Gratitude Day 60

I'm grateful for Ikea. Man I love that place! I anticipate several more trips in coming weeks as I figure out what I need for my new single life.

But next time, I'm bringing some company. I can today to get my dresser and I came alone. Wandering Ikea is significantly less fun by myself.


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Gratitude Day 59

I'm grateful I'm not much of a pack rat. I mean, I hang on to a few things, but eventually I can throw them out. And I definitely would never be on an episode of Hoarders, so that's good. It's making the sorting/cleaning/packing portion of the move pretty easy.


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Gratitude Day 58

I'm grateful for all the skills my mother and grandmothers have taught me. Cooking, baking(you all know it's different from cooking), quilting, sewing, cleaning and so much more...all these are things I have been taught by those amazing women.

I'm so grateful I have those skills.


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Gratitude Day 57

I'm grateful for after Christmas sales! Yesterday I bought a pair of dress pants for $8.54 from New York & Company. So happy! Now I have pants to wear for my long-term subbing job!


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Gratitude Day 56

I'm grateful for Legos. That may sound weird. But it's true.

I grew up with Legos everywhere. My brothers love them. Even now they are playing with their Legos. They all got new sets for Christmas. Add that to the 37 millions they had before and they're pretty much in imagination Heaven.

It makes me smile.


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Gratitude Day 55

I'm so very grateful for the birth of the Savior.  Yesterday's gratitude was about Savior of the World.  In the scene where the shepherds find the Baby Jesus, Angels descend and stand on the stage surrounding the manger and Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus.  I was so fortunate to be one of these angels.  I'm telling you it touched me so deeply every time I did it. 

I know many of us were there that holy night.  And to portray that several times a week is one of my most treasured experiences. 

I'm so grateful for my Savior. I'm grateful for the sacrifice He made that I might return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven.  I feel so blessed to be a member of this church and to have the knowledge of the gospel in my life.

Gratitude Day 54

Last year I had the amazing opportunity to be part of Savior of the World at the Conference Center.  I feel so blessed to have been apart of this production.  It was a great experience for myself and my brother, Brian.  Being in Savior of the World was unlike being in any other show.  The environment was so uplifting.  You didn't have the usual backstage drama.  Everyone was looking out for each other.  You didn't have competing casts.  You didn't even care about that kind of stuff. 

And it was such a great way to get into the spirit of the season.  I kind of struggled feeling "Christmasy" this year.  Maybe it was the lack of snow.  Maybe it was all the craziness in my life.  Maybe it's that Christmas totally snuck up on me.  Maybe it was something completely different.  I don't know.  But it was a lot of work to be festive this year.

Last year was such an uplifting and amazing experience.  I know that it helped get me through several rough months.  It gave me strength to go through another day.  It gave me something to look forward to.  It gave me amazing people to influence me for good.  It gave me a stronger testimony of the Savior. 

I'm so grateful for my experience with Savior of the World.  Hopefully someday I'll get to do it again.

Gratitude Day 53

I'm grateful for Holiday Baking.  It hasn't made me as fat this year as I would have liked(go ahead and start with the comments on how you all hate me), but man is it tasty!  We've got lots of treats at the house right now.  And there are plans for making more today. 

I'm grateful for Holiday Baking and treats.  But I'll be happy when the temptation is gone and I can go back to eating healthy things.

Gratitude Day 52

I have some pretty awesome genetics. I know that sounds odd. But it's pretty true. Allow me to elaborate.

I've never had a cavity. No. It's true! I do not know what it feels like to have my teeth drilled. I know what it feels like to be numbed because I had my 2 front teeth pulled when I was about 5. But aside from that, I've never had a traumatizing experience at the dentist. I go, I'm cleaned, x-rayed and counted and I go home. My dentist used to tell me to rinse with coke. He thought it was funny, so I laughed. So yeah, I'm 29 and cavity free. Never had braces either. I know this is genetics because my siblings are the same way.

I still get to enjoy the company of both sets of grandparents! First, how lucky am I?! I mean, I know I'm one of the older grandchildren on both sides, but I still think it's pretty impressive. And both sets are still kicking(mostly). I mean, they've had to slow down a bit and none of them really want to admit they are aging, but for the most part, they've lived very healthy, very active lives! And you know, I have great grandparents that lived into their 90's? Yup I'm pretty much going to live forever.

