Hooray I'm Finished . . . for now that is

It's funny, I've been on the computer everyday working and yet, I seem to have not taken the time to put up a new post. Actually, the last couple of weeks I have been working really hard on the DesignAbility website. I had a bunch of cards and a whole new section of things to upload, make thumbnails, watermark, etc. It took me no less than 5 minutes to do one item. So you can imagine what a tedious job it has been. But I am happy to announce that as of yesterday I am totally updated on my website. It looks pretty cool, or at least I think that it does. Anyway, feel free to go take a look. I added a whole new section called quotations, I think it's really fun. If you come across any errors or mistakes, please let me know. I proof read it several times, but that by no means, means it's perfect.

Also, in celebration of the end of the crap, tedious work (at least for now anyway) I designed myself a new background. Here is what I came up with. If you click on the image you should go to a new page and then be able to download it if you want. Enjoy!

If You Can't Read, Don't Go To The Library

This man came up to my desk at the library and said that he and his wife had been trying for about 5 minutes and they couldn't get their password to work on their computer. My friend, Carol, was the one who had assigned them their password and computer. She asked me if I would help them. (Mostly because she knew if it was something more technical than a wrong password, she'd have to come and get me anyway!) So, I go over to where they're sitting on computer 1D. They reiterate that they can't get their password to work. I then ask for their reservation slip. With a quick glance I immediately recognize their problem. I kindly ask them to follow me over to computer 1E and then type in their password which, miraculously works. Seriously, if you can't read what are you doing on a computer, let alone one in the library?

Parade of Homes

Over the last few days Mom and I have visited 13 more homes. It has been a lot of fun and unfortunately, a lot of mileage as well. It's fun to see how the rich and famous might live, but it also makes me wonder about the practicality of some it. My favorites by far were homes #2, 15 and 16. I liked the history behind home #2. It's up by the state capitol and I'm sure it like 100 years old. Realistically, I would buy #15. It was practical and modern without any beige and tans. I loved it's entertaining capabilities. And if I'm dreaming I would love #16. It's Italian in style which I liked. It has some fun areas and some great little nooks. I loved the spiral staircase. If you want to see these homes here's a link: Salt Lake Parade of Homes 2008.

It was also fun because I found out about two wonderful things. First, on 5400 South and 3200 West there is a Pizza Hut express. That means those oh-so-delicious personal pan pizzas. Mom and I shouted for joy and ate there to celebrate! Then, did you know there was a reindeer farm in Salt Lake? "Yes sir, right here in river city!" On about 10400 South and 3200 West this amazing farm can be found. I didn't get a chance to count them all (or take a picture, since I forgot my camera) but I'm sure there were at least 20 reindeer. How cool is that!?!

And as a side note as Mom and I were driving downtown a man on a motorcycle passed in front of us. On the back, tied to the back actually, was a life size blow up woman. She had real shoes (red high heels) taped to her feet as well as a skimpy little outfit. It was so funny! I'm not sure what it was about, but all I can say is "good for him!"

It's Time Again for Weirdos at the Library!

This week I actually had to make a list of the weirdos at the library just that I wouldn't forget anyone. I arrived just after 9 am this week and before we hit 9:20 am security already had called in the police. What for, you ask? Well, evidently there was a 30 something year old man hitting on (and perhaps a little more, I'm not sure on all of the details) a 17 year old girl. If you are at all familiar with the law you know that under 18 is a minor. Which makes this rather serious. But honestly, 9 am and he is already getting his groove on? That's just weird in and of itself!

Another man came up to the desk and told us that we should get chairs for the computers that have backs. He said this because repeatedly he has almost fallen off of his chair when he tried to lean back. He told us that those chairs were an accident waiting to happen. Here's what I don't understand, when he walked up to his computer how could he miss seeing that his chair had no back rest? And furthermore if he managed to miss his own, couldn't he see all the other stools around him had no back? I just don't get how you'd miss the fact that the stools have no backs?

Two teenagers came into the library. I doubt they were older than 17, if they were that old. Around the boy's neck was a sheet - like a sheet that's on your bed. He was wearing it like a scarf. I don't know about you, but I've never woken up in the morning and thought "gee, my sheet would go perfect with this outfit." Then if that weren't enough, he was carrying a pillow under one arm. It looked like the girl with him might be his girlfriend. Now, I ask you, what could a teenage couple do at the library with a sheet and a pillow? I mean, I caught a couple en flagrante delicto at the park once, so it's by no stretch of the imagination that I bet they were up to no good, be it at the library or somewhere else.

Another man came up to our desk in a real huff. He said "I need to switch computers because I'm sitting next to a sub-human jerk who can't stop whistling!" Just so you know, I quoted that verbatim. I don't know what part of that was funnier- the fact that he called his neighbor a sub-human jerk or that he can't stand the whistling (which couldn't have been that loud because no one else complained).

And I saved the best for last and I mean that literally. Later on in the morning a cute police officer came into the library, to return some books and pick up his holds. Now, I didn't have any sort of interaction with him, but I certainly enjoyed watching him. So much so that I didn't even notice the patrons that came up to the desk until one of them cleared his throat. All I can say is he looked so fine. I definitely would have made myself free for a date with that police officer!

