I would never dream of buying on a college students budget, and forced Aubrey in the dressing room. We blazed through the entire I.F. mall, and in six hours I only spent the amount Matt would spend on a video game. That's how I justified it to him, at least.

I made it home with a cute new outfit; a spring green wrap type top, milk chocolate wedge heels, and a pair of cream colored pants that shape my bum like a peach. Perhaps I could wear it to meet with a publisher someday?? One can only dream.

We had a nice girls night out dinner at Olive Garden where I met more of Aubrey's friends. These girls were really sweet. I didn't feel nervous or awkward around them at all. I ordered my favorite dish (which also happens to be the cheapest entree on the menu)and stuffed myself with bread sticks and salad. It just felt good to be a girl again.

I was exhausted (and stuffed) when I got home. But Matt was starving and since we "have nothing but soup" in the house, he wanted to go to Arby's.

Five minutes later, he was starring down into our car's greasy engine. It just quit. We pulled up to a stop sign and Sister Rosalina said, "Hey you know what? I'm done. Goodnight." Seriously! Just like that: the engine quit, without warning.

A half hour later, I'm back at the job I called into for the day, looking for a flashlight and car oil with number for a name I can't remember. A crabby, still hungry Matt, sits back on the side of the road, guarding our car.

Another half hour later, I'm back at Wal-Mart, fifteen minutes before they close. This time sitting on the floor of the automotive section with Aubrey and Laura, ripping open the packages of tow rope to see if they are sewn to the standards of Kenny, my on call 24 hour mechanic.

Kenny, Aubrey's husband,can speak to cars like people, and has saved our butts on numerous occasions. This being one of them. After working till midnight at his Wendy's job, he towed our car back to our apartment. He did a quick exam and decided it was either this thing he calls the timing belt, which is no big deal to fix. The other slight possibility is what I call the Green Death. Green Death is the worst possible situation. Either your wallet, or your car is inevitably going to die. But you get to decide which one lives!

After a conversation with my dad, who is not a mechanic but is fluent in their language, I believe it to be just a timing belt. However, from previous experience I have reason to believe my transmission will go out by the end of the summer, inflicting on my ten year old car the curse of the Green Death.

This might sound strange but I feel really good. Even through all this stress (Green Death + stuff I haven't written about) I can see how immensely blessed we are. In less than twenty four hours, I've had someone volunteer to tow and fix our car, I've had someone give us a car in the mean time, AND someone is going to hem my new peach bottom pants for me!

It is frustrating because every time we get a little ahead financially, the money slips right through our fingers. But what a blessing it is that these things; emergency plane tickets, car repairs, ect., happen when we have the money to pay for them. And we are so grateful for true friends and family who really step up in our times of need.

No matter what, this is going to be the beautiful, fun summer I've been waiting for. I can just tell :)

Finally, an easy breezy spring day.

I had a great day today. Nothing special happened. It was just a good day.

Matt came home just as I was getting up. I got to sleep in a little because Kira and Holly set up the gym last night. The kids were great today. I just love all their big smiles and the little owies they have to show me. Even the "fun" ones were a breeze today. It was one of those mornings I leave thinking, "I love my job."

I came home and took a long shower, then got to work on my project; which is so close to being finished. (happy face)

Then I updated my dance resume because there is a studio director in Idaho Falls who is looking for an assistant instructor and heard about me. But I don't really know anything about it yet, so I can't really say anything yet.

Then I crawled back into bed with Matt. Had a nice afternoon nap, then went to the store with Aubrey. We went back to her place and did our nails and gabbed about life. She really is the best listener I know. I always feel better when I spend time with Aubrey.

With a stomach full of my fav Chinese food, I am going to Yoga tonight, which will only make the day better.

Plus I have a new favorite song at the moment. Love Save The Empty. by Erin McCreedy. I think it's in that movie - He's Just Not That Into You. I never saw the movie but after my "perfect guy" broke up with me without an explanation I read the book in Barnes n' Nobles, highlighting the pages and sipping on a frappachino with triple extra whip cream.

