tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31755140485674768372024-02-07T09:52:13.316-08:00BlogStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-2255814075478480842011-11-21T22:56:00.000-08:002011-11-21T22:56:03.700-08:00JT ain't got nothin' on me...WARNING: This post contains<i> Breaking Dawn</i> spoilers... kind of.<br />
<br />
While attending a midnight-ish showing of <i>Breaking Dawn</i> with my sisters last Friday, my brain made an unfortunate (for me) connection between a particular scene and Justin Timberlake's annoyingly catchy tune "Sexy Back." If you haven't heard it, the rest of this post will make even less sense than the no sense that it makes now. (What? Ok.) You can listen<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKuzyO0WykI" target="_blank"> here</a>, although I'm not sure I should recommend that you do so because since then, it has been relentlessly attacking my brain, encouraging me to finish the new set of lyrics that I innocently began forming that night. In an attempt to give my brain a rest, and at the request of the above-mentioned sisters (yes, Megan. That includes you), I present the finished product. This one's for you, girls.<br />
<br />
Ahem...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>"Alpha Back"</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">He’s takin’ Alpha back (<i>yeah)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Those other werewolves won’t know how to act <i>(yeah)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">He best be careful ‘fore they all attack <i>(yeah) </i> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">‘Cuz Sam is willin’ to call out the pack… <i>(yeah)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i> (Take’em to the bridge)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">What a babe…<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Our little pup is old enough to shave<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">And now those rights as leader that he gave<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Are flowing back just like a tidal wave<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i>(Take em to the chorus!)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Hold your breath<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i> (They threatened Bella)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Here comes Seth <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i> (Jake thinks she’s swell…a)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Leah, too</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i>(For Edward’s wife)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Unlikely crew<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i>(He'll risk his life)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">That’s all that he’s workin’ with<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i> (‘cuz Renesmee)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Changed since Eclipse<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i>(Was born today)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Guard the vamps<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i>(imprint surprise)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Like werewolf champs<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i>(and someone dies)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Get your Alpha on <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i> (Go ‘head be gone with it)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Get your Alpha on <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i> (Go ‘head be gone with it)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Get your Alpha on <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <i> (Go ‘head be gone with it)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Get your Alpha on<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">He’s takin’ alpha back <i>(yeah)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">He gave it up but now he’s back on track <i>(yeah)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">And although Sam was pickin’ up his slack <i>(yeah)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The rightful alpha is still Jacob Black (<i>yeah)</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">You're welcome. </div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-78057452149153461642011-10-19T17:21:00.000-07:002011-10-19T17:21:14.528-07:00This one's for you Grandpa...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyJPda6Zaux9ANp8eHbIDFFPz9GuuYXewB8icIquYXr6ewP6EXQL9zvUZQwcS2_-cL64phT2z6UcChJnK0FI9LxLR5CHKNJ3dQkMFFZEsZbiG7yiaKBUjYvg-AzL9AmGuR5pR4nR-QnQ/s1600/punctuation+saves+lives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyJPda6Zaux9ANp8eHbIDFFPz9GuuYXewB8icIquYXr6ewP6EXQL9zvUZQwcS2_-cL64phT2z6UcChJnK0FI9LxLR5CHKNJ3dQkMFFZEsZbiG7yiaKBUjYvg-AzL9AmGuR5pR4nR-QnQ/s320/punctuation+saves+lives.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With Love, from an English major</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and.... SHE'S BACK! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-84009906871014477872011-07-21T22:36:00.000-07:002011-07-21T22:36:42.746-07:00Everything You Never Wanted to Know...Whelp... it's about that time.<br />
<br />
This morning as I sat in the kitchen watching yesterday's exceptionally funny episode of "Melissa and Joey" (seriously... it was great) and waiting for the Qwest man to come fix our phone line, I popped a couple of slices in the toaster for a mid-morning snack. Somewhere between putting the bread in the toaster and finishing the episode, Qwest man came, which was good for the phone line... but unfortunate for my toast, which sat neglected for nearly an hour.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, my toast was cold. And I was sad. Because what can you do with cold toast? There really isn't any way for it to continue being toast. If you toast it again, it burns. If you microwave it, it is no longer toasty. You can make it into a turkey or grilled cheese sandwich, but then it becomes a meal, and all I wanted was a snack.<br />
<br />
Cue Google.<br />
<br />
Yep. It happened. I googled 'cold toast'.<br />
<br />
Initially, I was just hoping to salvage my snack, but--as is the case with most google searches--I ended up stumbling upon an endless amount of cold toast knowledge that I never really cared to learn, but some of which I deemed share-worthy. Enjoy.<br />
<br />
1. Cold toast has its own Facebook page. I guess it shouldn't surprise me that someone somewhere has dedicated a Facebook page to discussing such a thing, but it's still a little hard to believe, right? Anyway, upon further examination, I determined that this particular page was in favor of cold toast in all its "quirky goodness." Apparently, there are at least 420 people in the Facebook community that prefer cold toast to warm, toasty... toast. Not to worry though, cold-toast-haters... because I went on to discover...<br />
<br />
2. The 'I Hate Cold Toast!' Facebook page. Interestingly enough, in the Facebook community, less people dislike cold toast than those who enjoy it. (Or, less people care about hating cold toast enough to 'like' the page than those who are adamant about how great it is.) Even MORE interesting though is that both groups have opted to use the SAME cold toast picture in an effort to emphasize their opposing points:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlQAzL7sAFqNbBJTJ1o40XxTCEsugL1kcfYcOJNIUMivxZAnFJkDttq1vD_dnKeHhecjYUwFW_NHwUz2wEV8fYZ-Y_Oe6G7vp1EvElQq7gyNls8gsN6S3W9dkK-zRyYNVqfpLiNeRaBA/s1600/11868_205545024088_205543759088_2790733_2700050_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlQAzL7sAFqNbBJTJ1o40XxTCEsugL1kcfYcOJNIUMivxZAnFJkDttq1vD_dnKeHhecjYUwFW_NHwUz2wEV8fYZ-Y_Oe6G7vp1EvElQq7gyNls8gsN6S3W9dkK-zRyYNVqfpLiNeRaBA/s320/11868_205545024088_205543759088_2790733_2700050_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. There is a band named Cold Toast. Well, there was a band. Unfortunately for us all, they disbanded in 2010. They claim to be of the 'experimental electronic folk pop rock' genre. You can download their music <a href="http://coldtoast.bandcamp.com/">here</a> for free. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNze9oMlUcvbcQ7TTs7nRGP8p_KC6fUNmrsyB3qQGDU_d4wVkRuddYKe2jUN5v3-7oMPXujsHehI_EfixK8MgRIAUG4da85aQIWVxvvSbswIbVUYDYtNPxqN7ZKp5K-1WYzeyAWUDinf0/s1600/Cold+toast+band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNze9oMlUcvbcQ7TTs7nRGP8p_KC6fUNmrsyB3qQGDU_d4wVkRuddYKe2jUN5v3-7oMPXujsHehI_EfixK8MgRIAUG4da85aQIWVxvvSbswIbVUYDYtNPxqN7ZKp5K-1WYzeyAWUDinf0/s320/Cold+toast+band.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">aaaaaaand... there they are. Their faces suggest that they are NOT fans of cold toast, and yet,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">who names their band after something they dislike?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last, but certainly not least...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. A scientist, "who has invested time, energy and his considerable brain power to ascertain the best method to enjoy [marmalade]" suggests that it should always be eaten on cold toast. (If you think I'm joking, you can read the article <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8374222/Eat-marmalade-on-cold-toast-says-scientist.html">here</a>.) Apparently, it tastes better that way. There have been studies. More than anything, I would like to find out how one becomes a scientist that researches breakfast foods for a living... and actually makes a living, but for now, I won't quit my day job.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even though the search was somewhat enlightening in terms of the world of toast, mine was still cold, and I was still unhappy, having been unsuccessful in my quest to find an acceptable re-heating technique. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I ate it cold. and dry. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... at least our phone works again.</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-5160834541817404932011-06-22T21:36:00.000-07:002011-06-22T21:36:30.132-07:00Wednesday 'Why': Herc and the Bachelorette, redboxing, and the number one movie I never wanted to see that made me cryFor all of you who have requested the return of the Wednesday 'Why'... and you know who you are... here goes:<div><br />