Something else that I think goes along with that....I have a super immune system. I don't spend much time being sick. An annual sinus infection, which can usually be blamed on allergies, is about all I suffer from. Don't misunderstand. I catch colds and other bugs too. But not near so often as others. I know there's a lot of gross things going around right now. I've been healthy and happy(I actually remember reading some article one that happy people tend to get sick less. I think that's true.), even though a lot of people I know have been ill(knock on wood, of course).

There are a lot of other great things I got through genetics, but I don't want to bore you further. Just know....I'm grateful!




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Gratitude Day 51

I'm grateful it's FINALLY snowing! Now keep it coming! I need to get some skiing in this year! Also, I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!


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Don't I Know It...

"Faith makes things possible...not easy."

I saw this quote on a plaque at Deseret Book yesterday. It pretty much reached out and grabbed me.


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Gratitude Day 50

Today I'm grateful for patience. I haven't always been a particularly patient person. Even now, sometimes I struggle. But not usually when it really counts.

I've learned the value of patience the hard way. I've had to exercise it a lot. And while that can be frustrating, there are times when I am very grateful for it. I know when I need to take a deep breath, step back and take a chill pill.

And now, I don't mind waiting to see what happens in my life. I'm excited and nervous to start anew, but I know that I can't rush it.

Good things come to those who wait...and wait...and wait some more.... Man I've been waiting a loooong time! I think my "good thing" is going to be AWESOME!


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Gratitude Day 49

I'm grateful for my brain. Oh ok. That sounded even weirder out loud than it did in my head. Excellent. Let me explain.

As I'm sure you "regular" readers (I flatter myself to think I have them, I'm sure) have discovered, my brain works incredibly fast. This is great when I'm writing. Less great when I want to speak. It's the reason I don't comment often in church. I have a stroke of brilliance and then it's gone and I sit and try to reformulate...by then I've had 6 more thoughts and we've moved on to a different topic. It's the reason I'm not great with idle chit chat. My brain gets ahead of me.

But, my brain does really great things too. It's very methodical. It's efficient though. So what it would take some people a loooong time to think through, I can do in a relatively short period. And I do so thoroughly.

I didn't take the decision to start my life over easily. It's one that took months and months. Honestly, it took longer than it should have mostly because I was so worried about what kind of person it would make me. I was worried about what other people would think. I was worried about hurting him. The funny thing is, when I thought about a new life, I knew I would be ok. I have great family and friends. I have a lot of things that keep me busy. I'm smart. I'm not too hard on the eyes. I'm mostly a nice person(just don't be stupid and I won't have to punch you in the face or run you over with my car). I wasn't worried about finding my place and moving on with life. I was(and still am) worried for him. And the more I thought about it, the more I worried. Eventually I got to a breaking point that forced my hand. But since I had a brain that works in over time, when I realized it was time to act, I could because I'd already thought things though. I already had a plan(yes I'm one of those crazy people who always has a plan...I've just learned to be much more flexible because things rarely go according to my plans).

My brain is pretty sure this post makes zero sense. I should probably stop before you all decide to send me to the loony bin.

So I'm grateful for the way my brain works. I'm grateful it's speedy and flexible(mostly). I just wish that what came out of my mouth sometimes was as brilliant as what my brain thinks.


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No Looking Back

I've been thinking a lot over the last few months about regrets.  I hear a lot of people say things like, "I don't want to have any regrets" or "I have no regrets".  And as I think about the experiences in my life, I wondered if I have regrets.  I desperately wanted to say that I didn't regret anything.  But that's just not true.  I have regrets.  I think everyone does and people who say they don't are kidding themselves.

That being said, I can't dwell on my regrets.  There's a lot of things that, with the help of hind-sight, if I could go back in time, I would change.  But I can't go back.  And honestly, would I really change them?  I'm not sure that I actually would.  Most of these things have been instrumental in building me into my charming self.  And quite frankly, several of the things I regret were out of my control to begin with.  I'm not certain I could change them if I wanted to.  I guess I could change the circumstances that put me in those situations in the first place(is your head spinning yet?). 

Anyway, as I've been thinking about regrets and how I wish I didn't have regrets, but how they're really unavoidable.  I think about how, despite the struggles I've had, I've managed to pick myself up, dust things off, and rebuild my life and continue on.  How do I keep doing that?  And what often boggles my mind is that I manage to do it and seem happy...well, actually BE happy doing it. 