Anyway, check it out. -The song. Or the book. For those of you out there who don't deserve to be brokenhearted.

Yoga Night

Thursday has officially been deemed yoga night. I went to a class last night with Aubrey and Mary Alice and it was really fun. A nice break from my daily routine. It wasn't easy by any means. Aside from relaxation the instructor was making us do push ups and encouraging us to crouch on the ground, holding our entire bodies up on the palms of our hands.

I wasn't really sore today, as I expected I would be, but after a long day at work I'm really feeling it.

I feel bad because I told Mary-Alice I would go swimming with her tonight. But I bailed because of exhaustion and guilt from not having a lot of time to work done this coming weekend.

But Yoga has officially been penciled in for Thursday nights.

Guilty Pleasure

Our taxes this year were virtually painless. When it comes to boring technical stuff like that Matthew and I have come to an accord. I will do the majority of cleaning, meal preparing, and child baring. In return he will do our taxes for the rest of our life.

Personally, I think I got the better end of the deal.


While he was on Turbo Tax I watched music videos. Usually I change the channel when skanky whores come on the screen. But I can't get enough of that song "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga.

When I hear it I put on sunglasses and start bouncing in the driver's seat or jumping on the bed. "Music makes me lose control." I just can't help myself.

Oh, and I guess it does help that the song was written about a certain artificially blonde roommate of mine. The exact lyrics were taken straight from her mouth.

Exhibit A:

"Where are my keys. I lost my phone."

"How'd I turn my shirt inside out?"

"I love this record but I can't see straight anymore."

"Halve sec hotic gotta burb it Halve sec hotic lec tronic."


It's great. I hear this song and think of all our fond memories together.
Just kidding. No I don't. That would ruin the song.

I feel better now.

I think I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Yes, the world is changing, but there isn't much I can do about it. So I should just count my blessings and make the best of things.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my opinions. I agree, the internet is no place to take out frustrations.

Do you ever wonder if you were born in the wrong time?

I haven't blogged in a while. All my creative energy as been absorbed in one thing at the moment, but also because there isn't much to blog about. We're both working all the time and we don't have a lot of money to do anything besides go to the cheap movies. Which I don't mind - but explain that one to me.

Life is just kinda blah.

I've been waiting for spring to come, now that I'm ready to come out of hibernation. Here in Rexburg we've been teased with a few days of light winds and temperatures above freezing. Even rain is a nice change. The snow has melted enough to see tiny patches of mud and grass, and the sidewalks are no longer a walking hazzard. The sun makes an appearance now and then, bringing the birds out to sing. At wal-mart they have their display of swimsuits and flip flops set up...any color of the rainbow you can imagine.

*sigh* And then we have days like this, where I look out the window and just want to crawl back into bed.

Also, I've been reminded lately that I am extremely old fashioned for someone my age. We are living in a .com world and I am a paper girl. Come on people! I grew up in the 90's. I was extremely lucky to have my own stereo in my room when I was 12. Now I know a handful of eight year olds who have cell phones. CELL PHONES!!!

And since when does everything have to be done on the internet? I now have two bills I am required to pay via keyboard. Not only do I have to "create an online account" but now I have more user ID numbers and passwords to remember. I gave a check to someone and he actually refused it! He said I had to pay the bill over the internet! What crap is that!

Here are some things this old fashioned girl believes in and holds dear:

I believe in the days when if you wanted to talk to someone, you picked up a phone.

I believe in the days when you called a company, another human being was on the other end.

I believe in the days when there was no such thing as a "palooza."

I believe in the days when going out dancing meant performing steps in time with your partner in a spectacular fashion, not waving your nasty butt in the air like a cat in heat.

I believe in the days when people got engaged, AND MARRIED, before they decided to have kids.

I believe in the days when parents disciplined their obnoxious children.

I believe in the days when - if a boy wore make up, he was gay.

I believe in the days when Communism was a bad thing.

I believe in the days when overly opinionated idiots didn't rule the internet.

I believe in the days when people didn't judge what kind of person I am by my myspace profile.