Alone Time

This week and last I have been in Ogden for a mortgage training. Since I didn't want to spend three hours in the car everyday, driving between Ogden and Orem, I'm staying with Colby's parents in Kaysville. I've missed Colby (and he is bored to death in Orem), but it's been fun to visit with Marty and Ilona. Admittedly, I find myself enjoying a little "alone time," as well. Ilona serves in the Bountiful temple every Tuesday night, so Marty usually works late. That leaves me with the house all to myself this evening. The minute I got home from work, I was at the piano, singing Eva Cassidy at the top of my lungs -- a luxury I rarely get to enjoy since I don't have a piano at home, and my neighbors would hate me if I did. I also fumbled through George Gershwin's three "Preludes for Piano." Man, oh, man -- it's been a long time since I've played those, and I hadn't realized how much my piano skills have deteriorated! I guess I will have to find a way to practice a little more. Next, I am going to finish "Eclipse" for the second time (dare I start the series again?), and I'll probably do some sewing, too. I'd better be careful -- I think I am enjoying this too much!

On a side note, I decided last week that I had shin splints, which put a bit of a damper on my 5K training...after a couple of days of rest, ice, and ibuprofen, my legs feel a lot better, but I'm worried that they will return. Does anyone have suggestions for me?

Couldn't Help Myself

Dearest friends, I realize you already think I'm a little crazy, but I just had to do it: I've compiled my favorite "Twilight" cast pics and made them into a slide show for everyone's (or at least my own) viewing pleasure. I tried to keep the pictures relevant to the "Twilight" movie, rather than random photos of the actors themselves; however, most of the pictures I found were of Edward (Robert Pattinson), with only a few including Bella or other cast members...but who's complaining, really?

The Loan Side...

...is not the same as "the Dark Side," though sometimes I am just as scared of it. I recently became a loan interviewer for America First Credit Union; though I am really excited, it is definitely out of my comfort zone. I've been a teller for almost two years, and though I may still sometimes get to do that, I think I will miss it. Friday was my first day off the teller line -- I spent the whole day in the loan office! It was a slow day, but both of the members I helped seemed confident that I knew what I was talking about. :)

After we closed for the night, I put Vanessa to work with my cell phone and her exceptional photography skills to help me commemorate this exciting day...

"You'd like to apply for a loan? I can help you!"


"Would you prefer the fixed or variable rate?"


"I'll need to see verification of income..."


Don't I look official? I'll be even more official after I finish my two-week mortgage training, which starts tomorrow (*gulp*). If my brain doesn't explode, I'll be a lot more knowledgeable -- look at me go!

Bad Weather Blues

Last week I started running again. I am training to run a 5K -- not a specific one, necessarily, but I am following this awesome training program called the "Couch to 5K Program." It takes 9 weeks, and you can basically go from not running at all, to running about 3 miles a day. I've been really excited to start training, but it's really challenging and so I've struggled to stay motivated. So, seeing as I was all geared up to get out and run this morning, I was naturally frustrated when Colby didn't want me to go. Not a huge, deal, though -- he had to leave for a doctor’s appointment. As soon as he was gone, I put on my shoes and headed out the door, only to find that it was hailing. DANG it! The hail continued for probably 30 minutes then turned into rain. I’m still hoping it’ll let up soon so I can slip Colby some Benadryl and sneak out to run while he is fast asleep. In the meantime, I’m feeling a little bit bored. My apartment is basically spotless because I scrubbed it down last week. Our water might get turned off temporarily due to construction on our street, so I can’t shower, do laundry, or load the dishwasher. My mother-in-law called me, but only to get a phone number. So, I guess you could say I’ve got the “Bad Weather blues.” I would sing them, but I don’t have a piano…

To occupy myself, I’ve decided to work on some quilt blocks. My Relief Society has these focus groups, and Sister Goodman has been begging me to come to her quilting group ever since she learned I made my mom a quilt for Christmas. I was finally able to go last week, and am excited to participate. But, since they do a new block each month, I’m already several blocks behind. And of course, being me, I decided that 12 blocks won’t make a big enough quilt to be useful. Since I don’t have enough projects already, why don’t I make two of each and turn it into a queen-size quilt for my bedroom? I am actually really excited to do this. I found some fabrics that I really love, and I’ll be stretching the project out over the year. Of course, I still wonder why I do this to myself. Still, the quilt blocks they’ve chosen for the focus group are WAY easier than the Double Wedding Ring I made Mom, so it shouldn’t be too hard. I finished four blocks this morning already, so I just have four more to get caught up. Here are the ones I’ve done. The two on the left are called "Album," and the two on the right are called, "Balkan Puzzle."



My favorite "Album" block....


...and my favorite "Balkan Puzzle."


