Summer Resolutions

Last spring I wrote about all the hobbies Neil and I were going to pick up. And then I wrote about how we failed miserably at each of them. I’m sure you remember our attempt at hiking and tennis. So this year we got serious and realistic. We are actually going to continue with our tennis hobby because no snakes are involved and we may not really be playing tennis a.k.a ball chase, but it sure gives us our much needed exercise. We also realized that our hobbies are more like going to stuff. So I am thrilled that we have a few tickets to exciting events this summer. Our first one is our favorite hobby. We love to laugh and I would like to think we both have an excellent sense of humor so we secured some tickets to see Joel McHale in Salt Lake City. We seriously watch The Soup every weekend and ever since he started announcing his tour dates, we waited anxiously to hear him announce a date in Salt Lake. Which he did and we are very excited.

I also have tickets the opera Carmen. Now, most wouldn’t think that is exciting but I have literally waited 7 years to see this opera. In high school I took a honors humanities course and our teacher arranged for us to go see Carmen in Salt Lake as a class. He also knew one of the performers so he had her come the day before and explain the opera and some of the music. I instantly fell in love with it. Well, the tickets ended up falling through and we didn’t get to go. So I promised myself the next time Carmen came to Utah, I would go. Well, Carmen is part of Logan’s opera series this summer. As soon as I found out, I seriously put the day the tickets went on sale on my calendar and made Neil buy them as soon as the box office opened. He was even questioned by the box office about who the tickets were for (like a man can’t be interested in the opera?) and when he explained they were for his wife, they give him the understanding “oh, that makes more sense.” Anyway, I think I may be fated to never see this opera because we have already had to change the dates of our tickets once because I had a business trip come up during our original tickets. Nonetheless, I am thrilled.

We also have a small trip planned to visit San Francisco. I have been everywhere else on the West Coast but there. So I decided it was about time.

I think we will be much more successful at these hobbies this summer. We will probably even see some of the summer blockbuster movies. I know that some people think we may have lame hobbies but hey, if the shoe fits, wear it! At least we will be successful at these hobbies.

Not Complaining

I wanted to write something. I wanted to virtually connect with my virtual buddies. But every time I decided what I wanted to write about I ended up deciding to not write about it after all. This is partially because my goal was to complain less and everything that came to mind sounded like complaining. Like I was going to write about how busy Neil and I have been with the end of the semester and finals for Neil and a dance performance for me. We also both came down with colds because you always get sick when you just don’t have time to be sick. We also had to say goodbye to Neil’s beloved grandfather among studying and dance rehearsals. Last week was a very difficult week but I didn’t want to complain. So I kept mum. I thought if I could just make it through Saturday night, life would be much easier. But then on Sunday, my cold took a turn for the worse and Monday morning I woke up with a lousy eye infection. Then, I also remembered I need to start/finish planning a retirement party for my Dad and a birthday party for Neil this weekend. I thought combining the two would make things easier but it has created far more problems than I anticipated. I recognize that I brought this all on myself, so it leaves absolutely no room for complaining. So at this point I am just looking forward to Saturday night. Unless, I contract yet another illness.

Book Blog

I am beginning to realize that perhaps I should have made this a book blog instead of my mostly random thoughts and rants. I recently decided that even though I had justified this blog as a journal, the internet is just not the best place for that. So I actually started a traditional journal again. Thus, my lack of blogging. However, when I do have random thoughts that I find blog worthy they will end up here. For example, I spent almost the entire weekend reading. I finished the book Neil had me read. It really wasn't that bad, in fact the writing was excellent (David Weber was the author). The characters and concept were even interesting especially how much women were empowered but all the war and space stuff just went over my head.

Then a book I have been waiting for came available at the library. In fact two books did at the same time. I hate having to place holds on every single book I want to read and then having to wait for sometimes months just to get my hands on it. Then of course 3 out of the 20 holds I have come available at the same time and I have to read non-stop. In any case, I felt pressured to finish one of the shorter books, so I would have more time for the longer book. So I read the entire book on Sunday. I hadn't intended too, it just happened. It was the new book by Mary Higgins Clark and it was one of her better ones in the last few years.