I might be a freak.  But I don't like to wallow.  Very rarely am I one of those girls who curls up with a gallon of ice cream, a Chick Flick, a box of tissues and spends the better part of a weekend in this state(complete the picture with sweats and skip hygiene).  I don't broadcast my woes.  I don't talk to the general public or even some of my friends and acquaintances about all my problems.  Rarely will you see me cry, especially in public.  I often joke that I'm dead inside. 

What if that's kind of true?  My ability to move ahead so easily from the divorce sometimes worries me a little.  Maybe there's an issue I'm not dealing with.  Maybe I'm ignoring the pain.  Maybe I really am cold, unfeeling and dead inside.  Honestly, sometimes I wonder.

Part of the problem, is that I'm a bottler.  I take my problems and I put them in a jar.  I keep adding to that jar.  Eventually, it gets too full and explodes in what is usually a mental and emotional breakdown of epic proportions. 

Another issue is that it takes me a little while to mull things over and think them through.  I have my own little process.  I have to let things bounce around in my head a bit.  I have to look at them from all different views.  I have to do my research.  I have to come to a couple possible conclusions/solutions.  Then I go to one of my close friends and talk it over.  But I'm really quite pragmatic about the whole thing.  Usually I don't get overly emotional(there it is again...I'm dead inside). 

And then I just move on. 

I can't afford to think of it as a regret.

I can't afford to think of it much at all.

I just don't look back.

I figure out what I needed to learn from the experience.  And then I look ahead to the next adventure.  I remember the life lesson.  I don't need to relive the pain everyday to remember what I learned.  I don't need to dwell on the misery of my life.  I don't need to talk about it in Relief Society.  I don't need to broadcast it daily on facebook(on occassion, I have a moment of weakness and I'm a little whiney). 

The whole "No Looking Back" thing typically works.  Although, to be honest, there are several things in my past that haunt me fairly regularly.  They take up a lot of space in my jar and I wish I could just move past them.  These are things that have left quite the scar on my psyche.  They keep me from fully jumping into certain situations.  They make me doubt my abilities.  They make me doubt that I can be the person I want to be.  They make me doubt my worth.  They nibble at my confidence and erode foundations I've tried to build. 

And then I put up walls.  I make myself unapproachable.  (don't lie and tell me it's not true, people have told me I'm unapproachable)  I take that deadness inside me and let the world think that's who I really am; someone incapable of sympathy and compassion. 

It's a process I guess.  And recognizing the problem is the first step to fixing it, right? 

Not looking back is how I'm getting through this tough time in my life.  I can't think "What ifs" or "Could have beens".  I just have to move on.  It happened.  It was crappy, but it happened.  I didn't have control over the situation, it just happened. 

So I put it in a jar and bottle it up.  I ignore the pain.  I ignore the betrayal.  I ignore the nibbles and pretend I can't feel it dragging me down. 

I take another step forward.  I have to keep trudging along.  Everyday, another tiny step forward; another step away from the hurt.  It's a choice I make to try to get past the agony.  It's the choice I have to make if I think I want happiness.  It's my choice. 

And I just do it.  No looking back.

Gratitude Day 48

I'm grateful for my blog.  It's kind of like my journal.  I'm so much better at sorting things trough when I write things down.  I appreciate all of you humoring me and reading the rants of a crazy person(that would be me). 

And not to worry.  A few more weeks of Gratitude (it really does help me be positive during this change in my life), and then I can guarantee things are going to get a lot more exciting on this blog.  That's all I can say.  I guess you're just going to have to stick around to find out. 

On that note, I've decided that I'm going to take the blog private.  So... a lot of you know the routine.  If you want to be able to read my ramblings, I'll need you to send me a message or email or something and tell  me your email address and I'll send you an invite.  You have until January 1st.  And then it's going private.  If you make a comment here with your email address, I won't post it, I'll just make note of the email.

Gratitude Day 47

I'm grateful for my new living situation!

I found out I should be moving in sometime at the end of December/beginning of January.  Hopefully, I can get in at the end of December.  I have to start my long-term subbing job January 3rd.  It would be nice if my life weren't a complete disaster at that point.

