Grumpy paaants

It's Halloween. It was a good day but as of right now I'm grumpy. I have to wake up at 5am tomorrow to go to work for 6 hours ON A SATURDAY!!!! I'm unhappy about it. But hey, get excited guys because tomorrow is the beginning of my attempt at blogging everyday for 30 days straight. It will be interesting to see what I come up with or to see if I follow through at all. :)

Until tomorrow...

I have mixed feelings

About Pandora.  Has anyone used it?  It's pretty great, you get to choose a song or an artist that you like and then they choose songs they think you would like that are similar in sound.  I think it's a fabulous way to learn about different artists and learn new songs but man do I get annoyed when you listen to a station for a few hours and suddenly you are hearing the same thing over and over.  Now, if that bugs me I have to say that what bugs me even more is the fact that I was listening to a Les Mis station today (I'm craving Les Mis right now) and I was hearing all of these fabulous songs from Broadway shows then suddenly I start getting random crap like Five for Fighting.  Umm...don't mess with a good thing Pandora.  I gave the thumbs up.  You know what I'm looking for, so don't get all creative...stick to what you're good at.  

Little known facts about Beth

Little known fact #1: When I grow up I want to be Queen Latifah. I've seen her in several movies and always leave wishing I could be just like her! She seems to be so confident & she is so talented. I mean really, who wouldn't want to sing like her? She was in Hairspray which the whole world knows I love and sang a song called I Know Where I've Been. Here, check it out!



I'm most certainly not ashamed to admit that I listened to that song on repeat tonight as I drove home and sang at the top of my lungs. When I'm alone in my car I sound just like Queen Latifah, I'd sing it for you but it only works when I'm alone, you see. :) Speaking of Queen Latifah, I went to see The Secret Life of Bees tonight. I loved it. I laughed, I cried, I was quite impressed that it was so similar to the book. I highly recommend it. I will warn you, there is quite a bit of swearing in a few parts of the movie so if that bothers you don't see it. And if you do see it and it bothers you...well, I warned ya.

Little known fact #2- Every time I listen to A Little Fall of Rain from Les Miserables I am on the verge of tears. Every single time. Especially at the end when Marius says "I'm here" and Eponine says "That's all I need to know..." Holy cow, just typing it makes me weep. It is seriously heart wrenching to me and I'm not quite sure why. Strange, I know. Here it is if you want to listen/watch my favorite version.



Little known fact #3-I'm doing Weight Watchers and am having quite a bit of success with it. I'm not going to go into details becaaause...I don't want to. But I did want to share that little tidbit.

Little known fact#4-For about 5 months I was scared to death to drive at night. I'm never afraid of driving, whatever the weather whatever the time of day, but for some reason I went through a phase. I'm not scared anymore though. Even though I kind of should be there are deer EVERYWHERE.

Little known fact #5-I'm actually really afraid of deer. I don't understand it but I'm pretty sure it's something about their glowing eyes and ability to run (or roll?) in front of my car at any given moment. I remember driving into the canyon with Kiely one night and we kept seeing deer. I was in a panic about it to the point that I made myself ill.

That's enough for today...I'm trying to get into the practice of blogging more often in preparation for November...I have a whole week to prepare. Ha! Forgive me in advance for any random blogs you may come across in the next month.

Bambi...

This week on my way to work I had a most unfortunate experience involving a deer. Don't worry, Ruby (my car) and I have recovered. Neither of us were hurt, more just emotionally damaged. I was driving to work with my co-workers at o'dark thirty and we were discussing hunting. My co-workers husband had just gone hunting the night before and had killed a deer. He decided to save the head to mount...we won't go into how I feel about deer heads (or any dead animal for that matter) hanging on the wall as decor, I'll just say that when she told me that I said "In _____ (enter my hometown here) we aren't too in to mounting deer heads." Seconds later what did I do? I drove over top of a dead deer. That's right, coulda had my very own mounted deer head if I really wanted one. You see wha had happened was (thank you Fresh Prince for that phrase...) the truck in front of me drove over the deer. Now I'm not sure if the truck wanted to see how big and manly it could be and so they drove over top of it or if they just thought it was a speedbump on Geneva Rd where the speed limit is 50mph or if it was just an accident but I do know that the deer rolled (yes, rolled...I think) out from under the truck and I had nowhere to go. I didn't swerve because I didn't want to go into oncoming traffic and so I just drove over top of it. Right on over. It was disgusting. We all gasped. Recovered. Then laughed hysterically. How ironic for that to happen during the conversation we were having. Isn't it ironic? Dontcha think?

