Uh... there are no words. Train Stations Sound of Music

Sound of Music Train Station @ Yahoo! Video

So like - do you think this was planned? I mean this had to be planned right? Or does everyone there just KNOW this dance? Is that possible? My mouth hung open through the whole thing.

I think it’s coming along nicely; What do you think?

Well here’s the grand tour of the new place. I’m pretty glad I didn’t do a complete tour of my “old place” because there’s no need for comparison. My “old place” was more “remodeled” and bigger – but it was also further away and er… further away. Also, it was further away. What?

We just got furniture on Saturday through KSL (see couch) and a fantastic yard sale (see ottoman and chaise) and basically walked away with some excellent items for an excellent price. But enough of this blather!! Without further ado – I present for your enjoyment – the “mostly” finished Capitol Hills Apt. ( I say mostly for there are still a few things to purchase, hang, and plug in.)

Ah, the view from the door way. If you come to visit me in my vintage downtown apt, this will be your first impression – and a lovely impression it is. Doesn’t that fireplace look inviting?:

A decent angle of the living area (note awesome chaise – my favorite piece, dahling) We also brought the sun in to hang above our TV for a little atmosphere. Snort! Just kidding. It’s a lamp… not the Sun: And a clearly blank space between the couches back near the door and “bookcase” where we will be placing this item someday (compliments of IKEA): Then you have my personal favorite – the bookcase (seen in many pics above). What’s that you ask? Are all those books mine? Why YES they are! And no you may not borrow them. There are strict rules with my books – no eating, drinking, bending, or folding around or to them – and basically no leaving the apartment unless you are someone I see every single day and can nag for it back. That is, IF you are allowed to borrow one. Speaking of – I have a former roomie to text… ahem hem.Here you have the kitchen and my favorite appliance – Ye Olde Crimson KitchenAide. Go Utes! Notice the green hanging pot near the window. That was a Nikelle addition via IKEA. Excellent, yes? We enjoy it.


Me in the bathroom mirror. You’ve seen one toilet you’ve seen them all. The special thing to note about our bathroom is that the shower/toilet is separated by a door from the sink area. I love that. One may “business” and shower while the other utilizes the mirror and sink. Dudes may not appreciate this as much but chicks get it. Don’t ya… chicks? You down. Oh, and don’t be scared of the “little dark person” behind me – that’s just our House Elf. Wait… NO it isn’t!
Ah yes, the praying Buddah. It feels like peace, doesn’t it? Howmmmmm.And my room. Look familiar? Well there’s not much of a difference between “new room” and “old room.” But here it is. The closet is bigger – MUCH bigger – because it couldn’t get MUCH smaller – and the window is brighter. That’s about it.Well I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief guided tour of the new apt in its fabulous location and hippie encouraging ways. We’re a 5 minute walk from Temple Square, in a great area for crazy and hippie spotting (I love the people – they’re my people), a 5 minute drive aka 15 minute walk from the Gateway (aka WORK! Holla!), and surrounded by excellent running trails in City Creek, or just around the general Avenues area. Also in case you were wondering and hadn’t caught one of the main points from my “I’m moving” post – I went to church at 11:00am on Sunday! I saw a few members of my former “we still meet at 1:00” 40th Ward and let them know that although they had 2 hours left, I was going to go ahead and head home because Church was over for me. It. Was. Awesome.

Sentimental side note now that I’m thinking on it: I was driving to Smiths the other day – also conveniently located – admiring the diverse architecture, the picturesque sidewalks, the variety of folks walking, biking, and driving around the Aves, and thought “I could live in the downtown Aves for the rest of my life.” True story. I really have come to love Salt Lake City and particularly, Downtown. I once imagined I’d be whisked to suburbia once the husband and children came along – but really – I’d rather stay right Downtown – forever – married or single. Sure there are pros and cons. Pro being the great location. Con being the weirdys (though really I think they’re a Pro – if they’re the harmless weirdy type). But ultimately I love it here. Once, I asked someone how they felt about SLC after visiting me for a weekend; “It just isn’t my scene” they said. And it bothered me – I mean it really bothered me. I thought “Not your scene? What does that even mean?” It was like they were saying I wasn’t their scene – like they couldn’t really “do” that or they just didn’t get why I loved this place so much. Really? How could you not see how great this place is? Then I realized, one weekend does not compare to years of living, growing, stretching, learning, and “being.” Some places just become a part of you – strung with memories good and bad, happy and sad. They soak up your moments as you live them and then, as you run down a familiar road you’ve run 100 times before, or reach your hand out the window as you drive feeling the first touches of Spring rush through your fingers, those moments suddenly spew back at you, vivid and real. They float up in great swirling puffs off the familiar roads, the trees in the Fall on South Temple, and the old Aves cemetery. They glide down the cherry blossoms in the Spring, the uneven sidewalks, the small eateries and local Cafes. They skip along with the tulips on Temple Square, bicyclists, Rice-Eccles Stadium, parks, dog walkers, hippies, weirdy’s, and Farmers Markets. You can’t help but relive a hundred different memories, a thousand different moments, right here in the place that’s soaked into your skin and flowing thick through your veins.

