Nov. 22: Errands are just about the most mundane thing you can do on your day off, but . . . I love running errands on my day off. They're much more enjoyable when you're not fighting Saturday crowds or trying to cram another thing into a regular work day.
Nov. 23: It appears that my body likes getting sick the week of Thanksgiving. I'm just grateful it's a cold this time, not the stomach flu like last year. Also, my mom makes the best rolls ever.
Nov. 24: Things were pretty quiet at the Carter household today, for which I was grateful. It was nice to have a mellow day after the craziness of Thanksgiving.
Nov. 25: I've gone through an appalling number of tissues the past few days. I am grateful for the really soft ones; without them, my nose would not be in great shape right now.
Nov. 26: Anything that makes day-to-day living more convenient. Mainly, food that, at most, only needs to be heated up. Essential for sick days.
Nov. 27: My Christmas stuff is up! Except for my Christmas lights, which I cannot find. I'm trying to not let it devastate me too much.
Nov. 28: First day back at the office in a week, and it was a go-home-early day. Which allowed me to finish Oathbringer before my bedtime reading hour, which then allowed me to sleep more peacefully because I wasn't having stressful Stormlight dreams.
Nov. 29: Sometimes it's the simple things. Today I'm just grateful to be able to breathe out of both nostrils. At the same time.
Nov. 30: Today was rough. When the long list of things was done, I sat on the couch, in my pajamas, with some ice cream, and watched While You Were Sleeping. John Wayne was tall.
Showing posts with label Gratefuls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gratefuls. Show all posts
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Thanksgiving moments: Week 3
Nov. 15: We're doing this writing contest at work. We each had to draw two "character" cards and two "scene" cards from a deck of prompts, and I've been trying to come up with a brilliant story based on my cards for a month. It's intimidating when you're competing against a team of professional writers; I at least wanted to try to hold my own.
Well, today I decided to just sit down and write and see what comes. And somehow, a story came out that I actually kind of like. It may not be brilliant, but if nothing else, I'm proud of that closing line.
And, here's another quote overheard at the office: "I'm a photographer. I'm literally a professional creep."
Nov. 16: I love burgers, but I'm not great at making them. Restaurant burgers always taste better. But today I made a burger from Home Chef, and it was delicious. I love food subscription boxes.
Nov. 17: A guy from Pixar came to do a creativity workshop with us today, and it was really good. Plus, he looked and sounded just like Adam Brody—a nice perk. (Readers of this blog mostly likely know Adam Brody as Dave Rygalski on Gilmore Girls, the best boyfriend on the show, IMO.)
Nov. 18: BYU's football season is almost over. The torture will soon end.
Nov. 19: After hearing my family's report of Elder Bednar's visit to their stake conference and watching the Face-to-Face with Elder Ballard and Elder Oaks, I am extra grateful to have apostles leading The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These guys aren't the old, out-of-touch, conservative white guys the world tries to make them out as. They dedicate their lives to serving people all around the world, and they know what's going on, both inside the church and out. And because they're so good at recognizing the spirit's promptings and acting on them, their counsel often feels deeply individual. Their words are not just words; they are inspired by wisdom and love. We're really lucky to have these men as our leaders.
Nov. 20: Construction on I-215 is finally done. There wasn't an orange cone in sight today. #blessed
Nov. 21: Today is my Friday. That makes me so, so happy.
Well, today I decided to just sit down and write and see what comes. And somehow, a story came out that I actually kind of like. It may not be brilliant, but if nothing else, I'm proud of that closing line.
And, here's another quote overheard at the office: "I'm a photographer. I'm literally a professional creep."
Nov. 16: I love burgers, but I'm not great at making them. Restaurant burgers always taste better. But today I made a burger from Home Chef, and it was delicious. I love food subscription boxes.
Nov. 17: A guy from Pixar came to do a creativity workshop with us today, and it was really good. Plus, he looked and sounded just like Adam Brody—a nice perk. (Readers of this blog mostly likely know Adam Brody as Dave Rygalski on Gilmore Girls, the best boyfriend on the show, IMO.)
Nov. 18: BYU's football season is almost over. The torture will soon end.
Nov. 19: After hearing my family's report of Elder Bednar's visit to their stake conference and watching the Face-to-Face with Elder Ballard and Elder Oaks, I am extra grateful to have apostles leading The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These guys aren't the old, out-of-touch, conservative white guys the world tries to make them out as. They dedicate their lives to serving people all around the world, and they know what's going on, both inside the church and out. And because they're so good at recognizing the spirit's promptings and acting on them, their counsel often feels deeply individual. Their words are not just words; they are inspired by wisdom and love. We're really lucky to have these men as our leaders.
Nov. 20: Construction on I-215 is finally done. There wasn't an orange cone in sight today. #blessed
Nov. 21: Today is my Friday. That makes me so, so happy.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Thanksgiving moments: Week 2
Nov. 8: I had three social things lined up for the day, and I actually did them all. It's not often that I can say that. Highlights include playing a Scrabble game with word nerds, golfing with those word nerds, and feeling accomplished when I came home from the ward thing I didn't want to go to.
Nov. 9: As an editor, I spend a lot of time in Microsoft Word. When I got a new work computer over a year ago, I noticed Word was considerably slower than it was on my old computer. Any time I clicked back into Word after using a different application it froze. The problem never went away and I didn't know what to do about it, so I just dealt with it. I got used to waiting for the spinning rainbow to disappear every time I entered Word. I tried to do my link- and fact-checking all at once so I wouldn't have to click in and out of Word more than was absolutely necessary. I got in the habit of scrolling down before clicking out of Word so I would have something to review when I came back while Word sluggishly unfroze itself. I dreaded getting multiple files at once because I knew it would take 5 minutes just to save them to my desktop.
Frustrating, right? It's been slowly driving me insane. On busy days, watching that cursed spinning rainbow is enough to push me over the edge. FINALLY, earlier this week, after a long search through my computer that I'm certain I won't be able to duplicate, I found some old updates that were never installed. So I installed them, and HALLELUJAH WORD IS WORKING PERFECTLY NOW. You have no idea how amazing it is to be able to enter a Word doc without being punished. Sometimes I click in and out of them just for fun.
Nov. 10: Scattergories has an app. I may never get any work done again. (And I'm still going to beg my family to play this game with me on a regular basis.)