So I haven't blogged in awhile, to catch you up I'll give you a photo summary with a blurb here and there to give you the latest and the greatest in the life of Beth. I'm considering trying to participate in Nablopomo http://nablopomo.ning.com/ during the month of November which basically just means you blog everyday but I can't make any promises. I will be working a thousand hours a week for much of the month. On to the photo summary of my life.

I played with this little guy when he and his mommy came to visit me at work.
Then he showed me how to sit in a frying pan when I made dinner for his mommy & I one night.

I went to "Narnia" That's another name that I have for the apartment complex I used to live in. (Now anyway, it used to be ugly now it looks like Narnia so I took Laur to see it)

I took this picture of the bushes by my old apartment. They were so tiny when I lived there and now they are HUGE!
I made some weight watchers friendly pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that are crazy delicious.
I've done much much more then that but haven't taken many pictures. I went to Idaho with my old roommate Allison and to a haunted village with her this weekend. Chris humored me and went to see HSM 3 (That's High School Musical 3 for you non-believers) with me last night which was fabulously fantastic. Oh man...oh man. I love HSM. I started taking piano lessons from my friend Crackers which I am incredibly excited about. Speaking of which...I need to go practice the 5 notes and 1 cord that I know. But first, the recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

1 15 oz can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling just plain canned pumpkin)
1 box spice cake mix
1 cup chocolate chips (I use mini-chips so it feels like there are more.)

Mix together then bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes!

What a weekend!!

Photo by rsathya http://rsathya.wordpress.com/category/Photoblog/

I feel like I went on vacation this weekend! I sure didn't but I feel like I did and I can handle the illusion of vacation for sure. General Conference (www.lds.org check it out) was this weekend and it was amazing! Probably my best conference weekend ever. I was more prepared, I went with questions in mind and an open heart...all the things we are encouraged to do and all the things I slack on because I often forget conference is coming. (Like last weekend when my mom said "And conference is next weekend..." and I said no it's not! Like that.)

Anyway, it was an incredible weekend. I was able to go up to Salt Lake for all of the sessions and actually go to the Conference Center for one of them. I love watching Conference in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and that love continues to grow. Allison joined me for all of conference (she was also my ticket into the conference center for the Saturday Afternoon session :) and I enjoyed spending time with her so much. We are both in a similar place in our lives and we were really able to talk and help each other. So many talks really touched me and I was so excited to talk about them with Al afterwards.

Chris Al & I watched the afternoon session together and I was really grateful to spend time with my wonderful friends.

Conference lifted my spirits, strengthened my testimony, answered or led me to answers to prayers, renewed me and helped me to see the things that I can improve about myself. I received a powerful witness that Thomas S Monson is the Prophet this church. I was, as was promised in one of the talks, reminded of things that I forgot I knew, as I pondered the words that were spoken. I felt Heavenly Father's great love for me and I was reminded again and again that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Brother. Through the Atonement I am able to repent, overcome feelings of loneliness, be healed and feel true joy. I was so happy this weekend that everything just made me laugh! Although I know difficult times will come I know I can feel an underlying peace in all aspects of my life if I live a worthy life. I felt as though my heart was soaring all weekend and I just can't give up on that joy. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church and I know this truly is Christ's church. I know we can all find greater peace, greater joy and find the things that seem to be lacking in our lives through the gospel. I want the people I love to feel this too. I know it's true! I know I am of great worth and I know that I am a Daughter of God. What more can a person ask for?

Now, to close my rant I would like to refer back to my previous post about change. My sweet Mom shared an article with me that she felt I should read. She said that she thought of me as she read it and so she directed me to it. Although she was hesitant at first to tell me the name of the article (Preparing Yourself for Marriage) I'm glad she told me about it. Allison and I came home last night and read it out loud together and both felt like we received answers that we were looking for. I'm going to share the section that I think my mom felt would help with my questions from the last blog and I'll also put a link to the whole article because it was wonderful. Here it is!

"

In looking forward to marriage, do not assume a wait-and-see posture. This is not just a period for marking time or treading water. Seek to become a happy, productive person in your own right. If you have been unsuccessful in love or hurt or betrayed or ignored, break away from complaining and self-pity. Fill your life with all the things that will improve the head, the heart, and the hand.

Read out of the best books, beginning with the scriptures. Get to know the great and noble human spirits in history and literature. Reading will open the world to you and make your mind a repository of things you can draw from later. Enjoy the beauties of the earth, of nature, and of the arts. Engage proactively in Church and community service and in social activities. Exercise to improve physical and mental health. Fill your life with journal writing, acquiring new job skills, creating through hobbies, composing music or poetry, missionary work, and family history. I promise you that every gift you develop now will be a valuable asset when you have a family."