I can connect everything here with a story, an event, even small moments that shaped my life and changed me forever. Just not your scene? You can tell that about a place, especially a place such as this, in one weekend? Well, then I’m not “your scene” – because I AM this little piece of Earth; I am the sidewalks, trees, stop signs, and streets. I am the flowers, snowy slippery hills, 100 year old buildings, and yes, even the crazies. I am all those things and love all those things and remember all those things.

It feels like Home. It’s been awhile since I’ve really felt at Home, and being back here among all those things I had left over a year ago, gives me a feeling of coming back from a long trip, ready for a shower, some good food, and a deep breath of my own familiar air. My own air. My scene. My Home. It’s a feeling I’m growing very used to.

If you've not heard Susan Boyle yet...

Greetings from Gmail! So great. Sooooo great.

 

This little post will be brief, but this story has been rocking the news, and rocking our worlds, for the past week or so, and I wanted to make sure that no one missed out on this extraordinary moment on Britain's Got Talent (aka "original American Idol").

 

Presenting Susan Boyle - 47 year old, single, lives with her cat, has never been kissed, singing hopeful.

 

Now go watch what she can do - and prepare yourself for a rather surprising, and emotional, experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

This will be amazing

Alright. Something ironic my friends. Not two days, TWO DAYS (maybe 3... can't remember) after I leave on "blog sabbatical" the bloggy people at blogspot decide to add a little feature called "email posting." Which I GUESS means I can email my blog posts - from gmail and not even have to have access to my blog. Which lets face it - is going to be weird that I can blog post and even approve comments from " a far" and never see what my blog posts actually look like. Ahem. WELL! One bridge at a time I guess.

 

Now... lets see if this actually WORKS!

 

Ohhhh wait - I will try a picture post too. Simultaneous experiments going on here. And I know JUST the pic.

It's more a blogging sabbatical than a retirement.

I'd like to make an announcement.

Ahem hem...

I won't be posting for awhile. I thought it was my duty to let the 5 of you who sometimes may or may not peruse my blog that I'm taking a blogging sabbatical. Now, it's not because I've grown tired of the blogging world, or that I'm "over it", too busy, or have just run out of things to write about (there's ALWAYS something to write about ;)). That fact is, I may not be getting the Internet in my new apartment (it's rather pricey) and I don't have the ability to access my blog at work. I know, right? I mean true, I wouldn't blog on "work time" anyway, but perhaps on my lunch or personal break time I would consider dropping a blog line or two. However, I don't have that option. I just plain don't have access to it. So no bloggy at worky. This is a double edged sword in that I can't check any of your fine blogs either. We may have to resort to old fashioned email updates or even more archaic - the phone call. DAH! Maybe it's time to make the transition to "website" vs blog. Am I ready for that? Wow... I dunno. That's a lot of techno "know how" I don't think I can handle. I can barely work my camera phone. I'll look into it at any rate...

Anyway...

That leaves us with this - the official Blogging Sabbatical. I want to say Sabbatical because I have hopes that, one day, either we'll decide we really want the Internet in our apt and are willing to fork over some money for said luxury, OR when I begin my MPA program I will be able to use the campus Internet connection frequently and thus, take the time to blog something.

As for today, however, be warned that my blog will become a little dusty, a little forlorn, and a little rusty from under use. But, might I ask you keep a hopeful eye on the look out. Someday I'll dust off the old Bloggy blog and resume hopefully amusing you with stories of low riding manikin pants and the hypocrisy of Mormon Muffin's Calendar. Ah. What a moment in blog history.

See you later!

Would you like a life update? Well, here ya go!

This must be a sign. I’ve got nothing I really care to blog about. I experience times where inspiration is abundant and the cynicism flows, and other times when “meh” just nothing extremely noteworthy going on in my ickle life. And it is very ickle. Bitty, in fact.

SO! It must have been time for a general life update. This is the sign I speak of. Life Update. Yep. Just what’s going on in my life thus far – things that are pending or changing. I know you very much care, and that’s why I feel it my duty to tell you about me… me me me… ME ME ME!! PLANET ME! Cough… just kidding.

Update Uno: I live here. It’s taken me a looooong time (aka 3 months) to post pics of the cute Holladay Hills House I moved into this January 1st. Isn’t it cute?

Here's my room...

