Wicked

I love this musical!I was so excited I didn't even pay attention to the time it started, I just wanted to BE there.. (so we arrived 90 min. early and that was after going to dinner) Needless to say we got the first parking spot...
I have been lucky enough to have seen this once before. I remembered parts of it, but this time it was just GREAT! I loved how this Guh-Linda took on her role and made "popular" SO funny. And then when Elphaba and Guh-Linda sang "Defy Gravity..." so.so.so AMAZING. I think the second act needs a few more songs to compete with those. I wish it wasn't so darn expensive and I would go again. I really enjoy live theater. Maybe I should go to NY and see a few more shows. (How to Succeed in Business...Jersey Boys...Beauty and the Beast... you get the idea)
I head to Utah this week! Hooray! I of course have most days already planned. (Friday a massage followed by a hair cut and then a trip to Park City...Saturday BYU Men's Volleyball...lots of eating at favorite places: Cafe Rio, Zuppas...) I am excited. It is always good to see family and friends.
Some of you know that I have officially applied to serve a mission. I was told last week (or has it been 2 weeks?) that I have to have the First Presidency decide if I can go (Because I have been married and now divorced). I feel a little nervous about that. Three men that I love and respect will see my name and situation and decide if I can go... it is a process that will take 2 months (a church of 14 million and little old me can wait that long.) Once they decide then... I have everything else filled out so I would think the process of knowing where I'm going and when should not take so long. If they decide no... then I have choices to make. We'll go with they say yes. Surely there are people in the world that have faced challenges like me and could benefit from my testimony. That is the way I look at it. But, we'll see.
Work continues to go well. So busy. I finally bought a foam roller. It is nice. It has really helped me stretch out my arms.

And So it Goes

I wanted to get rid of the Christmas picture of the temple, and then I had to change my background...and then I decided I couldn't do that without posting something!
I can start a countdown--I am going to UT March 1-6. I am excited about that. Becky had a baby, Caleb, and so the blessing will be on that Sun. Darlene's stake is having a Women's Conference with someone exciting (Sis Beck or Sis Dew she wasn't sure--I am good with either and look forward to the message.) And who knows what else will happen while I am up there! I hope the weather stays good for the drive as I will be driving. I will stop in Blanding on the way there.
Work continues to be busy. AZ is starting to get a little too warm for me. I have decided I REALLY like seasons. Good weather all the time gets boring!
I have been using the public library a lot lately. I like to go on-line and request books, that way I don't have to hunt for them. I just finished Peeps by Scott Westerfeld. It was good. Too much info. on parasites if you ask me, but that's ok. I am waiting on a few books suggested by my brother. (The Woman in Black and some other book I can't remember the name..school for paranormals or something.)
Other than that...I am working on something that I will announce when I get more details :-)

A New Year

Happy New Year! I did not make it to midnight, mostly because I value my sleep when I have had a cold and have church at 8:30. I did hear Kaitlyn shout "Happy New Year" and there were some fireworks that went off in the neighborhood. Then I promptly went back to sleep. I am so old! It did make me miss TX, because the neighborhood would have some pretty good fireworks. Just one reason to miss TX.
I am not the best at making New Years Resolutions--there are things I want to do better and be better at so that is my goal this year. To more prayerfully accomplish things that will make me more Christlike.
I did not go to the single adult activity. It was a dance and I really feel silly going to a dance by myself. So this week I will go to the Temple at the time other singles are going. Isn't that a better place to meet people anyway? Still can't really talk but that is ok.
Work has been going really well. I am quite busy and my days are getting more booked in advanced---which means that people like my massages! YEAH!!! Makes me feel good.
Not much going on in my life--just the daily grind of life. I guess I have getting my taxes done as something to look forward to. I wonder how much money I will get back. Let's hope a lot!!! I will take myself to Utah and go shopping in Park City. Sounds fun!
Happy 2012! (As a kid that sounded so sci-fi to me and here we are...still no flying cars.)

Family Time

Over Thanksgiving break my whole family was here! We had to take a picture! Back in Sept. there was a JC Penny groupon so I got it. I am glad we did this. Larry sadly was in the hospital over the break...so we missed him in the picture. Kaijsa is being difficult and wouldn't come see us. So, that is why two people are missing. And I have no idea how to get everyone to smile at the same time. For some reason the cd I got only has this one pic on it. No one ordered this pic....maybe I will scan the ones we got..but not tonight. I have had 2 long days at work which means I am tired and grumpy.

I have been working for 3 weeks now. It has been good. I have been busy. I used to only do 3 massages and then need a break. I am trying to do 4 hrs. and then a break. IT is pretty hard on me. The girls up front that book us don't pay attention to your limit so I am constantly reminding them to change it for me. I like the people I work with. I take a book with me and that keeps me happy for down time. This office is much more stat obsessive. I have 3 things I am supposed to be watching and I can't even remember what one of them is. O-well. I figure if I do a good job people will come to me and it won't be a big deal. I need to get myself a massage and a tub for my arms to do an ice bath. I can't neglect myself or I won't be working! I have Sun and Wed off...and then every other Sat. It is a good schedule.

I have most of my Christmas shopping done. A few things I still want to get. I love this time of year, but it seems to be going too fast. I should have started listening to Christmas music in Oct.

No big things coming up....just work. I'll take it.

Cake Boss

I have watched Cake Boss for a few years. I am just amazed at how Buddy can get cakes to be so amazing! When his book came out last year I had to read it, but I have not attempted any of the recipes. Rachel had to go to New York last week for work. She was able to give herself time to go to Hoboken New Jersey to see Carlos Bakery..so jealous. But she loved me enough to come back with these:The lovely packaging--

The goodies inside: Chocolate and regular canolis. The chocolate are better, but they are soooo tasty! A chocolate mousse cake (it was ok....not my favorite) a chocolate truffle (SO GOOD-- maybe even better than the canoli. I need to taste it again to decide) and lobster tails. The lobster tails were ok. I mostly wanted them because after reading the book I learned how HARD it is to make the dough. Good, but I liked the others better.

and then me enjoying every bite. (Who cares that I was sick and should have waited!)


Maybe I will need to find me a guy from this area of the world so Buddy can make me a cake...here's to dreaming!
Thanks sis--loved every bite!

Utah

I had a lovely time in Utah mid-Oct. So good to see family and friends. Mostly what I did was set up lunch or dinner dates with friends-- that way I was sure to get in my friend time and favorite Utah places (Zuppas, Cafe Rio, Brick Oven) and I was introduced to Yogurt Stop-- SO GOOD! You get to build your own yogurt concoction and man I do a good job! Maricopa has a Yogurt Jungle which is the same..

Life keep plugging away. I can finally say AZ weather is getting nice. The mornings are cool and the days are under 95 now! YEAH!!!

I am just waiting on a background check and THEN I will finally have my massage license. This has taken forever! But I am very happy with the classes I got to take. I feel like a better therapist now. I will work at Massage Envy...because... I am filling out mission papers! I hope to leave before March. It is crazy, but I am so excited.

Pics of Kauai

I guess SLIDE is no longer doing slide shows so this is how you get to see some more of my pics. I got them from Darlene. I am going to make a scrapbook so if you want to see the whole trip...come see me!