Nov. 11: My temple attendance has dropped since the Jordan River Temple closed over a year ago. Every other temple in the valley is overcrowded all the time as a result, which makes going to the temple much more of a hassle than it used to be. (I know, I know; #UtahProblems.) But I went today, and it was a lovely, faith-promoting experience.
Nov. 12: I think I may have made a friend or two at church today. (Always hard to tell for sure, when you're me.)
Nov. 13: Another thing I like about daylight savings in the fall is watching the sun set on my drive home. The sky looked incredible tonight.
Nov. 14: OATHBRINGER CAME OUT TODAY! I picked up my copy during lunch and read the first 40 pages or so—I almost didn't make it back to work. The wait for this book has been killing me, and I cannot wait to dig into that 1,248-page monstrosity. Brandon Sanderson, thank you for making me so excited about your books.
If you don't care about outstanding fantasy books, here's something one of my coworkers said today: "Please don't die behind me. I'm very sensitive to corpses."
Nov. 9: As an editor, I spend a lot of time in Microsoft Word. When I got a new work computer over a year ago, I noticed Word was considerably slower than it was on my old computer. Any time I clicked back into Word after using a different application it froze. The problem never went away and I didn't know what to do about it, so I just dealt with it. I got used to waiting for the spinning rainbow to disappear every time I entered Word. I tried to do my link- and fact-checking all at once so I wouldn't have to click in and out of Word more than was absolutely necessary. I got in the habit of scrolling down before clicking out of Word so I would have something to review when I came back while Word sluggishly unfroze itself. I dreaded getting multiple files at once because I knew it would take 5 minutes just to save them to my desktop.
Frustrating, right? It's been slowly driving me insane. On busy days, watching that cursed spinning rainbow is enough to push me over the edge. FINALLY, earlier this week, after a long search through my computer that I'm certain I won't be able to duplicate, I found some old updates that were never installed. So I installed them, and HALLELUJAH WORD IS WORKING PERFECTLY NOW. You have no idea how amazing it is to be able to enter a Word doc without being punished. Sometimes I click in and out of them just for fun.
Nov. 10: Scattergories has an app. I may never get any work done again. (And I'm still going to beg my family to play this game with me on a regular basis.)
Nov. 11: My temple attendance has dropped since the Jordan River Temple closed over a year ago. Every other temple in the valley is overcrowded all the time as a result, which makes going to the temple much more of a hassle than it used to be. (I know, I know; #UtahProblems.) But I went today, and it was a lovely, faith-promoting experience.
Nov. 12: I think I may have made a friend or two at church today. (Always hard to tell for sure, when you're me.)
Nov. 13: Another thing I like about daylight savings in the fall is watching the sun set on my drive home. The sky looked incredible tonight.
Nov. 14: OATHBRINGER CAME OUT TODAY! I picked up my copy during lunch and read the first 40 pages or so—I almost didn't make it back to work. The wait for this book has been killing me, and I cannot wait to dig into that 1,248-page monstrosity. Brandon Sanderson, thank you for making me so excited about your books.
If you don't care about outstanding fantasy books, here's something one of my coworkers said today: "Please don't die behind me. I'm very sensitive to corpses."
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Thanksgiving moments: Week 1
I get a little testy around this time of year when the Christmas music debate is in full force. I am firmly in the camp that you should listen to Christmas music whenever you want to (this year I didn't even make it until Halloween—I blame Pentatonix), which only makes Thanksgiving purists more preachy. You'd think we'd get bored with engaging in this same stupid argument year after year after year.
But believe it or not, you can still celebrate Thanksgiving while listening to the best genre of music there is. And one of the ways I like to recognize Thanksgiving is by focusing on gratitude on the blog throughout November. This year I'm going to focus on capturing the special moments, so there may not always be an "I'm grateful for" entry, but, you get the idea.
Nov. 1: I buy new Christmas albums every year, and today I was getting to know the Killers' Christmas compilation. They're all originals, except for one track at the end, "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Before getting to the singing, Brandon Flowers talks about his childhood a bit, and while I was only half paying attention, I heard him mention Footloose and then Onion Days. I perked up immediately; did I hear that right? Sure enough, he soon mentioned good ol' Payson, Utah. My secondary hometown inspired a song! A Christmas song! Even better, Payson was the first place where Brandon (a Nevada boy) experienced a white Christmas. He then invited a special teacher, Mr. Hansen, to sing with him, and it was like getting a local version of the end of the movie White Christmas. The Christmas miracles are starting early this year.
Nov. 2: The latest episode of This Is Us (the Halloween episode) might be my new favorite. A lot of it resonated with me, from the characters bemoaning how rough your 20s can be to the character who was 9 months pregnant while all the Halloween craziness was going on (sorry, Kin!).
Nov. 3: November 3 will no longer be known as just my dad's birthday; it's also the day my fourth nephew was born. (Of our family of 14 people, 6 of them share a birthday with someone else. That's almost half! Crazy.) So basically, anything else that happened today doesn't matter. You just can't beat welcoming a new life into the world. I can't wait to get to know this little guy and watch him develop into a unique and interesting person.
Nov. 4: Today's is a tie between holding my new nephew and gauging my niece's reaction to her baby brother. For something as helpless as a newborn, they sure have a lot of power over the people around them. I could have just held him and looked at him for hours. As for Avonlea, I've never seen her so excited about anything. I guess it shouldn't be surprising that she loves her brother SO MUCH after seeing how enamored she was with her cousin Noah. She's a proud big sister, and SO EXCITED baby Conrad is finally here.
Nov. 5: That extra hour of sleep was glorious. As was the Sunday nap I took that I didn't need as much as I usually do. I love daylight savings in the fall. For a few weeks it's easy and natural to fall asleep at a reasonable hour and easy-ish to wake up early.
Nov. 6: Copywriters who have a sense of humor are my heroes. Here's the warning I found on my Haunted Hotel–scented candle:
I tried to save myself the trouble of typing all this out, but that font is tiny. So if you want an easier reading experience, see below:
Nov. 7: Today was the first real wintery-cold day we've had, and I'm loving it. I'm a cold-hearted human who laughs in the face of those who can't handle the cold. It's my payback for enduring July/August while the heat lovers reveled in what caused great misery in my life. I believe in equal suffering for all.
Seriously, though, there are some cold-weather things we can all enjoy. Hot beverages! Cozy evenings at home! Some of us even have fireplaces! All good things.
