OPEN

Angie asked: "Why do you have an "open" sign and why is it in your profile picture?"

Well I guess I can answer this question with a question of my own: why do I do anything that I do?! :) This picture is just me in the middle of more of my antics. I was visiting the Missionary Training Center (MTC) about two years ago. I had just returned from my mission and my good friend Astrid was a week away from reporting for hers. Astrid (who is from OKC) wanted to see the MTC so my companion (Moffitt), Astrid and me hit up Provo and walked around the MTC. This open sign is actually part of a bigger sign that says "the missionary field is open" (or closed, depending on how you flip it). In a nutshell this was me taking a sign at the MTC and turning it into a veritable dating advertisement. It's my profile picture because it was really the only pic I had of myself when I set of Blogger and also because it doesn't show my double chins. Two birds- one stone.

To see other pictures of this day visit the links below:
Closed for business
Three Amigas

Paper or Plastic?

Neither. I haven't been grocery shopping in over a month, so no need to choose. Why no shopping you may ask? Because all I do is study. And when I study all I can eat, er drink, is Dr. P. In fact, this is the face of finals. Sad, sad day. Note to self: when Sib's manfriend says "Hey Okie, do you want a D.P. from 7-11" never reply "YES! the biggest they've got..." You will end up with a drink the size of Texas.

Blue or Yellow?

Okay, you asked for it! Here's the answers to the first create-your-own-question session...

1. Anonymous asked: Blue or yellow?

Now this is a pretty open ended question. Are we talking Skittles? Because that would be yellow, of the original flavor variety. Tropical Skittles freak me out. But what if we're talking jeans? That would definitely have to be blue, because yellow jeans are just awkward. If you own any I would like to support you in giving them back to the 1970's. Generally speaking I would have to say I prefer a mixture of the two. Blue + Yellow= Green. My favorite color. There it is! Also, anonymous, please show your face. As exciting as it is to have a stalker, I'd rather have a stalker who I can name, joke with, and file police reports against.

You Tell Me

I've been told I'm not blogging enough lately. It seems, actually, that many are not blogging right now. What is it? A change in the weather? The busy holiday season? School? Who knows. Either way, I'm feeling pressure to blog, but have nothing that is blog worthy. So I'm opening up the floor to you. Instead of posting a generic questionnaire, now is your chance! Leave questions in the comments that you want me to answer and I'll get to blogging! Bring it on... I'm hoping your literary poking and prodding will reignite my creative flair... or at least my brain.

... A Case of the Mondays

If you're feeling like me this rainy Monday is inducing a horribly strong case of the Monday's! If you're in need of a chuckle this video is just what the doctor ordered. Keep in mind this is a REAL music video put together by the Hoff and it's all the rage in Germany. Oh, how it makes me grin.

Spumoni

Spumoni is a splendid little ice cream treat made up of three flavors (chocolate, cherry, and pistachio) that swirl together to create heaven in a cup. In my current line of work I get to serve spumoni all day and all night. Add the heavenly taste to the fact that the ice cream comes free with their meal and people are somewhat ga-ga over their Spumoni. (capitalized to show respect...)

Last night I was serving Spumoni to a family that had four young children. After I placed the hand-dished dessert on the table I was about to banally recite my robotic "enjoy dessert" (insert smile) when I was interrupted by a wail. This was a whale of wail.

"Their ice cream is bigger than mine", sobbed one of the kids. His siblings were already started on their desserts, but it was true. Their ice cream was bigger than his, and he was not standing for it. His parents tried to hush him by showing him how much he had; by telling him to be grateful that he had gotten any ice cream at all. Least effective was their threat to altogether take it away from him if he didn't shut up about it. But he didn't shut up. The next series of wails began: "But it's not fair!!!!!!"

There is an unwritten law in childhood that fairness is the number one factor of importance in decision making. Let it be good, or let it be bad- it doesn't matter as long as it's fair. Every kid wants the equal piece of cake, the equal dish of ice cream, the equal punishment, the equal amount of chores. This law is sacred to kids and they take it very seriously.

I hurried back to the kitchen and brought out a small scoop of Spumoni, after all we have plenty of it in the store and it didn't hurt to bring out another dollup in the name of equality. The aggregate of his now two scoops equaled what his siblings' portions originally were so he was happy. Things were fair.

I wonder if we as adults shouldn't try to take a few notes from the laws of childhood? The tenets are few, but simple: Play nice. Forgive each other. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. Share. Be fair. Isn't that what it all comes down to anyway? Everyone just wants an equal-sized dish of heaven.

Decision 2008

This week I was forced to exercise my judgment in order to choose between two options; both of which are less than desirable... and I'm not even talking about the election! I'm talking about the OTHER democratic process where people make choices that define their behavior and highlight their identities. It's a process that comes around every year and I always wait until the last minute to decide.

Decision 2008: What do I want to be for Halloween?

It's the one day of the year where we can be anything. Anyone. The options should be endless, but alas, I'm discovering a trend. Halloween for women means two options: sexy person or sexy animal. In the person category you will find the tired choices: nurse, school girl, teacher, nun. Yawn. The animal category holds the same character's we were when we were younger, but significantly cuts down on costs due to the fact that it requires HALF of the amount of fabric. So here you'll find the bunnies, the ducks, the kitties, the devils. All this really means, however, is that you're in your underwear and high heels with a tail pinned to your butt.

Alas: how can I choose between two such options? Both the sexy person and the sexy animal categories are equal parts cliche and boring, as well as degrading and... well, naked. (Let's be honest, if I had the bod I would go as Eve. Hand over the fig leaf and the apple and call it good!)

In the end the choice for me was simple: I am not doing either of them. Decision 2008 political style collided with my Decision 2008 Halloween style. I was Joe the Plumber. And damn was I sexy!