</div><div>Monday night I had the privilege (it took me three tries and one dictionary to spell 'privilege'. I wish I was joking) of watching The Bachelorette with Brooke and Megan instead of by myself on hulu the next day like I usually do. I'm happy to say that watching with them makes an otherwise boring season wonderfully enjoyable. You may recall that a couple posts back I mentioned the similar physical appearance to Hercules of one contender for Ashley's heart. If you don't remember, here he is again:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGpIfZ8SMVFMADH9RNPDnGJwyXQ_b7IbIGNgfqjr6oPnwRiMKYrdER-ha780dGrap8BZGhMcWSj60dMrIYV0CBWS4pO0y3VF_eNRFy1mgCVBUfzWJopaAgTh6WZ613u7FZvFv33xf8q0/s1600/Nick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGpIfZ8SMVFMADH9RNPDnGJwyXQ_b7IbIGNgfqjr6oPnwRiMKYrdER-ha780dGrap8BZGhMcWSj60dMrIYV0CBWS4pO0y3VF_eNRFy1mgCVBUfzWJopaAgTh6WZ613u7FZvFv33xf8q0/s320/Nick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, Hercu-Nick's godly physique wasn't enough to win her over and was sent packing. Not to worry though! The girls argued that there is another hopeful fellow that better fits the cartoon-y profile and that I had previously overlooked:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggM7ntWZXf1qMnD9MJsSMmo7MuQ0QtbgH4_-rB8wV32tIu1NulD295dvzo0wdlkV-wITslNZmHT9aXz5pKk4NQ2XVTYXLL-tiUCRkhzHsQqCvkwpA6DIUcqwTwFmWkZPVG6CFJHPaLMys/s1600/amesherc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggM7ntWZXf1qMnD9MJsSMmo7MuQ0QtbgH4_-rB8wV32tIu1NulD295dvzo0wdlkV-wITslNZmHT9aXz5pKk4NQ2XVTYXLL-tiUCRkhzHsQqCvkwpA6DIUcqwTwFmWkZPVG6CFJHPaLMys/s320/amesherc.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">None other than our favorite Ivy-leaguer himself... Ames. After giving it a little too much thought, I decided that Ames' features are truer to cartoon Herc, where Nick could play the character in a Disney theme park. Luckily, Hamesules (Herculames?) is still very much in the game despite the mild concussion he received during an ill-conceived boxing group date. The question is...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Why does Hercules keep creepin' into The Bachelorette instead of staying in his Disney film where he belongs? </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seriously though... any version of Herc--be it the hunky cartoon, or just a real-life look-a-like--is too good for the likes of Ashley, no matter how 'perFACT' she thinks he might be for her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...In other news, we visited redbox last night for the first time in a long time to rent <i>Waiting For Forever</i>, which was filmed in Utah, had many a familiar face, and was a lot better than I expected it to be. Red was feeling generous, or I guess just looking to prey on an unsuspecting victim like myself and offered a second movie at only 50 cents. Naturally I accepted. Which brings me to the final part of my post: What is the number one movie I never wanted to see that made me cry that I should be but am strangely not embarrassed to admit?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB53MH9dte-dUND-NkZiB2AGgemrFXz45saI58GIfG47RYMVLMSC2Rxd-u6q6V-EJT6rJIJVbeLRHxt901mOXy7HI0crUOPaPPI8-Rjg1Os3W13I3UUd1gI3yS7GRW9xqyUW5bcsGX28/s1600/bieber.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB53MH9dte-dUND-NkZiB2AGgemrFXz45saI58GIfG47RYMVLMSC2Rxd-u6q6V-EJT6rJIJVbeLRHxt901mOXy7HI0crUOPaPPI8-Rjg1Os3W13I3UUd1gI3yS7GRW9xqyUW5bcsGX28/s320/bieber.gif" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... um, yeah. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div> </div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-69514595382834589052011-06-20T12:26:00.000-07:002011-06-20T12:26:57.742-07:00An Original Redneck Love Poem<div style="text-align: center;">Note: This post PWNS my blogging hiatus</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(<b>Pwn</b>: v. - To dominate, defeat, or conquer)</i></div><div><br />
</div><div>A few weeks ago, I found this book on a clearance table at Barnes and Noble:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMc8fOwjOE09PlQ32Tao-S18_mwWqlJMwRerJvgfR9sA2fqyiwvFnFmVmFmwiUH8IraA2rUtPsum5tc_PSfd5jPnXRRgFwZ0MYTMAfdgMNUbOMRF085CQ7JjVJBonq4dz-fl7J2NaAlI/s1600/Redneck+dictionary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMc8fOwjOE09PlQ32Tao-S18_mwWqlJMwRerJvgfR9sA2fqyiwvFnFmVmFmwiUH8IraA2rUtPsum5tc_PSfd5jPnXRRgFwZ0MYTMAfdgMNUbOMRF085CQ7JjVJBonq4dz-fl7J2NaAlI/s320/Redneck+dictionary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Naturally, I purchased it. Four dollars, twenty-five cents, and a couple hours later, my good friends (BrookeandMegan) and I were crying slash peeing our pants with laughter as we learned all sorts of words that we never knew existed. (Let it be known that this book isn't nearly as funny unless you read it late at night when you are super tired and/or drunk) Since then, the book has proved to not only be an incredible source of entertainment, but also an effective learning tool. In an effort to share what I have learned with all (six) of you, I have written my very first <b>Redneck Love Poem. </b>Enjoy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Redneck Love Poem</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was at the bar a few weeks back</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'd <b><u>gondolier</u></b> at the women with my buddy Jack</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But cupid done shot me with his bow <b><u>narrow</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when I spotted a gal o'er by the big stuffed sparrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I knew I never met <b><u>herbivore</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'cuz I <u style="font-weight: bold;">Nevada</u> girl with six teeth or more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I pointed her out, Jack said <i>"That's Madge. She's great!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And your taste has improved because <u><b>magistrate!</b></u></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>So I'm <b><u>talon</u></b> you... Go grab her tension!"</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And <u style="font-weight: bold;">heathen</u> left before I could mention</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that I've always had <b><u>disability</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to cause women to respond to me with hostility.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I really wanted this <b><u>gallon</u></b> my side</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'cuz e'en though I'd <b><u>lacquer thinner,</u></b> she'd make a purty good bride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I moved <b><u>mass </u></b>over and <b><u>cauterize,</u></b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>butter</u></b> friend <b><u>disfigured</u></b> I was one of those guys</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">who lays<b><u> Zion</u></b> a <b><u>paranormal</u></b> girls</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and only wants <b><u>trip</u></b> off their clothes and their pearls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So she hollered at me "We ain't a couple of hoes!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But Madge just smiled and said "<b><u><i>Yellow</i></u></b>."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I said, "<i>You probably <b><u>shunt</u></b> leave your sis,</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>but where a date ain't good for three, <b><u>fortuitous</u></b>.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Now, I didn't make <b><u>Pacific</u></b> plans,</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>but <b><u>moan</u></b> take you by your purty hands</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>and ask if you'll <b><u>data </u></b>Redneck like me.</i>"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She nodded her head, and I shouted "<i>Yipee!</i>"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, <b><u>monorail</u></b> streak 'cuz I've made her my wife.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This isn't what I would have planned for my life,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but I <b><u>mascara </u></b>lot for her since we're still linked,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'cuz she smells real nice and my recent <b><u>extinct</u></b>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So darlin', I love you. <b><u>Saint </u></b>just a fling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I brought you some <b><u>flyers</u></b> and here I will sing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that I thank the <b><u>Crater</u></b> for sending you here</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'cuz without you I'd be havin' to fetch my own beer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...See. I TOLD you this post PWNS my blogging hiatus.</div><div> </div><div>PS- I think this poem would make a KILLER Redneck Love Song if anyone wants to create us a tune. Just throwin' that out there.</div><div><br />
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</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-76497796334935489702011-06-03T10:03:00.000-07:002011-06-03T10:03:12.363-07:00Blog Fail Make-Up: What I'm Watching, Reading, and a Human CartoonI had a total blog fail this week... so in an attempt to keep myself from becoming blog stagnant, here's a little something.<br />
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- Bentley continued to stir up trouble on the Bachelorette this week, but the REAL highlight of the episode for me was THIS guy:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq0KdsyDSlQE2r6B3NkvmGf5XWmWMHOV3JqYy12ggBMLYjA89t6lQUBv5piJ4YfJLwefNnoI8MKv7XO-C14Ci5PqiDnyMHe0_-sfWIKSQ-kS2NYrAQRCBnDGnNkxqwQDR6YoWpmkxcLo/s1600/Nick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq0KdsyDSlQE2r6B3NkvmGf5XWmWMHOV3JqYy12ggBMLYjA89t6lQUBv5piJ4YfJLwefNnoI8MKv7XO-C14Ci5PqiDnyMHe0_-sfWIKSQ-kS2NYrAQRCBnDGnNkxqwQDR6YoWpmkxcLo/s320/Nick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those of you who don't watch, this is Nick. He's a personal trainer from... er... somewhere... and I'm also pretty sure he is the non-cartoony version of THIS guy:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_drWEG4rsS2JHQjazv_-oaox9Vr7wzg8iAg6XV8SiT1v2xRnePnGV3VBLOmquwflmxp9LyHkUfVqNaFt9wo5d-hbL4n-3YpkIzmWcgUp3bhiJRbMzJhStIeeRiZts-l5UoJZwu3Q8Rs/s1600/Hercules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_drWEG4rsS2JHQjazv_-oaox9Vr7wzg8iAg6XV8SiT1v2xRnePnGV3VBLOmquwflmxp9LyHkUfVqNaFt9wo5d-hbL4n-3YpkIzmWcgUp3bhiJRbMzJhStIeeRiZts-l5UoJZwu3Q8Rs/s320/Hercules.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mean, he's a little less glowy, and a little less 'hunk-ules' but the similarities are there. As I watched the episode a second time with Brooke and Megan yesterday, every time he appeared on screen I would giggle and say 'Hercules!' (I don't think they appreciated it) Except for being a cartoon celebrity look-a-like, he seems to lean a little towards the 'dry toast' side of the personality scale. We'll see how far he makes it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- I have been in the process of watching One Tree Hill (The best show ever made) from beginning to end for the second time since it first aired, and as I started Season 6 the other day, mom realized she has never seen it. (What?!) That was unacceptable, so we've been watching it together. I forgot how much I love this season and it's even BETTER with someone who hasn't experienced it before. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGXo5NZZECndhFjMM2fQbN70BgCxZHwwXRyQ_bYNPuJI6kMwXfAuI2l6X9oSK9wRYePNIMG1J26GGRGXLGd6Mpf6zBa3RRH6Xmb_bcQFhoUc09ledOk01sZAtqSmYv4QoxD9NUwSUAvY/s1600/One+tree+hill+season+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGXo5NZZECndhFjMM2fQbN70BgCxZHwwXRyQ_bYNPuJI6kMwXfAuI2l6X9oSK9wRYePNIMG1J26GGRGXLGd6Mpf6zBa3RRH6Xmb_bcQFhoUc09ledOk01sZAtqSmYv4QoxD9NUwSUAvY/s1600/One+tree+hill+season+6.