But believe it or not, you can still celebrate Thanksgiving while listening to the best genre of music there is. And one of the ways I like to recognize Thanksgiving is by focusing on gratitude on the blog throughout November. This year I'm going to focus on capturing the special moments, so there may not always be an "I'm grateful for" entry, but, you get the idea.
Nov. 1: I buy new Christmas albums every year, and today I was getting to know the Killers' Christmas compilation. They're all originals, except for one track at the end, "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Before getting to the singing, Brandon Flowers talks about his childhood a bit, and while I was only half paying attention, I heard him mention Footloose and then Onion Days. I perked up immediately; did I hear that right? Sure enough, he soon mentioned good ol' Payson, Utah. My secondary hometown inspired a song! A Christmas song! Even better, Payson was the first place where Brandon (a Nevada boy) experienced a white Christmas. He then invited a special teacher, Mr. Hansen, to sing with him, and it was like getting a local version of the end of the movie White Christmas. The Christmas miracles are starting early this year.
Nov. 2: The latest episode of This Is Us (the Halloween episode) might be my new favorite. A lot of it resonated with me, from the characters bemoaning how rough your 20s can be to the character who was 9 months pregnant while all the Halloween craziness was going on (sorry, Kin!).
Nov. 3: November 3 will no longer be known as just my dad's birthday; it's also the day my fourth nephew was born. (Of our family of 14 people, 6 of them share a birthday with someone else. That's almost half! Crazy.) So basically, anything else that happened today doesn't matter. You just can't beat welcoming a new life into the world. I can't wait to get to know this little guy and watch him develop into a unique and interesting person.
Nov. 4: Today's is a tie between holding my new nephew and gauging my niece's reaction to her baby brother. For something as helpless as a newborn, they sure have a lot of power over the people around them. I could have just held him and looked at him for hours. As for Avonlea, I've never seen her so excited about anything. I guess it shouldn't be surprising that she loves her brother SO MUCH after seeing how enamored she was with her cousin Noah. She's a proud big sister, and SO EXCITED baby Conrad is finally here.
 |
| My heart just melted. |
Nov. 5: That extra hour of sleep was glorious. As was the Sunday nap I took that I didn't need as much as I usually do. I love daylight savings in the fall. For a few weeks it's easy and natural to fall asleep at a reasonable hour and easy-ish to wake up early.
Nov. 6: Copywriters who have a sense of humor are my heroes. Here's the warning I found on my Haunted Hotel–scented candle:
I tried to save myself the trouble of typing all this out, but that font is tiny. So if you want an easier reading experience, see below:
HEY!
PAY ATTENTION,
I'M A WARNING!
Never leave a burning candle unattended.
They are DANGEROUS when they're lonely.
Do not let any children or pets near a flame.
Nothing adorable. Full-stop.
Don't burn it on or near or under or beside or while contemplating flammable objects!
Thank you for your cooperation; I am certain you and this candle will have many happy hours together.
Nov. 7: Today was the first real wintery-cold day we've had, and I'm loving it. I'm a cold-hearted human who laughs in the face of those who can't handle the cold. It's my payback for enduring July/August while the heat lovers reveled in what caused great misery in my life. I believe in equal suffering for all.
Seriously, though, there are some cold-weather things we can all enjoy. Hot beverages! Cozy evenings at home! Some of us even have fireplaces! All good things.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Missionary friends
When I go on my walks, I'm rarely in people mode. I pay attention to the audio coming from my iPod and whatever season we're being blessed with at the time, but I ignore people as much as possible. Occasionally an outgoing child will tag along and strike up a conversation until I walk out of their radius, and ward members will stop and wave from time to time, but usually I get what I set out to get: an hour of me time.
However, there is one group of people who don't let my headphones and averted eyes stop them from approaching me: missionaries. I've met many missionaries on my walks. Elders who look younger every time I see them. Smiling sisters. Senior couples who seem to be at complete peace with the world.
I'm not always eager to stop and make chit-chat, but I'm always glad they made me stop anyway. Even though they find out right away I'm LDS, they don't cut our conversation short to go talk to someone who might boost their numbers. They don't even ask me for names of people I know who need to hear the gospel. Their focus is always on me. They find out everything about me they can during those 15-minute conversations, and rather than feel annoyed at their prying like I usually would, I am deeply appreciative that they were bold enough to reach out and remind me that God will pour out his love for me in any way he can.
It's missionaries who truly capitalize on bold living.
However, there is one group of people who don't let my headphones and averted eyes stop them from approaching me: missionaries. I've met many missionaries on my walks. Elders who look younger every time I see them. Smiling sisters. Senior couples who seem to be at complete peace with the world.
I'm not always eager to stop and make chit-chat, but I'm always glad they made me stop anyway. Even though they find out right away I'm LDS, they don't cut our conversation short to go talk to someone who might boost their numbers. They don't even ask me for names of people I know who need to hear the gospel. Their focus is always on me. They find out everything about me they can during those 15-minute conversations, and rather than feel annoyed at their prying like I usually would, I am deeply appreciative that they were bold enough to reach out and remind me that God will pour out his love for me in any way he can.
It's missionaries who truly capitalize on bold living.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Gratefuls Nov. 23–30
Nov. 23: My nephews still know who I am!
Nov. 24: Long Sunday naps.
Nov. 25: No school this week. Yay! I had planned to get a little bit of writing done today and tomorrow to help make next week less horrendous, but I've decided I would rather have fun instead.
Nov. 26: So, I saw Catching Fire on Saturday and I can't get it out of my head. I was planning on avoiding books and rotting my brain via TV all week, but Harry Potter has taught me that sometimes staying away from books is more distracting than escaping into them. So today I'm grateful that I have the wonderful luxury of time to dive into a trilogy that demands your full attention.
Nov. 27: Leaving work early to start a long weekend. In traditional Thanksgiving Break fashion, we kicked off our vacation with a TV show marathon and a game of Risk. Sometimes I think the evening before Thanksgiving Break officially begins is the best part of the entire break.
Nov. 28: Mom's surgery went well and she doesn't have to hobble around anymore.
Nov. 29: When you have a lovely day off and realize with a jolt of happiness that tomorrow is Saturday.
Nov. 30: Good books, leftovers, and Christmas lights.
Nov. 24: Long Sunday naps.