I'm excited to get to know my 2 new roommates.  I'm excited to try the roommate thing.  I'm excited to go to a Singles Ward (never got to do that the 1st time around).  I'm excited for all the new adventures that await me!

Gratitude Day 46

I'm grateful for free time. 

I'm finding I have more than I thought.  I didn't make The Importance of Being Earnest.  This is my way of spinning it so that I don't become extra bitter. 

Now that I'm not going to bogged down with rehearsals and performances(or preparing for auditions because I'm emotionally worn out), I'll have time to do all the things I've been putting off. Such as...

Write the next Great American Novel
Cure Cancer
Run for Political Office
Learn to Ride a Unicycle
Hitchhike Across the Country
Solve World Hunger
Learn to Golf
Date (Okay, I actually plan on doing this one)
Work on My Fusion Reactor
Become a Racecar Driver
Practice my Lightsaber Technique
Watch Trashy Reality TV
Earn my Millions Creating Useless iPhone Apps
Travel Abroad (I really want to do this one too)
Join the Circus
Practice the Art of Seduction

And that's just the tip of the ice berg.  The World is my oyster!  I can do anything!  I've been given the gift of time!  If you have any other ideas I should add to my list, let me know!

Gratitude day 45

I'm grateful for Christmas music! I love it! I haven't really played it as much this year as in the past. But I do love it! These are some of my favorites...

Sleigh Ride- I love playing this on the piano. The duet is awesome...if only I had some to play it with me.
All I Want For Christmas is You- you know, the Mariah Carey one. Takes me back. I have several interesting memories about this one.
Cold December Night- have heard this new one from Michael Buble? No?! You need to remedy that right now!
The Christmas Waltz- a classic and a long time favorite of mine.
Baby it's Cold Outside- brilliant! Now I just need me a man to sing it with.
White Christmas- I need a white Christmas people!

Just a few of my favorites... What are yours?


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The Frogs Like the Tissue Paper

Random, right?  Prepare yourself for a whole post like that...

RANDOM: Sometimes I look at my life right now and think, "WHAT?  How did this happen?  It's so...AWESOME!"  I mean, yes, getting a divorce is less than awesome.  But I didn't realize how truly unhappy and even miserable I was until now.  I must be a fairly good actress since most people didn't really know anything was wrong(yes, I'll be happy to accept an oscar...well, a nomination at least).  I know I don't talk about the divorce much.  And I don't want to smear his name through the mud or anything unseemly like that.  But I've been unhappy for at least a year and a half.  I can't count the number of times I've cried in the last 2 years(but at least once a day is a safe estimate).  I suppose something like that should have tipped me off to the state of my happiness, or rather, unhappiness. 

RANDOM: I was talking to one of my younger theater friends a few months ago, during Sleepy Hollow rehearsals, and she was talking about the guy she was dating. She said something about how she would be happy to give up doing shows for him. You have to know her to understand what an amazing statement this was. She's a theater major.  I know she loves shows.  And she said to me that she never thought she'd find a something she'd rather have than theater(I'm paraphrasing, of course).  And I thought to myself, "That is exactly what I want."  The only reason I started doing theater again is because of the no kids thing.  I needed something to distract me from the life I couldn't have.  Don't get me wrong, I really like doing shows.  But I'd give it up in a second for the chance at that other life.   

RANDOM:  And you know what, I can count how many times I've cried since I left.  I cried that night.  I cried the night I went to the house to split the stuff up.  And I cried one other night about 2 1/2 weeks ago, but that was just because I was feeling so overwhelmed with all the things that seemed so out of my control.  Oh, and I cried on Sunday during sacrament meeting. That was entirely my mom's fault.  It was testimony meeting...need I say more?  (And I kind of teared up writing that paragraph about my adorable friend loving her man more than theater...I'm not counting it)

RANDOM:  Sometimes, when I can't go to sleep at night, I imagine I'm somewhere else.  Anywhere else.  I've been to Hogwarts, a Galaxy Far, Far Away, Narnia, Neverland, Middle Earth, Elizabethan England, Olympus, Disneyland(yes, I visit even more often than you thought) and many, many other places.  Sometimes, I just need to escape.  But you know what, I haven't had to do that for a few weeks now.  I think it's because I've got a pretty good happy place here in reality(you know it's good when Disneyland can't even compete)!

RANDOM:  Crocheting clears my mind.  It also makes my wrists hurt.  I haven't crocheted for a while.