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- These are the books I'm currently reading:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dYz513VcieGwSbSdoPlmYCoD1r-HzaNpSN8A6HmKEY8p7jLYFT5wQy1qJdrpRSYIvLWYctS3E-XrwXIJ1QS3c3EeCKLdTQ_pIPHP26bbYsslF2pnNSZ6lBM_a41HMQ0LFYw_wUY7Ea4/s1600/May+2011+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dYz513VcieGwSbSdoPlmYCoD1r-HzaNpSN8A6HmKEY8p7jLYFT5wQy1qJdrpRSYIvLWYctS3E-XrwXIJ1QS3c3EeCKLdTQ_pIPHP26bbYsslF2pnNSZ6lBM_a41HMQ0LFYw_wUY7Ea4/s320/May+2011+038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, there are seven. No, I am not kidding. I always read 2 or 3 books at a time, but this is slightly ridiculous. However, there is a method behind my madness (kind of). I've been re-reading Scott Westerfield's <i>Uglies</i> series because I never did read the final book and I needed to refresh my memory of the first three before I dive into the last. I'm nearly through the<i> Pretty Little Liars</i> series, which I started before the Westerfield books and I couldn't just stop without finishing. <i>One Day</i> is about to be released as a movie, so naturally I wanted to read the book before I see it. <i>Beauty Queens</i> came highly recommended by John Green, which is reason enough to give it a try. Yesterday, Megan gave me <i>When It Happens</i> and <i>The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner</i> and I started reading them both because I was too lazy to come upstairs to get one of the books I'd already started, and finally, I'm reading <i>Lament</i> because I love Maggie Stiefvater's <i>Wolves of Mercy Falls</i> trilogy (of which the third and final book will be released on July 12th and of which I have already pre-ordered) and only recently discovered that she'd written other books. Of course I am reading them all at once because I hate getting my hands on a book and not immediately beginning to read it. I'll let you know what is worth reading as I finish each one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whew! So, there it is. A little something to make up for a blogless week. Even if you don't care about what I'm watching or reading, at least there was Nick-cules. You're welcome. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-9840036243838190522011-05-25T18:20:00.000-07:002011-05-25T18:20:34.927-07:00Wednesday 'Why': Utah, Weirdos, and Reality TV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So... if you don't watch The Bachelor/Bachelorette, you probably won't care to read this post... but you probably should anyway. Maybe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxslAxBXx1U/Td2fxJ8tu1I/AAAAAAAAAHo/Wkvv0eDbzRM/s1600/Bachelorette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxslAxBXx1U/Td2fxJ8tu1I/AAAAAAAAAHo/Wkvv0eDbzRM/s1600/Bachelorette.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>Today's Wednesday 'Why' is a little different, in that I haven't been able to come up with any acceptable answer. Feel free to let me know what YOU think.<br />
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</div><div>The new season of The Bachelorette Premiered on Monday and promises to be as entertaining as ever, but after watching the episode, I was left wondering:<br />
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</div><div><b>Why are all of the most ridiculous and hateable contestants on The Bachelor/ette from Utah?!</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>Technically, I'm only talking the last two seasons... but I feel like this is an unfortunate and somewhat disgracing trend for the majority of Utahns (aka those of us who are NOT crazy). </div><div><br />
</div><div>Exhibit A:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--KFpzZEdNjw/Td2fTJUiKxI/AAAAAAAAAHk/TNigRq5xMoc/s1600/Michelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--KFpzZEdNjw/Td2fTJUiKxI/AAAAAAAAAHk/TNigRq5xMoc/s1600/Michelle.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Michelle </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bachelor Season 15: Brad Womack</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Michelle was--by far-- the most ridiculous contestant last season. A hairstylist from Salt Lake City, She was super obnoxious, weirdly possessive of Brad from the very beginning, and just... well, psycho. At one point in the season, she woke up one morning with a black eye, claiming to not have any idea how it happened. Creepy. I'm thinking that some of the crazy can be chalked up to editing, since she seemed fairly normal in the 'Women Tell All' episode... and it has been rumored that she was hired as an actress to be scary-psycho, but regardless of whether or not that is true, I don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to see the movie she starred in recently (<i>Midway to Heaven). </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Exhibit B:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVWuK0yf_8r7iYUr-MtJL3Pd_NzgOPaVT7cD0IQDYOKhh9FHWqfhBvA-KgJcdXlDxl6KOUtwAvtEX5u1UYYkNFRp7gdTcWKqP1Q19bhLJepux-dVXJCtCbfEYzGhQ0YoyFmADZBDt9n4/s1600/Bentley+Williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVWuK0yf_8r7iYUr-MtJL3Pd_NzgOPaVT7cD0IQDYOKhh9FHWqfhBvA-KgJcdXlDxl6KOUtwAvtEX5u1UYYkNFRp7gdTcWKqP1Q19bhLJepux-dVXJCtCbfEYzGhQ0YoyFmADZBDt9n4/s320/Bentley+Williams.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bentley </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bachelorette Season 7: Ashley Hebert</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've only just been introduced to this piece of work, but it didn't take much to discover that Bentley has dirt bag potential. Apparently, Ashley received a call from a 'friend' (most likely Michelle) warning her that his fellow was only coming on the show to promote his career... or something. While I wouldn't normally take a proven psychopath's word, it only took the first episode to realize that Bentley is pretty much an A-hole. Here's the kicker-- Even after being warned about Bentley's sleeze-ball potential, Ashley STILL opted to give him a rose. I guess it wouldn't have suited to send this season's villain packing after only one night... but it's still enough to make me shake a fist at her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I realize that reality TV hardly attracts the cream of the crop, but back-to-back seasons featuring less-than-stellar Utahn contestants? Oy vey. Not exactly the image Utah wants to portray. (Unintentional rhyme) I am officially submitting my application to appear on the next Bachelor season to show the world that we don't breed weirdos here... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvx3Xco1hyUUw-klPgtQOHWNOfl8fh8i7JnBF0xr5_IJJYNvt485-XyFEiGSjP_CNzfDzzmmzmQjEz1zAU_zkWmQcjSNrnyrgXiHuHjERWsE_gXSqJ3oU5xaMy8j9viA50b8HAfmK4X8/s1600/hooded+weirdos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvx3Xco1hyUUw-klPgtQOHWNOfl8fh8i7JnBF0xr5_IJJYNvt485-XyFEiGSjP_CNzfDzzmmzmQjEz1zAU_zkWmQcjSNrnyrgXiHuHjERWsE_gXSqJ3oU5xaMy8j9viA50b8HAfmK4X8/s320/hooded+weirdos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Hooded Weirdos"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... or not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Wednesday!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-Once upon a time, I was going to post my thoughts on season finales. It hasn't happened yet. (Obviously) It may or may not still happen.-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-23861448663014702892011-05-18T20:46:00.000-07:002011-05-18T20:46:26.122-07:00Why I didn't do a Wednesday Why<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I couldn't really come up with anything good for my 'Wednesday Why' because I was having Season Finale overload (more on that in a later post... tomorrow... maybe.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyhoo...To make up for slacking off, here is probably the cutest video you will ever see, compliments of Elder Nathan in Africa: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxgQgZE5rK5nipC6-lIcZJO_91fxSa9kdCVtBhFwlXyqflwcTUlT-7eXF5nrdh4Ihucd7_ca036BNZKQNUvPg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Seriously... what could be better than that?! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Wednesday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-10388409185156201542011-05-12T07:58:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:35:55.398-07:00Stephanie At the DentistI've always hated the dentist. (Not the nice man, himself... I've had pretty ok dentists over the years) REPHRASE: I've always hated going to the dentist. Mostly because the hygienist would judge me for not flossing, and then as punishment for not flossing, She would play a little game called 'how bad can we make Stephanie's gums bleed by jamming floss up in there.' (NOT a fun game) Anyway, I digress. The point is, I don't hate the dentist anymore. I actually don't mind going at all. Perhaps I just grew up and accepted that it was going to happen every 6 months whether I wanted it to or not, or possibly this dentist's office is 31687354368 times better than any of the others. <div><br />
</div><div>Until today. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I had to go in this morning to have a cavity filled (my first in probably 6 years. No joke.) Naturally, I was a little nervous. It had been a while and I couldn't remember what to expect, but I was surprisingly ok not only with going back into the office for a second time this month, but also with an 8 am appointment. (I know, right?)</div><div><br />
</div><div>So... they take me back, and the hygienist asks me if I'd like to watch tv while they worked on me. </div><div><br />
</div><div>me: Sure!</div><div><br />
</div><div>her: What channel would you prefer?</div><div><br />
</div><div>me: Oh, anything is fine. I'm hardly ever up this early so I don't even know what's on.</div><div><br />
</div><div>her: 2? 4? 5?</div><div><br />
</div><div>me: Let's go with 2.</div><div><br />
</div><div>BAD DECISION, STEPHANIE. You'll never guess that the guest on The Early Show this morning was none other than:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fKjppZpSxLlYq_pvXF9JRSR5oHdgGZT8mv7Ciznj1ZK6kDQ69xlngzMgMxkb2g_2mZuXbktgLIw2Gbx5FmYFMwSM1QfhPYpHerOqfI5saN8TUB7yj-9bjr9eKKKq52aZ913RM4iSJcM/s1600/president-obama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fKjppZpSxLlYq_pvXF9JRSR5oHdgGZT8mv7Ciznj1ZK6kDQ69xlngzMgMxkb2g_2mZuXbktgLIw2Gbx5FmYFMwSM1QfhPYpHerOqfI5saN8TUB7yj-9bjr9eKKKq52aZ913RM4iSJcM/s320/president-obama.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div> our beloved President (or something), Obama-rama. So here I am, at the DENTIST, at 8 in the morning, watching OBAMA... on mute. (It gets worse) </div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-Note: I think his public speaking skills are lacking. He has an awkward cadence and seems to stumble over his words a lot of the time. I realize not everyone will agree, but I don't enjoy hearing him speak. Or watching him speak while muted.</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>Dr. Dentist then comes in and sticks a big needle in my gums. Multiple times. As he does so, you'll never guess what is playing on the radio... none other than my favorite cat-faced artist (sarcasm... minus the cat-face part. That's true)</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEJaAcVSONDP4IAWYGuTKt1I-mnIdnptPij6pcbatampTvSW9Y9Nx6jaf0l1ACrHiO_KvWD45N1u_K4rZt7vcwWRQF98jyXokzQWNBBCBgOgKx6fKLetC7qXx4ikSYoA7hMdoIxrSgj8/s1600/Taylor+Swift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEJaAcVSONDP4IAWYGuTKt1I-mnIdnptPij6pcbatampTvSW9Y9Nx6jaf0l1ACrHiO_KvWD45N1u_K4rZt7vcwWRQF98jyXokzQWNBBCBgOgKx6fKLetC7qXx4ikSYoA7hMdoIxrSgj8/s320/Taylor+Swift.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Taylor Swift. (For anyone who doesn't know, I'm like the anti-fan of Taylor Swift. She looks like a malnourished cat, and she sings hella whiny songs)</div><div><br />