Nov. 25: No school this week. Yay! I had planned to get a little bit of writing done today and tomorrow to help make next week less horrendous, but I've decided I would rather have fun instead.
Nov. 26: So, I saw Catching Fire on Saturday and I can't get it out of my head. I was planning on avoiding books and rotting my brain via TV all week, but Harry Potter has taught me that sometimes staying away from books is more distracting than escaping into them. So today I'm grateful that I have the wonderful luxury of time to dive into a trilogy that demands your full attention.
Nov. 27: Leaving work early to start a long weekend. In traditional Thanksgiving Break fashion, we kicked off our vacation with a TV show marathon and a game of Risk. Sometimes I think the evening before Thanksgiving Break officially begins is the best part of the entire break.
Nov. 28: Mom's surgery went well and she doesn't have to hobble around anymore.
Nov. 29: When you have a lovely day off and realize with a jolt of happiness that tomorrow is Saturday.
Nov. 30: Good books, leftovers, and Christmas lights.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Gratefuls Nov. 16–22
Nov. 16: My Saturday homework marathons never take as long as I think they will.
Nov. 17: I love it when general authorities come to stake conference and you get to see a side of their personality that you don't get to see during General Conference.
Nov. 18: Five years of working at a pizza place has given me super-human tolerance for pizza, when it easily could have gone the other way. I am basically going to be living off of pizza this week.
Nov. 19: My TV shows. I only watch two, but they provide a nice excuse to take a break a few times a week. And Once Upon a Time is much better than it was last season.
Nov. 20: Christmas music. I might have put Christmas music back on my iPod before Halloween this year, not sure, but I only allowed myself to listen to the occasional song that made it through my shuffle stream, and during that week it was 60 degrees I skipped all the Christmas tunes. Today, I put an end to such foolishness. It's time to be reunited with old friends, and to acquaint myself with the new albums I bought with my Amazon gift card last week.
Nov. 21: Winter fruit, like pomegranates and oranges. The only downside is that neither can just be popped into your mouth. You have to work for it first.
Nov. 22: Reliable co-workers.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Gratefuls: Nov. 9–15
Nov. 9: I was productive enough during the week to allow myself to declare a homework strike today.
Nov. 10: That wonderful barbecuing meat smell. If I ever come across the Amortentia potion ("The most powerful love potion in the world!" according to Hermione), I'm sure the first thing I will smell is meat on the grill. Best. Smell. Ever. And, just for fun, I think that seductive smell would be accompanied by the smell of rain on concrete, new books, and homemade bread.
Nov. 11: As ready as I am for sweaters and Christmas music, I am loving the 60-degree weather we've had the past few days. Especially since it means I can delay moving my workouts inside for a little bit longer.
Nov. 12 (11/12/13): Utah Technology Magazine, a digital magazine I've been editing pieces for, released its first issue today! (iPad version only for now, sorry. But it looks awesome on the iPad, so if you have one, you should check it out.) It's been really exciting to watch UTM morph from an idea to an actual publication. You can get a preview of the content on our website.
Nov. 13: Today I was stuck in Orem for a for a few hours between meetings. So I decided to go on a walk, and I discovered a lovely park hiding behind some mansions. It had walking trails, a duck pond, and lots of fall leaves. These types of discoveries make me miss Utah County.
Nov. 14: Last week, I wrote a review for our marketing automation software company, and today they sent me a $100 Amazon gift card! Naturally, I've already spent half of it.
Nov. 15: I made a "Rainy Days and Mondays" playlist a week ago, and I finally got to use it today. You won't hear me complaining about Utah's gloomy weather forecast.
Nov. 10: That wonderful barbecuing meat smell. If I ever come across the Amortentia potion ("The most powerful love potion in the world!" according to Hermione), I'm sure the first thing I will smell is meat on the grill. Best. Smell. Ever. And, just for fun, I think that seductive smell would be accompanied by the smell of rain on concrete, new books, and homemade bread.
Nov. 11: As ready as I am for sweaters and Christmas music, I am loving the 60-degree weather we've had the past few days. Especially since it means I can delay moving my workouts inside for a little bit longer.
Nov. 12 (11/12/13): Utah Technology Magazine, a digital magazine I've been editing pieces for, released its first issue today! (iPad version only for now, sorry. But it looks awesome on the iPad, so if you have one, you should check it out.) It's been really exciting to watch UTM morph from an idea to an actual publication. You can get a preview of the content on our website.
Nov. 13: Today I was stuck in Orem for a for a few hours between meetings. So I decided to go on a walk, and I discovered a lovely park hiding behind some mansions. It had walking trails, a duck pond, and lots of fall leaves. These types of discoveries make me miss Utah County.
Nov. 14: Last week, I wrote a review for our marketing automation software company, and today they sent me a $100 Amazon gift card! Naturally, I've already spent half of it.
Nov. 15: I made a "Rainy Days and Mondays" playlist a week ago, and I finally got to use it today. You won't hear me complaining about Utah's gloomy weather forecast.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Gratefuls: Nov. 1–8
I wasn't going to do the November Daily Grateful Thing this year, but I have to be honest here. Nothing good is going to happen this month if I'm not watching out for it.
Besides, I'm tired of looking at that Barbie.
Nov. 1: (Repeat from last year) Halloween is over! I really tried to be a good sport about Halloween this year (it helped immensely that no one made it their month's mission to get me to dress up). And I even enjoyed our office's costume contest/office decorating contest, and then I skipped my homework for the day to watch Clue. But it was still kind of exhausting. It's such a relief to have the hoopla of Halloween out of the way. Now for Christmas! Just kidding. Sort of.
Nov. 2: I did everything I needed/wanted to do today. And I had a long to-do list (which included sleeping in and watching TV for a couple of hours). I'm still kind of in shock that my day actually went as planned.
Nov. 3: People who like snow and don't complain about winter all the time. I like my family.
Nov. 4: Nerds (the candy. Although nerds in human form are good, too). I was having a seriously hard time staying awake after lunch today. A leftover box of grape Nerds saved me.
Nov. 5: My car. It hasn't been in the shop (for anything other than routine checkup type things) for over a year. It's a good little car. I don't miss the drama of a constantly breaking down car one bit.
Nov. 6: It's Wednesday, and I don't hate life. Woo-hoo!