The irony is – I’m moving out. Bwahahaha! That’s why I finally have pics of my house. I am looking to sell my contract. True story! And I know what you are thinking, first – Why? It’s so cute! And secondly – Why? You JUST moved in! Well – first and foremost it IS cute and the roomies are great – and I DID just move in - buuuuut it’s located in Holladay and I – being a downtown working soon-to-be downtown schooling gal – would love to be a little closer than the super south, super east location, super annoying I-15 commute crowd, of our picturesque little home. Thus, the only reason I WOULD give up such a great house at such a great price, is for yet another great place for a good price with the added bonus of a sweet location. Dear Internet, I have found such a place. True, it’s not a house, it’s an apt. True, it’s not as “remodeled” as the house and true, it’s $10 more, HOW-EV-ER it’s RIGHT by the Capitol… as in the State Capitol Building. Can I explain to you that it only takes me 5 minutes from “get in the car at work” to “turn off the car at apt”? Well it DOES! I timed it. This means on those happy summery mornings (that I’ve stopped believing actually exist – mumble grumble snow… gripe) I can stinking WALK to work in 20 minutes and THEN (oh it gets better) TRAX my environmentally conscience and financially strapped student self up to the UofU for classes. Not to mention the Ward I shall be attending starts at 11am. Jealous? That’s right you are! All you sucker 9am Churcher goers and, even worse, 1pm church goers, are very jealous. I be gettin to the worship service at 11am! That means I’m done at 2:00! 2:00!! It’s a little bit of “sleep in”, and a little bit of “my entire day isn’t completely gone”, the best of both worlds in the church meeting realm. Woot.

Oh, and I get to live with my long time off again/on again roomie, Nikelle. That’s right everyone! We’re back together! When you find a good roomie… you try and stick with them. I’ve hit the ripe old age now of wanting to only live with a dog, a husband, or Nikelle. Aaaaaaand since I can’t afford me and a dog alone, and since there are no husbands to choose from at the moment (though dates? Perhaps…wink nudge), Nikelle it is! Pics of our cozy little Capitol Hills apt forthcoming...

(Self Psycho-Analysis Moment: You know what it really is about my moving so much this year (and this just came to me). I had gotten used to the idea of being a traveling gypsy this entire year and when that exploded in a mass of disappointment and crushed life long hopes and dreams, somehow, my body still clung to the idea of moving every handful of months – even if it’s SLC, Taylorsville, Holladay, and Downtown vs Turkey, Paris, Spain, and London. Yeeeeah… same idea… right? Cough. Ah, crappy).

Life Update Deux: I got bangs.

Seen here.

I tried to be discreet about taking this pic at work. See how discreet I am? I took it with my trusty phone (as always) though I’ve actually taken to keeping my camera with me lately. I like the phone camera for pics of myself because the resolution is poor and thus it gives the illusion I’m not a squinty eyed, sallow skinned, crooked lipped, weirdy (unintentional Professor Snape reference anyone?). No really – I am probably one of the least photogenic people in the world. S’okay. I don’t mind. Well, I do mind but there’s nothing to be done. (And if any of you say “Like, hello! Look at that profile pic on your blog! That’s cute! Like, you are so silly.” Well let me tell you I was MUCH tanner (San Franny days) in better shape (much running and walking and frisbee’ing) had just showered, a tall man took the pic so he had a better angle than “self pics” tend to, AND I was outside in some great lighting. You should note that this is likely the only pic I am aware of where I don’t cringe and think “Ah crap do I REALLY look like that? Geez.” The End)

Anyway

Bangs. And I don’t know if I regret them or not. Do I regret them? I always worry I look like a 1960’s British man with bangs. Sigh. Alas, I am taken back to the Provo days where I first got bangs around this time last year… and then grew them out.. and now have them again. I recalled being able to put my hair into ickle pig-tails in about 5 minutes and going out the door. I liked that! Then realized my place of employment couldn’t possibly continue to pay someone who wore pig-stubs to work. We are Professionals! Sigh. Maybe a casual Friday event at any rate – jeans and pig-stubs.

(Self Psycho Analysis Moment: Girl gets bangs for the intent of wearing pig-stubs to work to create the illusion of living back in Provo, working back at BYU IS with its big windows, 70 little employees at her command, some great running routes, weekly volleyball play, and a general happiness that seemed to finally be descending upon her after a long winter of unemployment and personal anguish… much like this winter. I hate winters. Hate them)

Final Life Update…
I applied to be either a Graduate Assistant or Teaching Assistant for my MPA program, Fall 2009-April 2010. Yep. I’ll know the progress on that little gem hopefully by April 15th. NO! I am NOT quitting my job… but seeing what happens with these pending positions and what I can finagle between my job now (which I enjoy) and a possible GA or TA position. One of those “cross that bridge when we come to it” ideas. Yup.

(Self Psycho-Analysis Moment: Naw, I’m good with this… we’ll roll with it as it is)

And there’s my life update(s) – moving , bangs, and pending applications. Wasn’t that just riveting? Eh? Riveting.