RANDOM:  I don't sing in the shower.  Well, I rarely sing in the shower.  I sing just about everywhere else.  But not in the shower.  My brothers all sing in the shower.  I know because my bedroom shares a wall with said shower and I often get serenaded in the morning(the very early morning).  I will sing before I get in the shower, but rarely will I actually sing while I'm IN the shower.

RANDOM:  Sometimes I listen to Taylor Swift music.  It's one of my guilty pleasures.

RANDOM:  I really don't eat a lot of junk food.  I have bags of candy I got for my birthday that remain unopened.  I go through phases of having a bit of a sweet tooth.  But they rarely last longer than 2 weeks. 

RANDOM:  I really like cooking.  It's another one of those things that soothes me.  I do NOT like choosing what to cook!  Especially when I'm cooking for other people.  But I do like cooking for other people.  I also don't love the aftermath of cooking...which is why I try to clean as I go. 

RANDOM:  If I could go anywhere in the world it would be Paris.  I studied French in Jr High and College.  I even brushed up on it 3 years ago when a trip to Paris was cruelly dangled in front of me and then yanked away at the last minute(I'm not bitter).  I want to go to the museums.  I want to go to all the places I've read about in my history studies (Versailles, here I come).  I want to go to Disneyland Paris(judge all you want, I plan on going to every Disneyland park before I die).  I want to drive through the French Countryside.  I want to eat French food.  Of course, I'd also want to go to London.  But that's entirely doable from Paris.

RANDOM:  I'm not a sit-around-and-do-nothing vacationer.  When I go places, I GO places!  I want to see things and do things.  Don't take me to the beach and hand me a book and expect me to be happy for hours.  Not going to happen.  Plus, I have a very fair complexion and would turn into a lobster(and unhappy one at that) in short order.

RANDOM:  I love Apples to Apples.  Amy, do you remember how I video conferenced in for your birthday party and played Apples to Apples?  That was Josh's first exposure to me.  I'm surprised he lets you talk to me still.  Poor Josh.  I'm not sure he realized exactly what he was getting himself into.  Oh well.  You have a cute baby.

RANDOM:  I'd go back and do High School again.  Not Junior High.  But High School for sure.  It wasn't particularly emotionally scarring for me(although there are a few people and experiences I could've done without). 

RANDOM:  I want to go on a cruise.  But I'm terrified the boat might sink.  I mean it's a floating city, right?  Cities don't float!  I mean, where's Atlantis?  Oh on the bottom of the ocean.  And don't even get me started on the Titanic.  However, I'm willing to give it a go.  With the right person, of course.  What?  I'd need someone to hold my hand and tell me I wasn't going to die.  Also, I really want to swim with dolphins.  Have I mentioned that for like 5 years I wanted to be a Marine Biologist?  But I have a slightly irrational fear of the water...so that didn't work out so well.  Also, I like in Land-Locked Utah.

RANDOM:  I don't have a favorite color.  I do prefer Blues and Greens though.  And Pink and Purple. 

RANDOM:  I like being busy.  But I also like just sitting with friends and watching a movie.  Or staying up all night talking.  And I love inside jokes. 

RANDOM:  All growing up, when I'd picture "Prince Charming" (don't judge me, you all know you did it too...well at least the girls did).... he looked nothing like that certain someone I married.  I'm not sure I've ever said that out loud before. 

Did you survive all that?  I'm sorry.  But I had a little bit of Blog Vomit.  I think it's out of my system.  Besides, you were all getting tired of just reading my Gratitudes anyway.

Gratitude Day 44

I'm grateful for DSW. 

If you've never been, you're missing out!  They have awesome clearance deals on designer shoes.  I bought two pairs of AWESOME Steve Madden flats there the other day.  A pair of patent leather blue ones (they're blue, not purple...that's a story for another time) and a pair of black lacey looking ones.  And I had $10 off, so that made the EVEN MORE AFFORDABLE!  Love it!  And now I can be nice and comfortable and stylish when I start subbing right after the Christmas break!

Seriously, go to DSW!

Gratitude Day 43

Yesterday (Tuesday) I found out that I get to move into my new apartment the end of December/beginning of January (depending on when I can get my brute strength organized)!  I'm so excited!

Thus, I'm grateful for my new apartment, my new roommates and the girl who is moving out efficiently, allowing me to move in!