Nov. 7: I woke up to "Time of My Life" by David Cook this morning, which is my fifth-favorite song. Seriously, I should start every day like this.
Nov. 8: BYU basketball starts tonight.
Besides, I'm tired of looking at that Barbie.
Nov. 1: (Repeat from last year) Halloween is over! I really tried to be a good sport about Halloween this year (it helped immensely that no one made it their month's mission to get me to dress up). And I even enjoyed our office's costume contest/office decorating contest, and then I skipped my homework for the day to watch Clue. But it was still kind of exhausting. It's such a relief to have the hoopla of Halloween out of the way. Now for Christmas! Just kidding. Sort of.
Nov. 2: I did everything I needed/wanted to do today. And I had a long to-do list (which included sleeping in and watching TV for a couple of hours). I'm still kind of in shock that my day actually went as planned.
Nov. 3: People who like snow and don't complain about winter all the time. I like my family.
Nov. 4: Nerds (the candy. Although nerds in human form are good, too). I was having a seriously hard time staying awake after lunch today. A leftover box of grape Nerds saved me.
Nov. 5: My car. It hasn't been in the shop (for anything other than routine checkup type things) for over a year. It's a good little car. I don't miss the drama of a constantly breaking down car one bit.
Nov. 6: It's Wednesday, and I don't hate life. Woo-hoo!
Nov. 7: I woke up to "Time of My Life" by David Cook this morning, which is my fifth-favorite song. Seriously, I should start every day like this.
Nov. 8: BYU basketball starts tonight.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
16 things I blame my parents for
 |
| April 14, 1984 |
The older I get, the more I realize that all the best things in my life can be traced back to my parents. I've actually started this post three times now (this post is literally three years in the making), trying to give credit where it's due, but I never published it because, well, cheesy gooeyness makes me uncomfortable. It doesn't matter if I'm on the receiving end of it or if I'm the one inflicting it. It doesn't matter if I'm standing in front of an audience or writing on my blog. My body associates tributes with lots of staring at the floor while blood rushes to my face. This feeling is not on my list of Emotions I Like.
But, my parents are awesome, and I don't tell them that nearly enough, so I'm just going to have to suffer the consequences and say it straight out. Mom and Dad, I blame you for the following:
1. Six deep, meaningful relationships. Since we're a family of introverts, our best bet at making friends is latching on to those who come from the same gene pool. My relationships with my siblings and my parents are the most deep and meaningful ones I have.
2. My high expectations for my future spouse. I never doubted that my parents loved each other. At times I've seriously wondered how two very different individuals came together and made a marriage work, especially since it took Mom five years to get Dad to talk. Love must be more powerful than I can understand at this point in my life.
People always say that if there's one thing dads can do for their daughters, it's to love their mom. Dad does this naturally. A few years ago, I watched the primary program put on by the kids in my home ward. At the time, Mom was in the primary presidency and helped out heavily with the music, and Dad was the bishop. As the bishopric/stake presidency members strained their necks and twisted in their seats to get a good look at the clump of children, Dad watched Mom conduct the music. His look said it all. Dad has set a high precedent in my quest for a spouse, but if I can find someone who will look at me the way my dad looks at my mom after 25+ years of marriage, it'll be worth it.
3. My career success. I'm always surprised by the level of appreciation my employers have for my work ethic. Doesn't everyone come to work to work, every day? Doesn't everyone do something when they say they'll do it? Doesn't everyone understand that to move up in the world you have to really work for it? Apparently not. My success in the business world so far is largely due to values that were instilled in me from a very young age. Even though the five of us kids have the Carter-famous "do everything you can to avoid extra work" blood running through our veins, and despite our unofficial family motto—"I have to do everything around here"—we all learned first-hand the value of good, honest work, and that is something that will continue to benefit us in all areas of our lives.
4. My independence. I'm pretty sure my first complete sentence was "I did it all by myself," so I don't think I can blame my independence entirely on my parents. However, we definitely weren't coddled as kids. We were expected to take turns at all the household chores, take care of our cars, fund our own college tuition, cook meals, get jobs, and do a bunch of other things, all before we moved out. Our reward is the freedom that comes from independence. As a fully independent woman, let me just say it is immensely satisfying to not have to rely on others for anything.
5. Loud laughter in our home. We may pretend to have manners when we're around normal people, but at home we are loud, and we laugh a lot. The Jeremys are still a little scarred, I think.
6. Years of musical memories. I can't imagine what my life would have been like without hours of early morning piano practices, years of choir and band concerts, and the musicals that graced my childhood. Our home wouldn't be the same without the random bursts into song, ranging from Josh Groban and Snow White imitations to full-out musical conversations. And lest you think it's just the girls who create all the musical memories, I'll have you know that I caught Tyrel singing Beach Boys at the top of his lungs while he was hanging upside down on the inversion table once (not to mention he does a spirited performance of "That Thing You Do" on the piano), and Dad sometimes will sing Rauol's parts in The Phantom of the Opera. A singing person is a happy person indeed.
7. A solid understanding of the importance of being parents first, friends second. Parents do their kids no favors by letting the kids be the dictators. I thought my parents were the cruelest people in the world at times (it seemed like I was the only person in the universe to have an 11:00 p.m. curfew on weekends), but, like everything else, they did it for our own good.
8. A firm foundation in the gospel. Our home was a safe haven for a lot of reasons, one of those being that it was a Christ-centered home. Even with numerous failed family home evenings and the difficulty we had with daily scripture study, the gospel was always at the center. Mom and Dad have always had solid testimonies, and they're not afraid to let their kids know it. A childhood firmly rooted in gospel principles is probably the best gift my parents could have given me.
9. My education. As a kid, I wasn't too thrilled about the thought of four years of school after finally breaking free from public education. However, education was always important (that was our second family motto: "Go to college or be executed"), so I eventually got used to the idea. Now I'm working on my masters degree and I am incredibly grateful for the doors my education have opened up for me. The benefits of education extend far beyond career opportunities, though. Stuffing your head full of knowledge is actually quite fun, and it ensures you're always progressing.
10. The fact that I'm still a Jazz fan. This one's mostly Dad's fault. Is it bad that I only want the Jazz to make it to playoffs so the Lakers don't?