So now I am reading The Woman in White. I honestly have never heard of this book until it was referenced several times in another book that I read recently. It sounded intriguing and I was sold when I read the back of the book which said, ". . . is the first and most influential of the Victorian genre that combined Gothic horror with psychological realism." Honestly, I am not familiar with Gothic horror or exactly what "psychological realism" means but it sure sounds fascinating. What are you reading?

Happy Place

I have been working on a few projects at work that have absolutely consumed every ounce of my time, thoughts and energy this week. Plus, with everything going on in my personal life I have been a little stressed. So at night when I am trying to go to sleep, I have been imagining my "happy place." The above photos are my very favorite beach in California. I absolutely love Trinidad. It has the best beach, the cutest shops, and a beautiful campground. You literally camp underneath a canopy of redwoods. I haven't been there in a couple of years and I am aching to return.





There is also something about the beach that just makes you feel like you could walk or run forever.



Now for the money shots. These next two pictures are my favorite because it has three things that I love most. My man, my dog, and my beach.

True Story

I was giving my work address to someone over the phone today. When I said the city and then Utah. She seriously asked what Utah's State abbreviation was. I know that some States are trickier than others but Utah? Seriously? I should have told her it was AH. What a missed opportunity.....

Negotiating Interests

A few months ago I convinced Neil to read several books that I knew he would love but were outside of his general reading genre. He reluctantly read the first book I recommended and he loved it as I suspected, so he continued to read my recommendations. Honestly, I just wanted his opinion on the books and so we could discuss them. However, now he wants me to read one of his books. The problem is that he reads hard core war science fiction. I just know that is not my cup of tea. For example, we recently recorded Saving Private Ryan on our DVR. Now, I have never seen the movie and never really cared to because I heard it was quite graphic due to the war content. Although, I heard it was great, I still had no desire to see it. But I decided to watch it with Neil and figured the TV version couldn't be that bad. Well, I was wrong. I had to close my eyes for most of the movie and I think I stayed up at least two nights unable to sleep with my own version of PTSD. Okay, maybe this is a little off topic but I just finished the prologue to Neil's recommended book and it reminded me of that incident. Now, it may sound as if I don't want to read it, which slightly may be true but I do want to read it to know what Neil likes to read. I also feel obligated to because he did read my recommendations. I guess I will continue plugging along and maybe I will end up liking it.

I have been on a reading kick lately. I just finished The Thirteenth Tale. It was an interesting book because the writing style was fairly unique. The book was about storytelling among other things. At one point the writer makes a statement about how sometimes we are tainted when we begin a new book by the previous book we just finished. I think that is often true for me at least. I sometimes struggle getting into a new book if I just finished an amazing book. Maybe that is why I am having a hard time motivating myself to enjoy the new book I've begun.

Aftermath

Neil and I aren't really into pranks. Well, at least I'm not. Mostly, because I am afraid of retaliation. Plus, I am extremely gullible and I would probably fall for just about anything. Like a few years ago when I was in college my Mom sent out an email to our entire family that explained their plans. Basically, my Dad was retiring they were moving away, etc, etc. Being the only single person in the family I think it traumatized me the most. I also didn't read the little April Fools at the very end of the email. So I spent the entire day in tears wondering where I would go for holidays. I finally called my Mom to talk to her about it and then she laughed and said it was just a joke. I still haven't gotten her back for that.

Neil did pull a prank on his Dad. He called him up and said his work offered him a job in California and we would be moving in May. His Dad congratulated him and went on about how awesome that would be. Then Neil felt like it had gone on long enough, he said "But we'll probably move back next April 1." This just confused his Dad because he didn't know why we would move back so soon. Then he realized it was just a joke. Although, maybe next April it won't be......

The worst prank of the day came from our DVR. I'm pretty sure I have sung praises to this technology because it is amazing. I haven't watched live TV in over a year and I love it! Anyway, Wednesday nights are set aside for watching LOST. Well, we were enjoying another good episode right up until Sawyer hands little Ben over to Richard and then everything ended. The DVR didn't record the very end. I know it was almost the ending but what happened??? We have no idea how it ended and we didn't see previews for next week. Which is probably good because I hate those teasers but this has never happened before. What a terrible prank.