Pet Peeve

I hate when people are late. I hate when things are running behind schedule. Do not tell me we're eating at 6:00 and not start dinner until 6:45. It's just not ok. When you tell me to be somewhere at 3:00, I will be there by 2:50. I won't expect you to be ready for me until 3:00, but I will be there early.

What spawned this rant, you ask? I'm sitting in the Performing Arts Building waiting to play for a student's jury. They are running more than 30 minutes behind. It is NOT ok! If you have 5 minute slots, keep them to 5 minutes!!!

Deep, cleansing breaths.


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Gratitude Day 42

I am so grateful for my job at the University of Utah.  It really is a dream job for me.  I get to play the piano!  And they pay me for it!  Seriously, it does not get any better than that.  As I look forward to being single, I have carefully considered what I want to do with my life.  I really want to do everything humanly possible to keep my job at the University of Utah and to keep playing the piano for Cecily and to keep subbing.  I love all these things so much and they are such a perfect fit for me.  I'm budgeting so very carefully and praying that's how it will work out.  I guess we'll see.

Gratitude Day 41

I'm grateful today for Hot Chocolate, Sticky Popcorn and favorite movie from the past (While You Were Sleeping)!

It's the simple things in life, really.

Gratitude Day 40

Saturday was an AWESOME day!  I had an audition for The Importance of Being Earnest.  I can't tell you how much I've wanted to be in this show!  I love it sooo much!  Plus, I get to pretend to be British!  I mean, that's living the dream(okay, the actual dream is to date someone with a hot british accent...but a close second is me being British).  The audition went quite well.  Call backs are on Tuesday, so we'll see how that goes.  I would love love LOVE to be in this show! (SIDE NOTE:  I did not make Drowsy Chaperone.  But I'm totally over that.  I would MUCH rather do this play.)

After my super awesome audition, I went and took pictures for one of my friends from back in the good old days.  We went to the Utah State Botanical Center in Kaysville.  It's one of my new favorite places for pictures.  I'll definitely be headed there again soon.

Then I did some quick Christmas shopping(quick because I was on a schedule) and managed to pretty much finish up everything.  WOOHOO! 

Next on the schedule was meeting with some gals about the possibility of moving into their town home(I found them through ksl.com).  It turned out to be a match made in heaven.  The girls are super cute and we seemed to fit pretty well.  I'm really excited!  I have a place to live!  My life doesn't feel quite so much like it's in limbo!  I love when things fall into place!  I find out Monday if I can move in the end of December or the end of January.  I'm really fine either way(but everyone keep your fingers crossed for the end of December because I'm TOO EXCITED TO WAIT!). 

I spent the afternoon taking care of some housekeeping and such.  Then I had BHS Christmas Dance photoshoots.  And topped it off with a lovely evening with friends. 

I'm grateful for ABSOLUTELY PERFECT SATURDAYS.  Cuz that's what this one was!(Seriously there are very few things that coule have made it better...very few...but there's always room for improvement, I suppose)

Gratitude Day 39

I woke up Friday and shockingly, my knees were not blue and purple(not gonna lie, I'm a little disappointed because now people will think I was just a big old whiner about the pain).  Also, they weren't all that sore and stiff.  I could walk up and down stairs like a normal person(I still winced internally a little, but I didn't have to wimper with every step I took and I didn't look particularly gimpy). 

I'm grateful that I didn't do permanent damage to myself.

Gratitude Day 38

I woke up this morning and got all dolled up to go play at the University of Utah.   It was the final recital for the class I play for.  I looked pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.  And I opted for my black 3" heels. 

I was running right on schedule as I started walking up the street to my car.  And then it happened.  Actually, I'm not entirely sure what happened.  Suddenly I wasn't so much upright, but sprawled on all fours.  My best guess is that my heel caught on a crack or something and I lost balance and shot forward.

My knees got the worst of it.  My right one got scraped up pretty badly and for a moment, I thought I might have shattered my left knee cap.  I can't remember the last time I was in such excruciating physical pain.  I didn't really have time to run back in and clean up.  So I got up, brushed myself off and kept going.  I was able to sort of clean up my bleeding knee.  Somehow, the pantyhose survived completely intact.  But my left leg was throbbing from the knee down. 