11. A fantastic childhood. Ah, so many good memories.
12. My inability to be completely content in the city. Growing up in a small town like Elk Ridge is seriously the best: beautiful surroundings, down-to-earth people, no city noises or lights. Even when times got rough and it made no financial sense to stay in Elk Ridge, we stayed because that is where we needed to be. The hardest part of moving out has been adjusting to city life; for me, cities are for visiting, not for living in.
13. Hours of sleep lost due to late-night conversations. I wouldn't trade those talks for anything.
14. More books and movies than I have room for. Our family's three main sources of entertainment are movies, books, and card games. So naturally, I have to get a little creative when it comes to storing my DVDs and books. My next idea is to move into a bigger apartment. Or house.
15. The knowledge that money doesn't produce happiness all on its own. Money was never abundant in our home, but happiness was.
16. The fact that I still enjoy going home. And it's not just for the food, though that is still a strong incentive (hint, hint). Because of all the reasons listed above—relationships, laughter, music, Jazz/BYU games, love—I'll always have a good reason to go home. That will never change.
 |
| March 2012 |
Friday, November 30, 2012
Gratefuls: Nov 26–30
Nov 26: My homework isn't so important that it can't be put off for a day.
Nov 27: Opportunities to relive the past. These opportunities come up more often than you might think. Sometimes, they make you sad because they act as painful reminders that time is the great destroyer and that things can't be the same again. But other times, it's like no time has passed at all and everything feels . . . right, just like it did before. People say you shouldn't live in the past, but I think it's okay to treasure those opportunities to relive the past when they come. God knows I hate change, and each chance he gives me to temper the severance of change is a tender mercy.
Nov 28: Pure, milk chocolate. Especially the kind that can only be bought from obscure companies that rely on high school kids saving up for choir tour to make sales.
Nov 29: Pictures of my nephews. Especially the one of them sitting in the snow. Jaxson's expression of ultimate betrayal is priceless.
Nov 30: It's Friday! Even though I have hours of suffering (i.e., homework that I've been putting off that must be faced) waiting for me this weekend, at least I won't have to go to work too. And, whether I'm ready or not, everything will be turned in by Sunday at midnight. Maybe I'll be a little bit less of a stress ball next week. I doubt it, but I can always hope.
Nov 27: Opportunities to relive the past. These opportunities come up more often than you might think. Sometimes, they make you sad because they act as painful reminders that time is the great destroyer and that things can't be the same again. But other times, it's like no time has passed at all and everything feels . . . right, just like it did before. People say you shouldn't live in the past, but I think it's okay to treasure those opportunities to relive the past when they come. God knows I hate change, and each chance he gives me to temper the severance of change is a tender mercy.
Nov 28: Pure, milk chocolate. Especially the kind that can only be bought from obscure companies that rely on high school kids saving up for choir tour to make sales.
Nov 29: Pictures of my nephews. Especially the one of them sitting in the snow. Jaxson's expression of ultimate betrayal is priceless.
Nov 30: It's Friday! Even though I have hours of suffering (i.e., homework that I've been putting off that must be faced) waiting for me this weekend, at least I won't have to go to work too. And, whether I'm ready or not, everything will be turned in by Sunday at midnight. Maybe I'll be a little bit less of a stress ball next week. I doubt it, but I can always hope.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Gratefuls: Nov 21–25
Nov 21: I'm an optimist. And sometimes, I'm an unrealistic optimist. Today, this little bubble of protection I've been living in for the past few months shattered. So I'll admit, I wasn't able to come up with anything I am truly grateful for until the day was almost over.
Most people don't like their bosses. Many people spend their working hours working for a tyrant and then go home and complain about what their boss did to tick them off that day. If they found out their boss was leaving, they would shout "Hallelujah!" and throw a party. But when my boss told me today that he was no longer an employee of the company, the last thing I wanted to do was shout for joy. As the day wore on, I had that awful feeling you get after someone just dies. You may be able to distract yourself enough to forget about your troubles for a short period of time, but eventually you notice that hole in your chest and wonder why it's there. And then you remember.
I'm not necessarily grateful for the pain, but it's only the lucky ones who are devastated when their boss is no longer their boss. I've been extremely fortunate these past two years.
Nov 22: Hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Mmmmmmmm.
Nov 23: The Cartettes still got it.
Nov 24: Books that have more entertainment value than literary value. Book snobs frown upon these books, but it is so wonderful to read something that makes it so effortless to immerse yourself into and escape from reality for a little while.
Nov 25: The houses that I can always count on to have Christmas lights up right after Thanksgiving. It's comforting to have the same expectations about certain things year after year, and to see those expectations fulfilled year after year. The world can crumble all around us, but that doesn't stop people from decorating for Christmas.
Most people don't like their bosses. Many people spend their working hours working for a tyrant and then go home and complain about what their boss did to tick them off that day. If they found out their boss was leaving, they would shout "Hallelujah!" and throw a party. But when my boss told me today that he was no longer an employee of the company, the last thing I wanted to do was shout for joy. As the day wore on, I had that awful feeling you get after someone just dies. You may be able to distract yourself enough to forget about your troubles for a short period of time, but eventually you notice that hole in your chest and wonder why it's there. And then you remember.
I'm not necessarily grateful for the pain, but it's only the lucky ones who are devastated when their boss is no longer their boss. I've been extremely fortunate these past two years.
Nov 22: Hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Mmmmmmmm.
Nov 23: The Cartettes still got it.
Nov 24: Books that have more entertainment value than literary value. Book snobs frown upon these books, but it is so wonderful to read something that makes it so effortless to immerse yourself into and escape from reality for a little while.
Nov 25: The houses that I can always count on to have Christmas lights up right after Thanksgiving. It's comforting to have the same expectations about certain things year after year, and to see those expectations fulfilled year after year. The world can crumble all around us, but that doesn't stop people from decorating for Christmas.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Gratefuls: Nov 14–20
Nov 14: My co-workers. I have a boss that is tailor-made for my personality and co-workers that understand the importance of having a sense of humor.
Nov 15: Not having to go anywhere after getting home from work.
Nov 16: Crossing scary things off my to-do list early in the day.
Nov 17: (1) The people at the grocery store who had the same harassed, I-didn't-want-to-go-anywhere-today look, whose hair was pulled back into a hasty ponytail, who didn't bother putting on any makeup, and who wore long coats to cover their pajamas underneath. I felt a strange kinship with these people. (2) While everyone else was bemoaning the loss of their beloved Twinkies, it finally occurred to me that my favorite treat may be gone forever as well—those little, one-dollar cherry pie things. Luckily, grocery stores still sell canned pie cherries, so they will help me cope with my loss.