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=4a69db98e2b9c110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Craving change...

Every now and then I go through a phase where I crave change. I'm in one of those phases and I just can't figure out what to do to change things up. I dyed my hair. I love it, it's different but it wasn't enough. About once a year I start to get anxious and want to move away from this sometimes stifling city. I want to move back to the east where things are fast paced, where I can see green without looking far, where I feel at home. Even when I'm just on that coast, not just Baltimore. When I went to Boston I was driving to pick Rin up from the airport and I felt at peace. I felt like I was at home. Maybe it's because I was driving on 95, maybe it's because the freeway was lined with beautiful green trees, maybe it was because I was much closer to my family then I usually am, quite possibly it was because I was going to pick up one of my best friends and I knew everything would feel just right once we started our crazy awesome vacation. But maybe it's because I belong on the east coast? I don't doubt it. I love the east and I WILL go back someday. I just don't know when. I go through this phase, I desperately want to leave and then I feel strongly that I should stay. Besides, if I left I would be way too far from my sister and my nephew and lately the only time I feel completely carefree is when I'm with them so really that would be silly.

Maybe the desire for change comes from seeing the lives of all of my friends changing and I want some for myself. I need to figure out ways to change things up in my life. I don't want to get bored. I don't want to spend all of my time dwelling on the fact that I'm alone or wishing I was somewhere else. I can't just sit around, my life is happening and I want to make the most of every moment. So how do I do that? What can I do that will give me a little change in my life and also help fill my life with something more interesting then oh, say, writing a blog. What do you do to change things up? Do you dye your hair like I do? Take a class? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Numerology eh?

After church today my roommate was a bit bored so she was finding out what our names mean according to Numerology. It was quite interesting when we saw the results. Each of our "numbers" fit us almost exactly. I thought I'd put mine on here because it was kind of fun. Here is the link. Just type in your first middle & last name and read away.

http://www.paulsadowski.com/Numbers.asp

Your number is: 6

The characteristics of #6 are: Responsibility, protection, nurturing, community, balance, sympathy.

The expression or destiny for #6:
The number 6 Expression provides you a truly outstanding sense of responsibility, love, and balance. The 6 is helpful and ever conscientious, making you quite capable of rectifying and balancing any sort of inharmonious situation. You are a person very much inclined to give help and comfort to those in need. You have a natural penchant for working with the old, the young, the sick, or the underprivileged. Although you may have considerable creative and artistic talents, the chances are that you will devote yourself to an occupation that shows concern for the betterment of the community.

The positive side of the number 6 suggests that you are very loving, friendly, and appreciative of others. You have a depth of understanding that produces much sympathetic, kindness, and generosity. The qualities of the 6 make the finest and most concerned parent and one often deeply involved in domestic activities. Openness and honesty is apparent in your approach to all relationships.

If there is an excess of the number 6 in your makeup, you may exhibit some of the negative traits associated with this number. There may be a tendency for you to be too exacting and demanding of yourself. In this regard, you may at times sacrifice yourself (or your loved ones) for the welfare of others. In some cases, the over zealous 6 has difficulty distinguishing helping from interfering. You may have difficulty expressing your own individuality, because of involvement with responsibilities and causes. Like all with the Expression of the number 6, it's quite likely that you worry much too much.

Your Soul Urge number is: 2

A Soul Urge number of 2 means:
With the Soul Urge number 2, your motivation is centered on friendships, partnerships, and companionship. You want to work with others as a part of a cooperative team. Leadership is not important to you, but making a contribution to the team effort is. You are willing to work hard to achieve a harmonious environment with sensitive, genial people.

In a positive sense, the 2 Soul Urge is sympathetic, extremely concerned and devoted. The nature tends to be very sensitive to others, always tactful and diplomatic. This element in your nature indicates that you are rather emotional. You are persuasive, but in a very quiet way, never forceful. You are the type that makes really close friendships because you are so affectionate and loving.

If this number is over-emphasized in your makeup, you may be over-sensitive, with a delicate ego that is too easily hurt. You may be timid or fearful, too easygoing for your own good.

Your Inner Dream number is: 4

An Inner Dream number of 4 means:
You dream of being a very solid citizen that people can depend upon. You strive for organization and predictable order. You want to be recognized as a person with a plan and the discipline to make that plan work like clockwork.