</div><div>RECAP: I was at the DENTIST... at 8 in the MORNING... watching OBAMA on mute... and listening to TAYLOR SWIFT whine on the radio... with a big NEEDLE being shoved into my gums. </div><div><br />
</div><div>To top it all off, I was able to feel much of the drilling despite the best efforts of my friend, Novocaine.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Luckily, the drilling only lasted like 2 minutes, and I was out the door on my way home within 30. I still like this dentist and his office. They are super efficient and friendly. After all, it isn't really their fault that I chose channel 2, or that Obama is even more obnoxious when muted and dubbed over with a cat-faced celebrity singing whiny teenage songs... and I could have said something about the drilling, but it wasn't that bad. </div><div><br />
</div><div>...but I AM really glad it's over. See you in October, Dr. Dentist. </div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-27917560527351956762011-05-11T20:47:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:35:55.357-07:00Wednesday Why: Why I Love Free Theater TicketsNote: I think I did a pretty excellent job writing this post without including any spoilers... just in case someone still wants to see either work discussed. Go Me.<br />
<br />
I'd been hearing advertisements on the radio for this musical for quite a while:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pioneertheatre.org/files/2812/8442/8021/pgtop-sunset-boulevard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://www.pioneertheatre.org/files/2812/8442/8021/pgtop-sunset-boulevard.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I didn't know anything about it, except that it had to do with Hollywood, the music had been written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and it was playing at Pioneer Theater. I love Hollywood, I love the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and I love Pioneer Theater, so naturally I wanted to see it. My dad had mentioned that he had seen it in New York and didn't like it, but I still thought I might enjoy it if I could somehow come up with the cash to go.<br />
<br />
Luckily for me, Megan's grandparents found themselves unable to use their tickets to the Monday night show, and so I got to go with her. I'll rarely say no to anything free, but in this particular case, this is why I love free theater tickets:<br />
<br />
<b>If the show isn't worth the money, you don't have to feel buyer's remorse.</b><br />
<br />
I can definitely say that <i>Sunset Boulevard</i> was worth what I paid. (Just in case you forgot already... the tickets were free) The story seems promising when you read the synopsis:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">"Based on the 1950 film of the same title, the plot revolves around Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen era, living in the past in her decaying mansion on the fabled Los Angeles street. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path, she sees in him an opportunity to make her comeback to the big screen. Romance and tragedy follow."</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">-Courtesy of Wikipedia... the greatest source of </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">possibly true information ever-</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Romance? Yes. Tragedy? Absolutely. But what they fail to mention is that most of the romance is anything but romantic (in fact, it's a little creepy. Or a lot.) and the tragedy is that you sat through the entire thing. I'd rather read the synopsis than actually see the show.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ok. It wasn't THAT bad. The music was actually fantastic and the actors were incredibly talented. It really was just the story that disturbed me. Some of the characters and relationships seemed super under-developed where I thought that they could have been explored a little more fully. Some of the relationships just never should have happened because they kind of gave me nightmares. Speaking of nightmares, Norma Desmond (main-character and certifiable loon) looked like this:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://erinandemma.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/yzma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://erinandemma.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/yzma.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">No joke. I'm pretty sure Ysma was Norma Desmond in a pre-animated life. Overall, I can honestly say I would never pay money to see this show... but I was happy to be disappointed in and slightly creeped out by it for free.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking of disappointment... I saw <i>Something Borrowed</i> last night. I've been waiting WEEKS for a good chick-flick movie (because there has been an incredible lack of good chick movies at the theaters lately) and all my hopes were shattered in this one. Maybe it was just leftover disappointment from the theater the day before, or maybe I expected too much, but I really REALLY didn't like how it ended. Now I must get my hands on the book and see if it has anything better to offer, or at least a little more detail as to why it ended the way it did. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In other news... my birthday is this Friday! Here's to hoping that all this disappointment doesn't make it to the weekend. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-7927054302543187762011-05-10T14:00:00.000-07:002011-05-10T14:02:38.420-07:00Food + Family + Fone Calls + Fapresents= Fantastic Famother's Day.Been trying to come up with a real blog title... Unfortunately, after spending an unspecified amount of time (because I would be embarrassed to admit how long I spent thinking about it instead of doing anything that was most likely more important) the best I could come up with was 'Blaarrrgghh', which is pretty much just a manifestation of my frustration with not having any ideas.<br />
<br />
... It does kind of sound like an ogre trying to say 'blog' though...<br />
<br />
I think I like it. For now.<br />
<br />
Moving on. This post comes to you in ONE part.<br />
<br />
Part One: Mother's Day. Mother's Day was great, mostly because I have the best mom in the world, but also because all of my siblings that are currently residing in this country were able to come spend the day. Here are some highlights:<br />
<br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Highlight #1:</u> Cole and Chris made dinner. We had the BEST grilled chicken, cheese tortellini, caesar salad, and garlic bread EVER. Not only did it taste great, it was nice for mom and my sisters to have a break from the kitchen on their special day.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Highlight #2:</u></b> Presents. This year, my siblings and I got my mom something I knew she wanted to have:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nLOKftwTsUnL_seVOBXnyESCw-JQ1t0tpS1NjijxhhunTlx5Zvq7n0B4RSYu5bmPf2YEA9WD9AFmAXH-6uxyV85S_enp563kAS-Y6OBctb4O1DkcZHpJdGae98zC2KTZ8f3Apm5C4pI/s1600/100_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nLOKftwTsUnL_seVOBXnyESCw-JQ1t0tpS1NjijxhhunTlx5Zvq7n0B4RSYu5bmPf2YEA9WD9AFmAXH-6uxyV85S_enp563kAS-Y6OBctb4O1DkcZHpJdGae98zC2KTZ8f3Apm5C4pI/s320/100_0617.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Her very own copy of the 1998 Eighth Edition of Mosby's GenRx: The Complete Reference for Generic and Brand Drugs/! ... Now, I know what you're thinking<i> ("Um...what would ANYONE want with a stupid old drug book?!)</i> Come on, guys, Don't judge a book by it's cover. It's what's inside that counts:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcMbckmTT6dUvr0BLCdKssNIOTSZ9ngnBSBwr3JJU8VzWFCt1IL6zGRlWNZGKS7HCNQlKhBn1HOQgsYcAwZWwBM46YVzwin-EVsjULVAfJE8iMc4HS-7awE5QuH6d2GvYNLuwcVYn7NM/s1600/100_0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcMbckmTT6dUvr0BLCdKssNIOTSZ9ngnBSBwr3JJU8VzWFCt1IL6zGRlWNZGKS7HCNQlKhBn1HOQgsYcAwZWwBM46YVzwin-EVsjULVAfJE8iMc4HS-7awE5QuH6d2GvYNLuwcVYn7NM/s320/100_0620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We knew she wanted Season five of Bones, but I figured that just wrapping it would be boring, and I didn't want her to be able to look at the size and shape of the package and know it was a DVD, so after a quick trip to the local DI to find the biggest and most obscure book they had, 2 dollars, and a box knife, I was able to turn a somewhat boring gift into a pretty good laugh. It was priceless to see the look on her face as she tried to figure out if it was some sort of joke without offending any of us or admitting she didn't get it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And what's a good present without a good card? (Before I show you the card I ended up with, let me just take a moment to acknowledge the complete lack of good greeting cards these days... and by 'good' I mean cards that aren't mushy, cheesy, touchy-feely, and/or rhyming. I looked in more than one place and only found TWO acceptable mother's day cards. And those two were nearly 5 bucks each. Ridiculous. So, naturally I opted to make my own...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Rrx4EQZXedwvccjmCBWHruv6KDGYApQj93Y2_7vVByoUP8dp6esKVwZW-HOFUYaysM8uJ7vBu6rc8sbE33eySBrwo5uVnWSrKY03cofj_gleU5LqruPQRl7OSO0mMbj6MlV3-zlPPlQ/s1600/100_0615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Rrx4EQZXedwvccjmCBWHruv6KDGYApQj93Y2_7vVByoUP8dp6esKVwZW-HOFUYaysM8uJ7vBu6rc8sbE33eySBrwo5uVnWSrKY03cofj_gleU5LqruPQRl7OSO0mMbj6MlV3-zlPPlQ/s320/100_0615.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-Front-</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIl062cp4GP4DAXyaUJcc_zSR-uUfr3llMnpee3qnSczmqkpBJpEB747rruL7rMxoycRwaz2XLhDG1mP0QDXgjURUduGjBTBwCy-vnPC3I06tgiMgPuXyMCK6gVNjeJfz7VVGEAvOZ08/s1600/100_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIl062cp4GP4DAXyaUJcc_zSR-uUfr3llMnpee3qnSczmqkpBJpEB747rruL7rMxoycRwaz2XLhDG1mP0QDXgjURUduGjBTBwCy-vnPC3I06tgiMgPuXyMCK6gVNjeJfz7VVGEAvOZ08/s320/100_0616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-inside-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... That's seriously the cheapest ass I've ever seen. It doesn't get much better than 75% off. Ok, I admit that I didn't come up with that on my own. I borrowed the idea from one of the two acceptable cards I found in the store... but my card was a billion times better... and it didn't cost me anything. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Highlight #3 and #4: </u>Missionary Phone Calls. Talking to the Elders Kenner is always something I look forward to on Mother's Day and Christmas. This time, it was even more exciting than usual. With Nathan, it was because it was the last phone call we get with him before he comes HOME!! I can't even believe it's already been nearly 2 years and I can't wait to see him again (even though he refuses to be reminded of how soon his time in Africa will be up) I miss him so much! He may not be counting the days... but I sure am! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For Daniel, it was because of this: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dTUmjm2hgYVuM4gOzsQ1e0rCdGOOVlpjqjet411DL9-T9HwybRyi61uPJwuJrOBaaHlHSqZhOyGeEECmEK5MoRnx24r6kmGwIT2Wkon9Hhw2O1Dp1awi2zQaLEEYt3ndK3YXTDpe7WE/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dTUmjm2hgYVuM4gOzsQ1e0rCdGOOVlpjqjet411DL9-T9HwybRyi61uPJwuJrOBaaHlHSqZhOyGeEECmEK5MoRnx24r6kmGwIT2Wkon9Hhw2O1Dp1awi2zQaLEEYt3ndK3YXTDpe7WE/s320/Video+call+snapshot+11.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not only did we get to TALK to him, we were able to SEE him!!! I'd never really used Skype before, but I am definitely a fan. Dan was able to see how much Lucas and Kyle have grown, as well as his newest nephew, Jack. I was able to watch him nearly pee his trousers with laughter when I showed him my brilliant mother's day card and when I reminded him of a heated argument over whether or not a certain someone was able to bench-press an elephant:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67hWhwy6QDM-NZJsXj49f0UJ74J7rTPLHUKvjQDUndletf8CIadbQ9EUjHoegfMBGw1IL8x62pbpzW4kvUO6lQ51CvGmNueVlwkzmsWJZ8woedIQ95bxMqIOVCEsd9tnqFC7kEk-4Mi4/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67hWhwy6QDM-NZJsXj49f0UJ74J7rTPLHUKvjQDUndletf8CIadbQ9EUjHoegfMBGw1IL8x62pbpzW4kvUO6lQ51CvGmNueVlwkzmsWJZ8woedIQ95bxMqIOVCEsd9tnqFC7kEk-4Mi4/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+2.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But most importantly, we were able to make faces at each other. Seriously... I didn't have much to say, but we spent a good amount of time pulling faces... Proof?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdQkAaLEROVqA19PbvOL76AbnSIHkR6rBCHo-JMNpreQs3Dfy1Ja8O1Z-oVmiZRA1DHqsPWFNILqShdhFMX0C5ihCTG-QiwqWgpd8fQzLwzl0KoUurvmAIi614bDA1XZ_FZQHkmgkR6Y/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdQkAaLEROVqA19PbvOL76AbnSIHkR6rBCHo-JMNpreQs3Dfy1Ja8O1Z-oVmiZRA1DHqsPWFNILqShdhFMX0C5ihCTG-QiwqWgpd8fQzLwzl0KoUurvmAIi614bDA1XZ_FZQHkmgkR6Y/s320/Video+call+snapshot+4.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-The Dan we all know and love-</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGErQZdAmeC22PMxUAogn4S6cuJ_i7ONVxj-wgQXgBfXOJ_BEyZ7rliPSKE88UqtztwCD_5u9v64QzjTmmuEuUA66R2w5Pgc-m1csZInz_xe_z89P0uSNSIm048zEcJxn4A9wM0Tl1IY/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGErQZdAmeC22PMxUAogn4S6cuJ_i7ONVxj-wgQXgBfXOJ_BEyZ7rliPSKE88UqtztwCD_5u9v64QzjTmmuEuUA66R2w5Pgc-m1csZInz_xe_z89P0uSNSIm048zEcJxn4A9wM0Tl1IY/s320/Video+call+snapshot+6.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-and again... best.face.ever.-</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6FlOU5wtfufz_sUYEUcVWYKz76sIjH-jqGZF5ZPf-vsdgP60pqUt3pH8SnMWev-cNM2wiXaWnEjdT9JPwVLiHEWM6voNva_ce1Twunl9odkx9vH4by8caNZ2lyjNA88ZQk2AWVb_Kjg/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6FlOU5wtfufz_sUYEUcVWYKz76sIjH-jqGZF5ZPf-vsdgP60pqUt3pH8SnMWev-cNM2wiXaWnEjdT9JPwVLiHEWM6voNva_ce1Twunl9odkx9vH4by8caNZ2lyjNA88ZQk2AWVb_Kjg/s320/Video+call+snapshot+8.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-and again-</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYz0wujnV-vdamCGRvobEqhWvIe-y-HOKoclhXIMaeHoUQQ8xVc1BSteoFTXsOpxlGV-K8sDqnk5XWixkTrVUWdo7JvCGQNCsDgnkPCOYKNPxQ3Jm4fAs_NLVRQItNf_qy1itjF5XhvM/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYz0wujnV-vdamCGRvobEqhWvIe-y-HOKoclhXIMaeHoUQQ8xVc1BSteoFTXsOpxlGV-K8sDqnk5XWixkTrVUWdo7JvCGQNCsDgnkPCOYKNPxQ3Jm4fAs_NLVRQItNf_qy1itjF5XhvM/s320/Video+call+snapshot+9.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-aaaaaand... again.-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh man. I miss him, too. The only thing better than having a brother on a mission... is having TWO! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I guess the day can be summed up in a simple 'F' word equation: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Food + Family + Fone calls + Fapresents = FANTASTIC Famother's day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Also, a shout out to Megan for taking my Sunday shift at work so I could participate in these festivities. You're the best.)</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-26157569091641471012011-05-04T11:06:00.000-07:002011-05-04T11:06:54.691-07:00Wednesday 'Why': Why haven't I seen this movie before now?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoOBWAJSkcUAJRddpspLoCQXFQdOi4oUS4MrWBVkB00_XW68t7yt0QWu_jwOSck80iFQ5YCKYoU78cquSogjPcUoRaftX_ba2mmnymEgu27YIzqWi0z-Worz04Fvu8EDBzekEYK8c9Z4/s1600/wednesday+why.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoOBWAJSkcUAJRddpspLoCQXFQdOi4oUS4MrWBVkB00_XW68t7yt0QWu_jwOSck80iFQ5YCKYoU78cquSogjPcUoRaftX_ba2mmnymEgu27YIzqWi0z-Worz04Fvu8EDBzekEYK8c9Z4/s320/wednesday+why.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
(Note: This was NOT my original Wednesday 'Why' question. Ah, spontaneity.)<br />
<br />
Brooke, Megan and I made plans yesterday to see this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Nk_H-jd9ucR6SEBh_EM-OvEQI9utz6mQio9FWM5HPU1NF8LEJHVpJHrCGpjgFLWlXAp2RLt1m0PQJFG_Vcdk_fW8sJwFzZDqqEQgXVwRkANWRl_LNX9wVyAJj6LAqFQ1mY2c5tcli6M/s1600/Disney-Prom-Movie-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Nk_H-jd9ucR6SEBh_EM-OvEQI9utz6mQio9FWM5HPU1NF8LEJHVpJHrCGpjgFLWlXAp2RLt1m0PQJFG_Vcdk_fW8sJwFzZDqqEQgXVwRkANWRl_LNX9wVyAJj6LAqFQ1mY2c5tcli6M/s320/Disney-Prom-Movie-Poster.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and it was excellent. Not kidding. I loved it. However, Probably the best part of the movie was when I stepped up to the ticket counter and said, "One ticket to Prom, please" and then immediately followed up my request with "Awww... I just bought a ticket to Prom! Flashback!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Um...Yeah. I totally said that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luckily, ticket counter guy laughed instead of telling me I was a moron, so I didn't feel as ridiculous. Brooke and Megan also laughed, but they should be used to me by now. Anyway, as I said before, the movie was excellent, filled with typical teenage angst over a small shed on the school property burning down whilst containing ALL the decorations for Prom and therefore threatening to RUIN the most important night in the life of all 17 year olds... among other things. I'll take a moment to point out that I love teenage angst movies. Especially when Disney is involved. And I am not afraid to admit it. Nor am I being sarcastic. Seriously. I don't ever remember romanticizing prom night to the extent that the characters do, but I found myself feeling nostalgic for a time when my biggest worry was what to wear to a dance and who to go with. Ok, I don't think those things were ever my biggest worry, but it's nice to remind myself that high school was great. And also that I don't miss it. At all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But that wasn't the movie to which I was referring in my 'Why' question. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
Prom got out just before 10, and none of us were ready to go home, so we immediately decided to choose another movie to see. (NOTE: Tuesdays at the movie theater are only $6.25 all day long, so two movies are only slightly more expensive than one movie on any other day.) We went back to the ticket counter and bought tickets to this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlxAcXv_jfX1TfaNj5j2NglxTTSAlAmsTh-QeFfTlWW3J6eg28bbQkIrhHlVmkG-9iwAvwi7tZGuQBKn5JuZ0sPapN1X-0LQf4EjkMMR3nFwNUct5qAfirFs7_NPEUeJPeZPfnFDuYtw/s1600/Arthur-Movie-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlxAcXv_jfX1TfaNj5j2NglxTTSAlAmsTh-QeFfTlWW3J6eg28bbQkIrhHlVmkG-9iwAvwi7tZGuQBKn5JuZ0sPapN1X-0LQf4EjkMMR3nFwNUct5qAfirFs7_NPEUeJPeZPfnFDuYtw/s320/Arthur-Movie-Poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Naturally, we purchased these tickets from the same ticket counter guy as before, who smiled and shook his head a little asking how our first movie was, but probably thinking 'These girls are ridiculous. Especially the one who made that crack about prom tickets earlier.' Anyway, THIS is where I ask the question:<br />
<br />
Why Haven't I Seen This Movie Before Now?!<br />
<br />
Weeks ago, my brother and his wife had said to me 'We saw Arthur last night and it was HILARIOUSLY amazing!' (Theyprobablydidn'tsay'hilariouslyamazing') I'd completely forgotten about it until last night. I'm not a huge fan of Russell Brand, but I love Helen Mirren, so I went in to it a little skeptical.<br />
<br />
Oh.My.Goodness. I laughed so hard that I was in serious danger of wetting my brand new pair of Eddie Bauer Curvy Fit Bootcut Jeans. To hear Helen Mirren say 'Wash your winky' while wearing a Darth Vader voice-changing helmet was well worth my $6.25, and there were many more laughable moments throughout the entire film.<br />
<br />
Go.See.This.Movie.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-66969706117902462762011-04-27T22:48:00.000-07:002011-04-27T22:48:28.427-07:00Introducing the 'Wednesday Why'Since I've decided it's pretty much impossible for me to do a Wordless Wednesday, I've decided to do a Wednesday Why... in which I answer a 'why' question. Why? Because 'why' is a <i>doubleyou</i> word that doubles as a question. A question seeks an answerer with an answer, and an answer requires words. I like words. Therefore, a 'Wednesday Why' is a much better fit for me. So... without further ado... today's Wednesday Why question is...<br />
<br />
<br />
"Why was today such a good day?"<br />
<br />
Answer(s):<br />
<br />
(thisanswercomestoyouinthreeparts)<br />
<br />