Rent-A-Husband

My friend, Katrina, and I were driving one day when we happened to stop behind a truck. While we were waiting at the light I glanced at the company only to read "Rent-A-Husband" handyman. I laughed myself silly. Then, I thought about just how great that would be. You call them up and they come to your house. Because they drive trucks several men can come at a time. They do the work that you need them to do and the man that strikes your fancy, you can keep. I'm telling you, the money you could make off of such a venture . . . Oh, if only life were that simple *sigh*

On Saturday, mom and I went to the annual Parade of Homes. We do this almost every year. It really is one of the highlights of the summer. We love to critique and admire the houses that are showcased, from the simple loft to the 4 million dollar home. It's fun to see how bizarre some of the designers can get. One of the houses that we saw yesterday had a pirate themed play area. There was a pirate ship with a look out and a wooden bridge that went to the treasure cave. Then, you could take the stairs or slide to the floor below and sit in the hot tub with a waterfall cascading into it, all while watching a movie. It was really clever and creative, but I think after awhile I'd get bored with it. It's something I'd want to visit at my friend's home, not have at my own. Still, all I can say is that some of these homes are just amazing. I can't imagine how wealthy you'd have to be to afford one of them.

On a final happy note, this is the first week that someone saved my seat in church. Barbra, one of the cute girl's in my neighborhood sat by my stuff and saved my seat. It was fun to sit by someone I knew, let alone by my stuff!

The End of an Era

When I was little my grandpa built me and my sister a playhouse in our backyard. It wasn't enormously big or really fancy, but it was a dream house for two little girls. Inside we had a table, two chairs, a cradle and kitchenette. We had flowers in the window boxes and windows that slid open sideways. We'd liked that because we could play like we were a drive through restaurant. Also, on the front of our playhouse was a wooden sign with our names on it. One of our neighbors made it for us. It let the world know that we owned the house. The hours every summer that we played in that hot little playhouse are some of my favorite childhood memories.

It's now been many years since I have played in it. When my sister and I were teenagers it was converted into a storage shed and has been used as such up until the last week or so. Little by little the wood has been rotting away, so my mom decided to take it down. It's garbage clean up in the neighborhood, so the city will take it away for free. This helped solidify the decision. So, on Thursday, August 7 our beloved playhouse was taken down.

In honor of the memories that were made there I decided to post some pictures of the playhouse in the past and some to document Thursday's event. Enjoy!

The brand new playhouse. Notice we don't have the sign yet.
Can you see the tree house? It was awesome!



Can you see the curtains and the flower box on the window?



I just love this photo. My brother calls my outfit a vomit of color.



The playhouse just before they took it down.



The pieces with my brother, the conquerer on top.
Sadly, it doesn't look that different to me without it.

What a Week!!!

I tell you, it's been an eventful week. I'm still a little amazed at everything that's happened. There have been some great things and some not-so great things, but who's week doesn't have a little bit of both in them. So, here goes nothing . . .

Over the past two weeks they have split up my single's ward into four new wards. My old ward, the EMC 19th ward was comprised of singles from four stakes. Now, each stake has their own single's ward. A lot of people in the 19th ward were not really thrilled for this change, but I have to admit, I was not one of them. Yeah, I'm going to miss seeing some of my friends every Sunday, but I think this is a genius idea and has potential to be something wonderful! I am now in the Wilford 2nd ward with two callings to fulfill . . . so far. : ) As expected I am the organist. I am also the secretary for the Relief Society presidency. I'm rather excited about it all. I feel like I know most of the people, which is great. I love the bishopric and the RS presidency. I think we're going to have a lot of fun!

On another day, my ipod broke. Yes, my mostly new 160 GB ipod broke. How lucky am I? I put it in my speaker set and it wouldn't play. Then, it wouldn't turn on. The next morning I went on the apple website for tech support and tried everything they said. I was able to turn my screen on again, but that was it. I put it up to my ear and heard clicking. That's never a good sign. Clicking and the red X of death is like technological suicide. Yes, that's right. I think my ipod committed suicide. Sadly there were no warning signs. I went into the apple store to have them take a look at it and they said it was broken as well. Although this time luck was on my side for once. I had purchased it back in October, so it wasn't even a year old. That means it was covered in my warranty. So, I left the store with a new ipod that has been working like a charm.

Also, Katrina and Aaron's house had mold in one of the walls, so they stayed with us for week until it was fixed. It was fun to have more people around the house to do stuff with. Although, for their sakes I'm glad the the mold is being taken care of.

I've been a bit creative lately, which has been a lot of fun. I've designed all sorts of things. For my sister, my cousin and my friend, Em I have designed blogs. You can click on their names to go to their blogs and see what I've created. It was fun to create something unique for each of them. Then my friend Jill commissioned me to do something for her son's wedding reception. She wanted to have a couple of romantic movie quotes scattered across the tables. Here's a sample of one of them. They have the name of the movie written on the back, just in case someone doesn't know.

Then, my other friend Emily and her husband celebrated their one year anniversary. Congratulations! She wanted to do something neat for her husband, so she sent me some sketches that her husband had made and asked me to make a poster of them. (He's very much into Spartans.) Here's what I came up with.

The past couple of weeks Mom and I have been watching my niece, Addie. Last Friday she was in a cute and smiley mood, so we snapped a few pictures. Isn't she adorable?

This last Saturday was my sister, Melissa's birthday. She wanted to have a birthday dinner up the canyon. So we went up to Smith and Morehouse lake for a BBQ. I tell you, there is nothing better than a hot dog roasted over a fire. Mmmm! We were up there for maybe an hour or two and then headed back to the city. There was road construction coming down Parley's Canyon that took us an hour to go four miles. But luckily my ipod was working and we just listened to the music. Here are pictures of the BBQ.