Nov 18: Today I realized that there are Rivendell apartments and a Privet Drive in my ward. Clearly I picked the right ward, if not the right apartment complex.
No 19: One day down, two more to go. . . .
Nov 20: The fact that I don't have to talk to anyone on Tuesdays. It's a lot easier to revel in my typical Tuesday blues that way. There's something about fueling a bad mood that is oddly satisfying.
Nov 15: Not having to go anywhere after getting home from work.
Nov 16: Crossing scary things off my to-do list early in the day.
Nov 17: (1) The people at the grocery store who had the same harassed, I-didn't-want-to-go-anywhere-today look, whose hair was pulled back into a hasty ponytail, who didn't bother putting on any makeup, and who wore long coats to cover their pajamas underneath. I felt a strange kinship with these people. (2) While everyone else was bemoaning the loss of their beloved Twinkies, it finally occurred to me that my favorite treat may be gone forever as well—those little, one-dollar cherry pie things. Luckily, grocery stores still sell canned pie cherries, so they will help me cope with my loss.
Nov 18: Today I realized that there are Rivendell apartments and a Privet Drive in my ward. Clearly I picked the right ward, if not the right apartment complex.
No 19: One day down, two more to go. . . .
Nov 20: The fact that I don't have to talk to anyone on Tuesdays. It's a lot easier to revel in my typical Tuesday blues that way. There's something about fueling a bad mood that is oddly satisfying.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Gratefuls: Nov 8–13
Nov 8: BYU choirs. I like having a sister in one of the choirs because otherwise I probably wouldn't go to any of the concerts. The Women's Chorus always sounds like a choir of angels and the Men's Chorus--ah, the men. Just picture them singing songs from The Jungle Book. The possibilies are endless: Drums. Dancing. Jumping off the risers. Animal sounds. Grass skirts.
Nov 9: Gloomy winter weather and "handsome" snow. Even in the city it looks like a winter wonderland.
Nov 10: My fireplace. It took two hours to rearrange my living room to my liking without anything blocking blocking the fire and I have to add matches to the list of things I have no idea where to find in a grocery store, but it was worth it.
Nov 11: I finally finished The Casual Vacancy. I hated that book about as much as I love the Harry Potter books.
Nov 12: Heat. The heater and back-up generator in my work building broke, so it wasn't unusual to see someone bundled up in coat, scarf, and gloves not to go grab lunch, but to go to the bathroom. When I finally got home I was greeted with the beautiful sound of my furnace working its magic. I then threw a log in the fireplace and sat in front of it for two hours, unthawing. It was positively delightful.
Nov 13: Leigh Butler's Wheel of Time Reread. It's the highlight of my Tuesdays. Every time I hit the "Refresh" button and a new post appears, I smile, sit up a little straighter, and wait impatiently until lunchtime. Sadly, she's almost done with Towers of Midnight, so soon I won't have any WoT goodness to distract me until the last book comes out.
Nov 9: Gloomy winter weather and "handsome" snow. Even in the city it looks like a winter wonderland.
Nov 10: My fireplace. It took two hours to rearrange my living room to my liking without anything blocking blocking the fire and I have to add matches to the list of things I have no idea where to find in a grocery store, but it was worth it.
Nov 11: I finally finished The Casual Vacancy. I hated that book about as much as I love the Harry Potter books.
Nov 12: Heat. The heater and back-up generator in my work building broke, so it wasn't unusual to see someone bundled up in coat, scarf, and gloves not to go grab lunch, but to go to the bathroom. When I finally got home I was greeted with the beautiful sound of my furnace working its magic. I then threw a log in the fireplace and sat in front of it for two hours, unthawing. It was positively delightful.
 |
| Bad photography aside, does this not look very much like a Harry-Potter-esque place to study? I just need a squashy armchair instead of a mushroom chair. And Hermione to "help" me with my papers. |
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Gratefuls: Nov 1–7
A lot of people are doing a daily grateful thing for the month of November. Work is really slow this week, so I thought I'd fill in the time gaps thinking about some of the things I'm grateful for.
Nov 1: Halloween is over!
Nov 2: After almost dying of the stomach flu, I have my appetite back. For dinner I had a small salad, a rather large scone, French fries, 4 chicken fingers, and a large chocolate milkshake. It was a delightful, extremely fattening meal to say the least.
Nov 3: My dad. He turned old again: 50. And, as a random side note, he'll be double my age for the next 10 months.
Nov 4: Going to church after missing two weeks in a row. Just like I never really appreciated my healthy body until it raged an awful war inside me, I never really noticed the light that regular church-going brings into my life until I had to do without it for two weeks. Believe me, I felt the loss.
Nov 5: I cooked a real meal for the first time in three weeks, and it turned out quite successfully.
Nov 6: In hopes of avoiding long lines, I stepped out of the office at 10:30 to go vote. I only had to wait about five minutes. Score! And, I finally had the energy and the strength to enjoy a lovely Autumn walk.
Nov 7: I can run up and down stairs again without crashing. Well, no more than normal, that is.
Nov 1: Halloween is over!
Nov 2: After almost dying of the stomach flu, I have my appetite back. For dinner I had a small salad, a rather large scone, French fries, 4 chicken fingers, and a large chocolate milkshake. It was a delightful, extremely fattening meal to say the least.
Nov 3: My dad. He turned old again: 50. And, as a random side note, he'll be double my age for the next 10 months.
Nov 4: Going to church after missing two weeks in a row. Just like I never really appreciated my healthy body until it raged an awful war inside me, I never really noticed the light that regular church-going brings into my life until I had to do without it for two weeks. Believe me, I felt the loss.
Nov 5: I cooked a real meal for the first time in three weeks, and it turned out quite successfully.
Nov 6: In hopes of avoiding long lines, I stepped out of the office at 10:30 to go vote. I only had to wait about five minutes. Score! And, I finally had the energy and the strength to enjoy a lovely Autumn walk.
Nov 7: I can run up and down stairs again without crashing. Well, no more than normal, that is.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Better late than never?
I never got around to writing a Thanksgiving post because I was too busy making the most of my four days off, doing everything I could to drain my brain of any usage. And I was reluctant to do an "I'm thankful for . . ." post anyway because being grateful is a daily thing for me, not a once-a-year thing.