1. I checked the mail for the first time in 51687354 days (notthatmanydays) and was pleasantly surprised. BACKSTORY: We have a post office box and often go days without checking it. Dad is usually the one who remembers to go, so when he is out of town (note:heiscurrentlyoutoftown) we forget to go. However, as previously mentioned, I decided to stop by the box today. This is what I found...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxJNZbkia7YncHZmnmxn9md1rkUSmaFi7oNR7dnNKhkQIHm4kNQ6t30I1l_VxJtt-gRvG9r0Ea86zFwd4Vaw19SGtaFL8TiOGoEjbtW7LFbCAk0KZ_ydUmk4jv4ibU25XVVlhD3qpFGE/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxJNZbkia7YncHZmnmxn9md1rkUSmaFi7oNR7dnNKhkQIHm4kNQ6t30I1l_VxJtt-gRvG9r0Ea86zFwd4Vaw19SGtaFL8TiOGoEjbtW7LFbCAk0KZ_ydUmk4jv4ibU25XVVlhD3qpFGE/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5 of the 8 pieces (Idon'treallyknowhowmanypiecestherewere) of mail were for me!!! A graduation card from some awesome ward members, an official invite to Brooke's BFA show, and three missionary letters! YEEESS. I love me some mail. I guess not checking every day pays off when letters/cards/invitations stack up and allow for a post office box extravaganza!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. After hitting up the post office, I stopped in at the library because something I had put on hold had come in. Much to my surprise, this little guy was waiting for me...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-M59qWF_VRI35P8xOio2O3pnFUoLAKlb72h-Gcx6y5KyEuhZTKozTr7_D67ul5_Fbma5O8d6PP7sE3KzUAYy5niDUqB_NAORTiK2fZj1xlRRo5jE_sn9U57RW_XBmfh8wR-f63mYUY8/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-M59qWF_VRI35P8xOio2O3pnFUoLAKlb72h-Gcx6y5KyEuhZTKozTr7_D67ul5_Fbma5O8d6PP7sE3KzUAYy5niDUqB_NAORTiK2fZj1xlRRo5jE_sn9U57RW_XBmfh8wR-f63mYUY8/s320/035.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been DYING to read this book since I found out it was going to be made into a movie, but there were 64687435 holds (notthatmanybutalot) on it at the library, so I ended up seeing the movie first. I was like number 250 on the list, so I figured it would take a year to get a copy. Not so! I'll be sure to let y'all know how it is. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Date night with mom! Mom and I haven't been able to spend a lot of time together this week so far because of our work schedules, so with dad out of town, we decided to have a dinner-movie night. We went to Firehouse Subs (Best. Sandwiches. Ever. Seriously) and then to the dollar movies to see Just Go With It. Super funny. Totally worth the buck. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that, my friends, is a 'Wednesday Why'. Now for a chocolatey baby:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yJ8sjVw7VXI10q16Piga3X1AkXBcrXSn2H9tdKJHFiNVi7L33vlqByR8jXOMQozLblYq4iM2yYnorbTYZiWyCu7zbODcw9HM6-_OHHF7_STsoezPxfJYrexUq9UTp9yak_ctKsVIkbI/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yJ8sjVw7VXI10q16Piga3X1AkXBcrXSn2H9tdKJHFiNVi7L33vlqByR8jXOMQozLblYq4iM2yYnorbTYZiWyCu7zbODcw9HM6-_OHHF7_STsoezPxfJYrexUq9UTp9yak_ctKsVIkbI/s320/009.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaQo_nI6qY-WOJwXa4iFiL1ruEUPjEwg-1yNIZt-_RNRnI62EbDxuMLTdMmT3_PA_IlWnT6LIiUAHmgpfSr43mIi_AjAi2yTsoT1jEkDg6ZX2As1RvoS5xhY-YGOfTDfydSB1zjOwRZA/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaQo_nI6qY-WOJwXa4iFiL1ruEUPjEwg-1yNIZt-_RNRnI62EbDxuMLTdMmT3_PA_IlWnT6LIiUAHmgpfSr43mIi_AjAi2yTsoT1jEkDg6ZX2As1RvoS5xhY-YGOfTDfydSB1zjOwRZA/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... because for any of you NOT having a great day, what better cure for sorrow is there than a chocolate covered baby? (that sounds strangely cannibalistic) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Wednesday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>Soon to come:</b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Graduating from College and a long-awaited return to Fillmore City</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-29120709183642373252011-04-20T18:05:00.000-07:002011-04-20T18:05:54.029-07:00Word-full Wednesday: It Must Be Official...Because my new t-shirt says so!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWO7lMEG8-DmPelu_r2SiDzP3cy9BzBWD2UcoBfaC76J3y-kiKNlMiAPoiV5aojpn4E7YwuoXh_SohMPkw6hXP4dM2D994vRLELJt0vklfO8wh_toZuGdv_p08fw_lUs3rREoYB-JaxA/s1600/100_0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWO7lMEG8-DmPelu_r2SiDzP3cy9BzBWD2UcoBfaC76J3y-kiKNlMiAPoiV5aojpn4E7YwuoXh_SohMPkw6hXP4dM2D994vRLELJt0vklfO8wh_toZuGdv_p08fw_lUs3rREoYB-JaxA/s320/100_0574.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-spoils from my graduation preparation</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> morning in Provo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> with mom</span>-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mean, what good is it to be a BYU Alumna if you don't have an item of clothing that declares it to be so?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">NOTE- I'm mildly annoyed that my tassel places me in the Class of 2011 when I clearly graduated in 2010. grr. At least it is white and not brown (No Offense Brooke) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-71389904187787570042011-04-07T15:11:00.000-07:002011-04-07T15:11:24.767-07:00A New Lou (An unusual, but incredible fairy tale of renovation)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived a loo. Named Lou.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRmro3ZkTU2-EqiOBLH6EGAUct2gPuFoY4bUgG3abS2Wl59q5zuDrTZZdNR0d9UXoTA93R8fHeFYxvawQyDsulwMru-uO9JRvpUErInjoWDmrU97G1BE1u0y0hfmD1KpJ6QW7BtotvTs/s1600/Lou.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRmro3ZkTU2-EqiOBLH6EGAUct2gPuFoY4bUgG3abS2Wl59q5zuDrTZZdNR0d9UXoTA93R8fHeFYxvawQyDsulwMru-uO9JRvpUErInjoWDmrU97G1BE1u0y0hfmD1KpJ6QW7BtotvTs/s320/Lou.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lou was just an ordinary loo residing in a fairly ordinary space. He was generally content with his surroundings, however, he sometimes dreamed of something greater.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It wasn't that he was unappreciated-no-his space was frequented often by three somewhat burly fellows who visited regularly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLJ_TMdKKGOQro_w0wSxtA7vVwkFyNQhKndjRksMLypmnrL52dys2tk-GHmp_CT-EtzNzX9hDvCQwBiMuNwW61BG1bORLNE1f-jqwoa1qE39Ep-OIC5S6nWTTfRZnex_cVTHx-B8CTAo/s1600/boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLJ_TMdKKGOQro_w0wSxtA7vVwkFyNQhKndjRksMLypmnrL52dys2tk-GHmp_CT-EtzNzX9hDvCQwBiMuNwW61BG1bORLNE1f-jqwoa1qE39Ep-OIC5S6nWTTfRZnex_cVTHx-B8CTAo/s320/boys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">but despite their handsome and clean cut appearances, they habitually left all within the space feeling grimy and unattractive, including Lou.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dUrkZLBK2UsXPV_EiOKj4oUHEJQRLsxDvAz4vtydEW2cwvUQNkySIdo2w3lHAm_CGwqCN7D8PYpdfE7h5NxOHbmQVIKgJNe3Ab0xys85QX2zTDOWR8H9KvYFeZB2EKwVIJ9HhECvPy8/s1600/camera+03.29+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dUrkZLBK2UsXPV_EiOKj4oUHEJQRLsxDvAz4vtydEW2cwvUQNkySIdo2w3lHAm_CGwqCN7D8PYpdfE7h5NxOHbmQVIKgJNe3Ab0xys85QX2zTDOWR8H9KvYFeZB2EKwVIJ9HhECvPy8/s320/camera+03.29+059.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Occasionally, a beautiful young maiden would stop in to brush her teeth, use the mirror, or to scatter bottles, lotions and all sorts of beauty products across the counter, but she never stayed very long and didn't dare to enter the shower, fearing what the men may have left behind. Instead, she chose to journey to one of the other bathrooms in the house. Lou often wondered if his room would ever be beautiful and clean enough for her to feel comfortable using.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Years passed, and the three gentlemen and lady all traveled far, leaving Lou feeling alone and mostly abandoned. He grew to hate his ugly surroundings--the bland walls, the floor, half linoleum and half carpet (whoever thought carpet in a bathroom was a good idea must have had a few screws loose), and the dreadful shower, boxed in by water-stained glass doors. Although he feared he would never be acceptable enough to have visitors again, Lou tried to maintain a pleasant and positive attitude. He made friends with the creatures who passed through, and often held sing-a-long parties</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4A3xFE5r6cAwCn9cv4lYEblQMPhyphenhyphenGn-hd3uEavAgwvIJodrTSIv-mQUERZqtJSRsRHXsgs-SAOQolys8OQo8rTRYl1tskuBKxE8tZXTXlrUoYKATM3Qvy2jk8U1uL5hnUrGxXdv1eoI/s1600/friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4A3xFE5r6cAwCn9cv4lYEblQMPhyphenhyphenGn-hd3uEavAgwvIJodrTSIv-mQUERZqtJSRsRHXsgs-SAOQolys8OQo8rTRYl1tskuBKxE8tZXTXlrUoYKATM3Qvy2jk8U1uL5hnUrGxXdv1eoI/s320/friends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One day, the maiden returned! Lou was so happy to see her again, but still constantly worried that his space wouldn't be beautiful enough for her... but the girl had an idea...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiiULe2gfJahLdrpAv9n01ggpibzhOXU8TjHWb6Y-1fSSiA5rma6I1IPj4Nal-oLSxlzTZS_6mKbZSVFCqwbJ-ubIFMgZ4kbDVn3wYH3R5C2F8M3bhz4ZpDn00jcGn3MoodDVuMye6fQ/s1600/idea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiiULe2gfJahLdrpAv9n01ggpibzhOXU8TjHWb6Y-1fSSiA5rma6I1IPj4Nal-oLSxlzTZS_6mKbZSVFCqwbJ-ubIFMgZ4kbDVn3wYH3R5C2F8M3bhz4ZpDn00jcGn3MoodDVuMye6fQ/s320/idea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the help of her insanely talented and creative mother and a few supplies, she would fix up the bathroom! Together, they removed Lou from his long-time home and began to renovate. First, they tore up the unsightly carpet and linoleum, replacing it with shiny new tile. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="goog_462667727"></span><span id="goog_462667728"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVStmL7eQehvVVBTEDAH9aNPZAisQqckZw_BOfMDuoAr0ar0obv3N1d99rtTSwHnXYwBTdg6WEXrGNR2uiDedJuSyDsreLdHKUkMFTCVqxu2ebt9B1c-9Zzvp13LF9hVtFlFA5OmCd8Y/s1600/camera+03.29+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVStmL7eQehvVVBTEDAH9aNPZAisQqckZw_BOfMDuoAr0ar0obv3N1d99rtTSwHnXYwBTdg6WEXrGNR2uiDedJuSyDsreLdHKUkMFTCVqxu2ebt9B1c-9Zzvp13LF9hVtFlFA5OmCd8Y/s320/camera+03.29+064.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, they painted over the bland walls with a vibrant new color...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBPS6e-bCO9Qt_cmkUwfzTATkLS4FfQbZapat5wTRKv5cP68X4gT6VHYvCxAbZMZ1vWZPWEV7MiZplxH5HJlA8Z5nhrZdBZdSH9IOvuR3-wiPTHQ9QO-S-rRpgXAWyQAmgObHBDoXNBQ/s1600/camera+03.29+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBPS6e-bCO9Qt_cmkUwfzTATkLS4FfQbZapat5wTRKv5cP68X4gT6VHYvCxAbZMZ1vWZPWEV7MiZplxH5HJlA8Z5nhrZdBZdSH9IOvuR3-wiPTHQ9QO-S-rRpgXAWyQAmgObHBDoXNBQ/s320/camera+03.29+066.JPG" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When that was finished, they replaced all of the old fixtures--light switch covers, towel rods, drawer and cupboard knobs--and even replaced the unpleasant glass shower doors with a shower rod and a bright new shower curtain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lou watched all of this from the hallway where he had been carefully placed out of the way, becoming more and more excited with each new step of the process and patiently waiting for the glorious day when he would be able to return to his improved home. When that day finally game, he beamed as he took in his new surroundings...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpIxi8kU_DCUvk8tJSMSagB6tJuwj_5W3hFJ7RO6evuB9d1d856i-gkyPUbzQiNuw421EoV2XNZT1zFP8yrXsD38oo5QQAokgyOVe6UrILIoFqLrN82H4sXUAdm-A_TJb-E3UrCOHs-M/s1600/100_0547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpIxi8kU_DCUvk8tJSMSagB6tJuwj_5W3hFJ7RO6evuB9d1d856i-gkyPUbzQiNuw421EoV2XNZT1zFP8yrXsD38oo5QQAokgyOVe6UrILIoFqLrN82H4sXUAdm-A_TJb-E3UrCOHs-M/s320/100_0547.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- new curtain, towels, and towel rod-</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVOAj4xYE-WAgGufc0JNCJTMCcxnlG7B5PhxpIeZkAcO2E5DlDr-WGwvybc3vl1U5uxZi6CbD68eHwlPxmAE4v4gCBfqOfmch-ef_H70X2nV7h6lFl0YEoZCovtadns-lyAJbDTIZtmA/s1600/100_0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVOAj4xYE-WAgGufc0JNCJTMCcxnlG7B5PhxpIeZkAcO2E5DlDr-WGwvybc3vl1U5uxZi6CbD68eHwlPxmAE4v4gCBfqOfmch-ef_H70X2nV7h6lFl0YEoZCovtadns-lyAJbDTIZtmA/s320/100_0549.