Fortunately, I found a parking spot that was relatively close to the Performing Arts Building.  That way I didn't have hobble too far.  Stairs were not my friend and sent shooting pains up and down my leg.  I was lucky that I got to sit behind the piano so pretty much no one knew of my injuries. 

I survived the University and went home to make another batch of caramels.  I took Ibuprofen first.  Still, standing and stirring caramels for over an hour wasn't great therapy for my legs.  After that, I debated going to the gym to lift, which was my original plan.  After a few trips up and down the stairs at the house and a few very painful mishaps involving my knee, I opted for a nap.  It was a GOOOOD nap.  Mmhmm......

Oh, right...after my nap, I showered, which felt very nice.  And then settled down to watch a movie and ice my knee.  It's doing much better.  My left knee had gotten very swollen, thus impeding my movement and causing the aforementioned pain.  Ibuprofen and icing it did wonders.  I'm a much happier girl now. 

Here's a picture I took at the University.  It really doesn't do it justice.  And I'm certain I'll want to take another tomorrow when they both turn very pretty colors.  I did a little damage to the palms of my hands as well(something had to stop me from scarring my pretty face).  Aside from being a little tender, they're okay. 

So today, I'm grateful that there were no witnesses to this epic display of grace.  It would've been really embarrassing.

Gratitude Day 37

I'm grateful for my Great Aunt Joyce's caramel recipe. I don't make them quite as well as she does, but I'm getting closer every year. And they oh so tasty!

And now you all wish you were eating them too...


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Gratitude Day 36

Today, I'm grateful for all those people who listen to me whine about my not-really-as-bad-as-I-think life. I have some awesome friends who know what to say to me and how to kindly kick my butt and give me perspective. I'm super lucky!

Thanks to my friends for tolerating my insanity.


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Gratitude Day 35

Last night I had call backs for Drowsy Chaperone. It's been a while since I've done a call back with singing and dancing. It was rough. I came home feeling really frustrated. Frustrated with myself for not doing better. And I spent most of the rest of the evening really sad(truth be told, I spent most of today sad too).

I was really struggling to find something to be grateful for. Soooo...here it is:

I'm grateful I was called back at all. I don't know how casting will go, they won't cast until Saturday. But at least I was called back.


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Gratitude Day 34

Sunday was an interesting day. I woke up and was just preparing myself to get out of bed and get ready for church, when my dad came down and told me church was cancelled so we could all help with clean up from Thursday's storm.

It was a very unique experience and I'm grateful I got to be part of it. It was amazing to see everyone come together to clean up yards, load up tree pieces and drive out to the city dump. The city opened it Sunday just so the clean up could get taken care of. The line to the dump was crazy! I couldn't believe how many trees were downed in the storm!

It was so surreal. I'd never been part of a "disaster" clean up before. How amazing it was to see a community pull together!


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Gratitude Day 33

On Saturday, I was grateful for Saturdays.

I just really needed a great weekend.(It was, by the way...one of the best in a loooong time)

I auditioned for Drowsy Chaperone. I Searched in vain for a Christmas present. I went with friends to see Christmas Carol at Centerpoint (also grateful for free tickets). And had a tasty dinner with said friends and an evening of fun, games and general merriment.

It was a perfect Saturday, and I'm so grateful!


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Gratitude Day 32

I'm grateful for email.  Sometimes I  just don't want to call people on the phone.  Sometimes it's just easier to send an email.  Plus, when you get email that isn't junk,  it makes you really excited!  Almost as excited as when I get ACTUAL mail that isn't junk.

Gratitude Day 31

Remember when I said I was going to keep being grateful until approximately the end of January? No?  Read about it HERE.

We had a really awful wind storm yesterday.  Fortunately, the house and everyone in it came out relatively unscathed.  However, I had to go to the University of Utah to play the piano.  It was already quite cold and the wind made it colder...and very treacherous. 

So...I am very grateful for my wool peacoat.  I love it so much for so many reasons.  But it especially protected me from the elements yesterday.  And I'm grateful for blankets and sweats and muppet socks.  Our power didn't come back on until midnight.  That  meant a lot of bundling.  We weren't sure when it was coming back on, so we had to be prepared for Human Popsicle scenario.

So grateful for the people who worked so hard to restore power!  So grateful for the heat that I usually enjoy!  So grateful the giant pine tree in our yard didn't fall!