However, there are a few things I am grateful for this holiday season that I thought I'd share with the class. Both have to do with having what others lack. I don't mean that in a boastful way, but rather a more humble way. (Though it's not completely humble, I guess, because I just used the word "humble" in a sentence about, um, myself.)
First, I am grateful to have a job, a job that I enjoy and that's full of awesome people. I am also grateful that the rest of my family is employed. This recession has hit a lot of families hard, but thankfully, my family has been spared this time.
And second, I'm grateful that I get to spend the holidays with the people I love the most. Not everyone gets that blessing, whether it be because of work, distance, or some other circumstance. My roommate's dad died on Halloween, and her family is going through that painful first holiday season without him there. Even though this was something they knew was coming, it can't be easy trying to celebrate when that gaping hole is there, even if you're doing something as simple as scouring the neighborhood for the best display of Christmas lights or handing out the presents to scores of impatient children. I, on the other hand, know that my dad will be there when we barge into his room at 5:59 on Christmas morning, and that's better than anything that might be under the Christmas tree.
However, there are a few things I am grateful for this holiday season that I thought I'd share with the class. Both have to do with having what others lack. I don't mean that in a boastful way, but rather a more humble way. (Though it's not completely humble, I guess, because I just used the word "humble" in a sentence about, um, myself.)
First, I am grateful to have a job, a job that I enjoy and that's full of awesome people. I am also grateful that the rest of my family is employed. This recession has hit a lot of families hard, but thankfully, my family has been spared this time.
And second, I'm grateful that I get to spend the holidays with the people I love the most. Not everyone gets that blessing, whether it be because of work, distance, or some other circumstance. My roommate's dad died on Halloween, and her family is going through that painful first holiday season without him there. Even though this was something they knew was coming, it can't be easy trying to celebrate when that gaping hole is there, even if you're doing something as simple as scouring the neighborhood for the best display of Christmas lights or handing out the presents to scores of impatient children. I, on the other hand, know that my dad will be there when we barge into his room at 5:59 on Christmas morning, and that's better than anything that might be under the Christmas tree.
Friday, April 22, 2011
When all else fails, give up and try again next week
Ever had one of those weeks when you just can't seem to concentrate, be an approachable human being, or even come close to attaining those great goals you have for yourself? This was definitely one of those weeks for me. For some reason, I just could not be productive this week at work, and for someone who likes to stay busy, non-productiveness is pretty miserable. And that didn't have a very positive effect on my mood or social behavior.
So I have decided to just give up. I know a lost cause when I see one. My weekend is starting right now. I'll try again next week.
Instead, I am going to forget about the realities of life until 6:30 Monday morning and "simply remember my favorite things, and then I won't feel so bad."
Musicals that always pop into your head at the most convenient of times.
Melted chocolate chips.
Gilmore Girls
Sisters.
The way the world smells after a rain storm.
The Carter Family Quote Board.
Going to bed on a Friday night completely exhausted and knowing that you can sleep as long as you want.
The time Jacob Bahr sat on a chair in AP Music and broke it in half.
All the awkward silences that follow Tyrel's interjections.
The time Kimberly was narrating Lost, which was playing in slow motion.
Memories.
Steak, cheese, and 2% milk.
Blogging.
Finishing something you started.
Starting something new.
Decorating my first non-college apartment.
The 20+ playlists on my iPod that correspond with my many moods and preferences.
Old pictures.
My awesome family.
Emails from real people.
Tangled.
The word "snarky."
The liberating feeling of a new haircut.
Starting a new book.
Putting my heart and soul into a Jon Schmidt piece.
Long drives.
The opening chord of "Everything I Do, I Do It For You."
Homegrown tomatoes.
Walking around with no shoes on.
Small-world occurrences.
Harry Potter! I can't believe it took me so long to think of this one.
My bed.
The moment when the light pops on in your head.
The colors of fall.
Chick flicks.
Long, hot showers.
Funny dreams.
Moments that catch you by surprise.
Machine-gun laughter.
RMs.
John Stockton and Jimmer Fredette.
Good ranch.
So I have decided to just give up. I know a lost cause when I see one. My weekend is starting right now. I'll try again next week.
Instead, I am going to forget about the realities of life until 6:30 Monday morning and "simply remember my favorite things, and then I won't feel so bad."
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thanksgiving all year round
Thanksgiving has come and gone; most everyone is back to work, school, and reality. Thanksgiving came and went rather quickly this year for me; I didn't get to enjoy the buildup to a break from school/work. I didn't have to think of Thanksgiving to get me through the month of October and November. It just came, nothing spectacular happened, and then my life returned to its easy, slow pace.
However, I don't think this lack of change is a bad thing. Believe me—I don't envy those who had to leave their warm beds this morning and venture out into the snowy weather. For me, this lack of significant holiday feeling has within it a lesson: Thanksgiving isn't a one-time thing, but rather an everyday thing. I didn't feel any extra gratitude on Thanksgiving because I am filled with gratitude every day: gratitude for my home and family, for my education, for the gospel and the fact that my parents raised me right, for my gifts and talents, for the changing weather. It took me awhile to get to this point, but I don't need a holiday to make me appreciate what I have, because no matter what goes wrong in my life, I will always have so much more than I lack.
However, I did have one extra thing to be grateful for on Thanksgiving day. We gathered at my Grandpa Jackson's house with about 30 of my Mom's family members (which is only about a quarter of the grand total). The attic was lined with a couple of long tables, just like we did it when I was young. Jessica and Vikki fought over the bunny spoon. The small kids sat at the tiny table. Everyone brought their specialty foods and the first few minutes of the meal were full of compliments to the various chefs. It was Thanksgiving as I have experienced many times in the distant past, but not very much in the recent past. After dinner, Mom, Lore, Terri, and Deona kept us entertained with their sister banter (now I know what I have to look forward to in 20 years). It was an afternoon full of good food, laughter, bonding, and more laughter. I am grateful for holidays that give us an excuse to reunite with beloved family members.
And, I must say that I'm grateful for one more thing: I am sitting inside a warm house that has been Christmas-afied, there's at least a foot of snow outside and it's still snowing, and I have nowhere to go. If I had school or a full-time job, I wouldn't be enjoying this particular moment nearly as much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)