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-shower curtain-</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu3FSOpXao-6Yj3GeXkjzc_BwyYxHnWd0wAREpk302NTpLza1rMBJV6Dg67llEpkbdDv5i3k00YUj2Oyn0XQycnnzLy0rFPvwTizVswG4z3yN0ZyHrBcN9UQ3pau6ALSOliVZWodoic4/s1600/100_0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu3FSOpXao-6Yj3GeXkjzc_BwyYxHnWd0wAREpk302NTpLza1rMBJV6Dg67llEpkbdDv5i3k00YUj2Oyn0XQycnnzLy0rFPvwTizVswG4z3yN0ZyHrBcN9UQ3pau6ALSOliVZWodoic4/s320/100_0553.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-NOTE: I am proud to say that the counter has remained clean and clear of any</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">beauty product clutter since this project was completed... mostly thanks to the wall fixtures for my </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">blow dryer/straightener as well as THIS sweet little addition...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZlYchsxE4wHE7QKdRq7zR9Y6ZPH8xRh33_gsgTICYgJO5F1weI3lBGSg3yX7CHZBtfqWE1zrBXo_aoIMlxgWDl300VKQdfB7WGlVwXaiVkz3_mlEc-jtbwpHUKndOICZHVRoMZk964c/s1600/100_0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZlYchsxE4wHE7QKdRq7zR9Y6ZPH8xRh33_gsgTICYgJO5F1weI3lBGSg3yX7CHZBtfqWE1zrBXo_aoIMlxgWDl300VKQdfB7WGlVwXaiVkz3_mlEc-jtbwpHUKndOICZHVRoMZk964c/s320/100_0550.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">... Removable drawers for easy access to all the junk I use, AND it holds extra towels... genius-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everything was bright, shiny and new! Lou finally had a home he could be proud of and looked forward to spending endless days in the company of the beautiful maiden from now on, fully expecting to live happily ever after.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... at least until the boys return. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7Ltd9j_bqGTYlG_1_9PSKcQtK3etic9EsbigxuU27lE0jEnu193tFHeytgikKWit3cfcGOal18Bo2yPWlg2fTtbz2xurIVp8mjNMKEylfYSb_OhsYKAujC-F40yMdiHdLiRCZ9LgG5o/s1600/before+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7Ltd9j_bqGTYlG_1_9PSKcQtK3etic9EsbigxuU27lE0jEnu193tFHeytgikKWit3cfcGOal18Bo2yPWlg2fTtbz2xurIVp8mjNMKEylfYSb_OhsYKAujC-F40yMdiHdLiRCZ9LgG5o/s320/before+after.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The End.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-38868128522818765122011-03-31T13:17:00.000-07:002011-03-31T13:17:09.263-07:00Titles, Gifts, and Shooting GunsThis post comes to you in two parts, but first, a quick note about titles:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo_d7hwXxt_50LW6TQEVINZgYJEjZDW2VT8aIK857488xiXMeej6aUdpqE-cBUuSUqToIwuM6P7CT3Ge2BQHIPHy1bJtYbb2ynVMd3uTXezauEqcN9sZlAmFq07pJkh7EZDqDJUWNPV4/s1600/question+mark+polaroid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo_d7hwXxt_50LW6TQEVINZgYJEjZDW2VT8aIK857488xiXMeej6aUdpqE-cBUuSUqToIwuM6P7CT3Ge2BQHIPHy1bJtYbb2ynVMd3uTXezauEqcN9sZlAmFq07pJkh7EZDqDJUWNPV4/s320/question+mark+polaroid.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />
This blog is in serious need of a title. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to come up with anything that I like enough to use yet. I am now officially taking suggestions.<br />
<br />
Ok. Moving on...<br />
<br />
<b><u>Part One</u></b>: In Which Mom and Dad Award Me For Being Awesome<br />
<br />
... ok. They actually awarded me for graduating from college, but the fact that I graduated from college makes me pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. (And I do) It has always been a goal of mine to attend and graduate from BYU, and I've done it! Anyway, I graduated back in December, but since it was so close to Christmas, and the actual commencement ceremony isn't until April, mom and dad decided to hold off on getting me a graduation present... until last night. That's right my friends! Today I am coming to you from my brand new gorgeous, shiny, perfect laptop! Now, before anyone else asks, no... it isn't a Mac (the only mac I know my way around is the kind that comes with powdered cheese. Yummy) It is, however, perfect for my purposes.<br />
<br />
Here he is, folks:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKTGRM7yztlJbvisaFkrMjchat2cSqILE8WXDC_OF9hEoxB6RD2q3IcK3JTWEJd9A2my3cc3JHVUygJwNHL5GWPa7xgnX108hxIrALbThwz2EG1cVEc6PLIjz0QtnWOzU8bCIuZplI20/s1600/100_0556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKTGRM7yztlJbvisaFkrMjchat2cSqILE8WXDC_OF9hEoxB6RD2q3IcK3JTWEJd9A2my3cc3JHVUygJwNHL5GWPa7xgnX108hxIrALbThwz2EG1cVEc6PLIjz0QtnWOzU8bCIuZplI20/s320/100_0556.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-Proof of Beauty... so shiny-</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDqVi_v82htZjS8KiuoO8HMyEys0Cslit_UyOSdaZGVxABWhNCNKNPz7xS65hack7_FtazCPAubp1ccLNqy4Hwkun4IbEJ8oSU7MscmZy3fC2LKL9IQfeaoHDZZTNp523SK4MtWB2bas/s1600/100_0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDqVi_v82htZjS8KiuoO8HMyEys0Cslit_UyOSdaZGVxABWhNCNKNPz7xS65hack7_FtazCPAubp1ccLNqy4Hwkun4IbEJ8oSU7MscmZy3fC2LKL9IQfeaoHDZZTNp523SK4MtWB2bas/s320/100_0554.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The best part about it? (May I draw your attention to the lower right corner of the picture above) IT HAS A 10 KEY PAD!!! yeeeeess. Seriously. One of the main reasons why I wasn't ever keen on owning a laptop is because most of them lack this crucial component. Problem: SOLVED.<br />
<br />
So, thank you to my amazing parents, not only for this incredibly generous gift, but also for always encouraging me to obtain an education, and supporting me in everything I want to do.<br />
<br />
Now... on to<br />
<br />
<b><u>Part Two</u></b>: In Which I Finally Get To Go Shooting<br />
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I'm not talking about THIS kind of shooting...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9Bf_vllPgVcG3RYF1zVm7cEvk6Y43hfClUf2S4LfC63lvqJautiM_pSPCUz4Bp13dO8qh1RDJty4cX7fbwe_PULY1vMhJmrfiRiKAMwyoGydZ87vsq_oy_3cPNfjN3NSQFOn1Q7QNUo/s1600/16+Lara%252C+Mandy%252C+stephanie%252C+Megan%252C+and+Kristina+finally+in+the+bleachers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9Bf_vllPgVcG3RYF1zVm7cEvk6Y43hfClUf2S4LfC63lvqJautiM_pSPCUz4Bp13dO8qh1RDJty4cX7fbwe_PULY1vMhJmrfiRiKAMwyoGydZ87vsq_oy_3cPNfjN3NSQFOn1Q7QNUo/s320/16+Lara%252C+Mandy%252C+stephanie%252C+Megan%252C+and+Kristina+finally+in+the+bleachers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-my buddies and I 4523413 years ago at the Tooele Fair Grounds for the Keith Urban Concert...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> that's me with a 'hand' gun pointed at Mandy's head. :)- </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or even THIS kind of shooting...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/192/1/0/someone_with_digital_camera_by_harridan_witch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/192/1/0/someone_with_digital_camera_by_harridan_witch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But THIS kind of shooting...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zzQdFN1J3b1EMrnBrkLOAbHnaDJARt4D73U1Tw1jIByQWWwldlabC9yC88TUewZ1v1Yn-DK79CdgKEUAoZSt6e-6wJifPBL2K-nrICXv8TM08LbyysOymkM-ot-K9Q6_p5LYkND6M48/s1600/fridgethief.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zzQdFN1J3b1EMrnBrkLOAbHnaDJARt4D73U1Tw1jIByQWWwldlabC9yC88TUewZ1v1Yn-DK79CdgKEUAoZSt6e-6wJifPBL2K-nrICXv8TM08LbyysOymkM-ot-K9Q6_p5LYkND6M48/s1600/fridgethief.bmp" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">er... kind of. (This picture was taken when I lived at Raintree down in Provo. Some guy came in to steal our food, but he ended up being shot and killed against our refrigerator by a PMSing roommate... or possibly, someone splattered ketchup on the freezer door and it looked too much like blood to leave it alone.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was actually more like this: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKOB2DTo_aAFJpjqN0BoJs3kIbd5ihazertwwwDGOqF1m5pFCy3lHEdHn6xvp62MOBuXbCsjCswpF8yUwhUPBJUiZOcY2XQtOuRn9TpD_-VxI2r9vvdgXBqcxAm2nASpW805Hbr3e5hY/s1600/shooting.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKOB2DTo_aAFJpjqN0BoJs3kIbd5ihazertwwwDGOqF1m5pFCy3lHEdHn6xvp62MOBuXbCsjCswpF8yUwhUPBJUiZOcY2XQtOuRn9TpD_-VxI2r9vvdgXBqcxAm2nASpW805Hbr3e5hY/s320/shooting.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BAM! (literally) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The parentals and I went down to the shooting range a couple of weeks ago to see if I had any shooting skills. I think we were all pretty surprised at my aim. I admit, I was a tad scared to pull the trigger that first time, but after that, it was a blast... (literally) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the proof of my success:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBlGgbp-tmlEZ70Lmo0qohYGuJd4aiCaswXRf0Rz3v4ZPxdtI4sqLb9miNZNg2Gurd8gxVSt5M0pQDll8OcQo7YLdCDDhCuFTeTcZxZuxvEx9ekemcSwyHV_WH2fKbSknN8-dnwm1IVQ/s1600/camera+03.29+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBlGgbp-tmlEZ70Lmo0qohYGuJd4aiCaswXRf0Rz3v4ZPxdtI4sqLb9miNZNg2Gurd8gxVSt5M0pQDll8OcQo7YLdCDDhCuFTeTcZxZuxvEx9ekemcSwyHV_WH2fKbSknN8-dnwm1IVQ/s320/camera+03.29+069.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4L2ZjDJJbqbgUZiYPznYQcV_TfJ6Q5D7A9en8pW6teZHQEUybF_XLjhdqV9PwulyK6r4gZaG3J9uIggSZ6iNIBqy6mJhJ1nKoYh6C1_BzuJDJJ1dORuH426DQ6CsMEWe9BYjz9VZWrY/s1600/camera+03.29+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4L2ZjDJJbqbgUZiYPznYQcV_TfJ6Q5D7A9en8pW6teZHQEUybF_XLjhdqV9PwulyK6r4gZaG3J9uIggSZ6iNIBqy6mJhJ1nKoYh6C1_BzuJDJJ1dORuH426DQ6CsMEWe9BYjz9VZWrY/s320/camera+03.29+068.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-feel free to ignore that shot at the bottom and concentrate SOLELY on the shot RIGHT through</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the middle of the target-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORowm8H071QjWmaIQs8OJHKwSEwGd3OMjJ8xi5sbfLrqSTW0HTkrBWnd-CS9vMLuVLkmQDuRRx3ywIkPCANouHbcYHfRbsHeyaihvevD8TeOXm4BK-x9KN9yTp6Jr-Q7QISBuqgAsKt8/s1600/camera+03.29+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORowm8H071QjWmaIQs8OJHKwSEwGd3OMjJ8xi5sbfLrqSTW0HTkrBWnd-CS9vMLuVLkmQDuRRx3ywIkPCANouHbcYHfRbsHeyaihvevD8TeOXm4BK-x9KN9yTp6Jr-Q7QISBuqgAsKt8/s320/camera+03.29+072.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-NOTE: The bullet holes to the left of the silhouette's head were intentional. Dad drew a face</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">over there, making the silhouette a hostage being used as a body shield. The point was to shoot the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bad guy without hurting the hostage. Mission: Accomplished- </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pretty good for my first time, no? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u>Next Up:</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-A New Loo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-I Am A Word Doodler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-75685740869095356972011-03-24T00:28:00.000-07:002011-03-24T00:40:44.035-07:00The Best Musical Ever Written + Another Nerdtastic Time Wasting Activity Revealed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(As if late-night anagramming wasn't nerdnificent enough...)