I am a little scared to get too "into" the whole quilting thing -- I already have too many irons in the proverbial fire. However, I think I will have fun with this. I'll finally have exactly what I want to finish my bedroom (I've been on a real decorating kick lately), and I'll get to know some of the other ladies in my ward. Hopefully it'll keep me from going crazy while I'm stuck inside on rainy days like today, too...

D.I. Deals

I ordinarily don't post twice in one day...or one month, for that matter. In fact, I was explaining to Vanessa earlier today that I seem to get too busy for my blog and let things pass without writing about them. But, I decided that since I'd written a novel today about my mad obsession with Twilight, I should post some pictures of what I did actually accomplish this past week to compensate.

Last Thursday I had the day off, so while I was out running errands I stopped by the D.I. in Provo. I go there occasionally to look for night stands, kitchen chairs, etc. -- things that I might be able to paint or re-finish to make my apartment a little cuter. In the past month I have happened to get lucky twice in the "picture frames" aisle; Thursday in particular, I was really excited to find a small picture frame that matched a larger one I already had displayed in my living room. For a long time I had been wanting to rearrange this particular wall grouping, and having hit the D.I. "jackpot" I did just that. Here is my old grouping.....




And a couple pictures of my new one...





Ahh...doesn't that feel better? I may have done nothing else all week, but I still feel like I've got a brand new living room!

A Girl, A Vampire, and A Zombie

Those of you who know me well and have spoken with me in the last week and a half know EXACTLY who the zombie is....last week, I started reading the Twilight series, thinking it would be a fun diversion in between work and homemaking. WRONG!! (well, I mean, it was fun, but it kind of took over everything....) It had been SO long since I've read for pleasure, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I started Twilight on Monday night, and was instantly sucked in. I don't think I went to bed earlier than midnight any night last week -- most nights I was up until 1:30 or 2:00. Colby noticed my erratic behavior and became concerned, but I think he could tell he was better off not getting involved. By Wednesday night, I'd finished book one; I promptly flipped back to the beginning and started over. On Thursday I remembered my Barnes and Noble gift card Aunt Susan gave me for Christmas, and I rushed over to buy New Moon and Eclipse. Of course, I was once again so enveloped in Twilight that I had to finish it before moving on. I began New Moon on Friday. Although it's much different (and not quite as romantic) as the first, this book managed to keep me occupied (and frustrated,and crying) all night long...literally. I finally went to sleep around 4:30 a.m., but that didn’t stop me from starting Eclipse on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday night, just before midnight, I’d finished all three books. I finally emerged from my alternate universe and realized that, for an entire week, I had truly become one of the “undead.” My apartment was a disaster – I hadn’t bothered to cook, clean, or do laundry for days. My poor husband was feeling lonely and neglected, and was very worried about my sleep deprivation (even though I didn’t feel its effects until Monday night).

Things are mostly back to normal now. I spent the first part of this week playing “catch-up” on all of the things I neglected last week. I even managed to decorate a little, and finally finished organizing the office. I still don’t feel quite “settled,” though – even though I know there is a fourth Twilight book coming soon, and most of the existing conflicts have been resolved, I found myself beginning the series again last night. Hopefully I’ll be able to pace myself a little better this time. :)

Before starting Twilight again, I visited Stephenie Meyer’s website. My sister had told me about a project of Stephenie’s related to the Twilight series. On her site is a rough-draft manuscript of Midnight Sun, Chapter 1, “First Sight.” It details Bella’s first day in Forks, but this time from Edward’s perspective. It is FASCINATING! (Click here to read it.) After I had read this and began Twilight again, I felt like I understood Edward perfectly – the strange, frustrated looks, the hate in his eyes during Mr. Banner’s biology class, etc. I only wish there was more; as I moved on to Chapters 2 and 3 I suddenly felt blind because I could no longer hear what was in Edward’s mind. Even still, I am giddy with anticipation of what I already know will come again in these first three books, and even more excited for the fourth book to come out in August. I will be the first in line at Wal-Mart!! I kind of feel like I am in junior high again…

Now, moving on to something EXTREMELY important – Twilight the movie. It is currently filming in Portland, I think, and will be released on December 12. Yikes!! I am so excited (again with the silly junior high-ness)!! I hope they keep it fairly true to the story, and don’t change anything too much – I hate it when that happens! In my eager anticipation of the film I’ve spent some time on-line googling cast pics, video clips, anything I could find. At first, swayed slightly by some of my friends’ opinions, I was disappointed in some of the casting decisions (namely, Edward). However, I’ve now changed my mind. So, Sarah, I am going to go out on a limb and say that I think Robert Pattinson will make a very good Edward.

Consider display #1:

















And if that doesn’t do it for you, here’s #2:
















Now, truly – that screams “hunky vampire!”

Finally, the Twilight movie trailer. Check it out here. And thanks for not thinking I’m crazy – I must’ve just been bitten or something….