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I love musical theater. (That isn't what further proves my nerdiness... I don't believe loving musicals is inherently nerdy, although there are many who would disagree) Not only do I love musical theater, I have seen quite a few stage productions/movie adaptions of quite a few different musicals and I must say that my absolute favorite is this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiWMFZFclk-xx4QqhIwbo10xUbx8kAC2PDYWa5iFEwYvprjf-tB8jm-615vqRBGMDO7rMVDECcpwi405rLM5x0lWIOArH4hI1N6aUhGOV3SD8YZTmxYOxedBm2jmYyoQ_mY_qm9FQXPA/s1600/Logo+polaroid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiWMFZFclk-xx4QqhIwbo10xUbx8kAC2PDYWa5iFEwYvprjf-tB8jm-615vqRBGMDO7rMVDECcpwi405rLM5x0lWIOArH4hI1N6aUhGOV3SD8YZTmxYOxedBm2jmYyoQ_mY_qm9FQXPA/s320/Logo+polaroid.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I love Les Misérables. I remember listening to the original cast soundtrack on cassette when I was a little girl and falling in love with the music of this show (Mind you... I didn't have much of an idea what it was about back then.) Naturally, I was super excited when I found out that they were releasing a 25th Anniversary Concert DVD in October of 2010. This week when it finally came to redbox, I was able to rent it, watch it, and compare it to the 10th Anniversary Concert that was released in 1995 and featured the original 1985 cast. I have watched, listened to, and loved the 1985 cast since my cassette days, and wanted to see how the new cast held up in relation to the original.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">(Ok. Here's where the nerdtacular stuff comes in.) After watching both editions and listening to both casts sing simultaneously via youtube videos, I came to the conclusion that I should do side-by-side comparisons of each character and the actors who portrayed them before making a final decision as to which cast I like best. As well as musical ability, each actor's physicality was taken into account, because let's face it... an amazing voice attached to a dog-like face isn't nearly as appealing as an amazing voice attached to a greek god/goddess.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"> So... without further ado... the comparisons:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> -Jean Valjean- </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUARU9nds70-_fLEOjB3Hyif5-9HhXPwogtPYZZSuICUokomLmUUkL4b4N7uvT1_fIYfjE_IJ4ORaQ9ULu_ufHx_Rjq0nTXDdWGlzx0STHBCW_KOQHMF5ewhXhwDzen8sVWyESPXMlAk4/s1600/Valjean+duel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUARU9nds70-_fLEOjB3Hyif5-9HhXPwogtPYZZSuICUokomLmUUkL4b4N7uvT1_fIYfjE_IJ4ORaQ9ULu_ufHx_Rjq0nTXDdWGlzx0STHBCW_KOQHMF5ewhXhwDzen8sVWyESPXMlAk4/s320/Valjean+duel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">n excellent Jean Valjean is essential to a successful production of Les Mis, and so I must begin by saying that both Colm Wilkinson and Alfie Boe were amazing as far as their musical performances. In fact, they are both so wonderful that I didn't think I was going to be able to choose a favorite, and that I'd have to call this one a tie. Where Alfie gets extra points for having a name like Alfie (I am aware that his name doesn't influence his singing voice but these are MY comparisons and we play by MY rules), Colm Wilkinson's Sean Connery-esque voice quality holds a special place in my heart, giving him a slightly greater advantage. Physicality was nearly a toss up too, to be honest. They are both quite attractive, but if Colm won out in vocal talent, I figured Alfie deserved to win as far as appearance. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Musicality: 1985</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Physicality: 2010</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>-Enjolras-</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxHYxsUzljWcz7fJMi3sIYDRs90cx-3j_MxYiINMed-6bG5roKGvQL_g3re51ylXty3IeANGb9fpwba1UycGCCjhbW88OtUp-ODpgQ1Qha0TB97cD2_pEXUzFIlEhUZM7D6IWMDjcY1g/s1600/Enjolras+duel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxHYxsUzljWcz7fJMi3sIYDRs90cx-3j_MxYiINMed-6bG5roKGvQL_g3re51ylXty3IeANGb9fpwba1UycGCCjhbW88OtUp-ODpgQ1Qha0TB97cD2_pEXUzFIlEhUZM7D6IWMDjcY1g/s320/Enjolras+duel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Although he may seem to be a slightly less important person in the play, Enjolras is by far my favorite character of all. His songs are epic. I listened to both Michael Maguire and Ramin Karimloo sing over and over again until I finally decided that it was impossible to choose a winner as far as musicality. I would listen to either man sing. As far as appearance, they are both serious eye candy, but Ramin's stellar dimples sealed the deal. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Musicality: Tie</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Physicality: 2010</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>-Eponine-</b></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijnvtvwFzSrriTdMitjMkW-zSN-7M0-04CbQ7vupMHiK3aai3SkCqxGX8z6kl3zC3JOpVpG8eyKvV0PKQ7p7PV47jeXjkJ9SWRfv7SLA4lbmynMDDieQcWQdU96pXGeCrNG3lF9zJGns/s1600/Eponine+duel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijnvtvwFzSrriTdMitjMkW-zSN-7M0-04CbQ7vupMHiK3aai3SkCqxGX8z6kl3zC3JOpVpG8eyKvV0PKQ7p7PV47jeXjkJ9SWRfv7SLA4lbmynMDDieQcWQdU96pXGeCrNG3lF9zJGns/s320/Eponine+duel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I love Eponine. If I had the talent to perform in this play, I would for sure want to be cast as Eponine. Not only is she an alto, she also gets to sing my favorite song ("A Little Fall of Rain") with Marius. Musically, I prefer Lea Salonga in this role. (She played Fantine in the 2010 cast.) Her duet with Michael Ball makes me cry every single time I listen to it. Physically, Samantha Barks dimples win out. (Seriously. I'm a sucker for dimples.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Musicality:1985</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Physicality: 2010</b></span></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>-Javert-</b></span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tocYpycIHlRY4ILyZde4k9tRBae6ooHXZDguQ_-B5xFGja6OVB8G8SK2UgD-611rQbVQTbJsM9AZwo3Y6UYEPI-asSA9BAzeoLS952Yy9la2-_eG857UX7F0W1BktFHms1aYH9OBnmA/s1600/Javer+duel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tocYpycIHlRY4ILyZde4k9tRBae6ooHXZDguQ_-B5xFGja6OVB8G8SK2UgD-611rQbVQTbJsM9AZwo3Y6UYEPI-asSA9BAzeoLS952Yy9la2-_eG857UX7F0W1BktFHms1aYH9OBnmA/s320/Javer+duel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Javert has a couple of pretty epic songs, himself. I love "Stars" but even more than that, I love "Confrontation". Musically, I definitely have to go with Philip Quast. Both men do a fabulous job, though. As far as physicality, neither of them are particularly attractive to me (Norm looks like Bill Cosby) so the winner here is the kid who played Javert in the school edition I saw at Bonneville High School a couple of years ago. Seriously. He was beautiful... jailbait... but beautiful.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Musicality: 1985</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Physicality: Bonneville High School Boy</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>-Marius-</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS6SKHud5hWWzJVhwJPHZE6xppgmAADP1bqFFISD-I5UToGOAfq-IYWPxFKah56-o8b0vtfPbyla5rQD37ocHQn-S_Xh-KyQQb4vRLix0GbadGOY46IckV6KtKDNv9oIdFfQBQlKhl1M/s1600/Marius+duel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS6SKHud5hWWzJVhwJPHZE6xppgmAADP1bqFFISD-I5UToGOAfq-IYWPxFKah56-o8b0vtfPbyla5rQD37ocHQn-S_Xh-KyQQb4vRLix0GbadGOY46IckV6KtKDNv9oIdFfQBQlKhl1M/s320/Marius+duel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We've already established that Enjolras is my young man of choice, but his fate is quite a bit more unfortunate than Marius, so I guess Marius is pretty ok too. I must say, I was impressed with Nick Jonas in this role. He's super young and as far as I know he doesn't have much experience in musical theater, so I wasn't really expecting much, but I think he did an excellent job under the circumstances. Although I admire his boldness and confidence in taking on such a difficult role, Nick's Marius didn't compare to Michael Ball. His beautiful face, however, wins him the physicality award.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Musicality: 1985</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Physicality: 2010</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: large;"><b>-Thenardiers-</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></b></span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9xvqpYUldYtv7GVfnvV7UMlpjdz-0_8mZO22zjxfwB8h3KXYLq0o9KqDKUgOqCZ1tWBm4hRMyK8A8HiwjSuJepPR2H5hSql8tBfKT3aPTXkcgGDeX-MN3MoNQ8rGEOE5IFnB-4IdW2k/s1600/Mdm.+Thenardier+1985+and+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9xvqpYUldYtv7GVfnvV7UMlpjdz-0_8mZO22zjxfwB8h3KXYLq0o9KqDKUgOqCZ1tWBm4hRMyK8A8HiwjSuJepPR2H5hSql8tBfKT3aPTXkcgGDeX-MN3MoNQ8rGEOE5IFnB-4IdW2k/s320/Mdm.+Thenardier+1985+and+2010.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> was pleasantly surprised to discover that Jenny Galloway plays Madame Thénardier in both versions, so no comparison is necessary. She's great. In both. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: large;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Even though he and his wife are so awful... Thénardier brings just the right amount of comic relief to such a depressing story. Musically, Alun Armstrong is outstanding and wins my vote. Matt Lucas does pretty well, but to me the acting seemed a little over the top. Physically, they are both incredibly revolting, so it is impossible to choose a winner there.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Musicality: 1985</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Physicality: N/A</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now, before I go any further, I realize that Cosette and Fantine are not included in this list. Fantine is omitted because I don't think her role is big enough to sway my opinion. Cosette is omitted because... well... I just don't like her. As a little girl, she's wonderful, but as a woman, she's obnoxious. The actors who portrayed her did a pretty ok job, but because I don't like the character, I didn't really care which one was better. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So... the results are in. Honestly... I've spent a ridiculous amount of time making this decision. Total. Nerd. However, The 1985 Cast clearly remains my favorite, as far as musicality is concerned. (They weren't called the 'Dream Cast' for nothing) But physically, the 2010 Cast is more appealing on account of the plethora of noteworthy dimples.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you haven't seen this show... rent it. Either version. But probably both. Soon. That is all.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Wait. That isn't all. I have one more picture... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wFxA8ArMX97sRZ0H6I2_mfaljrVyyORN6K5j_VWockAuxIMbOzdSVwZ9rq58vC9DIiUen2MmSF2SZGPWuj6LOVigDSr1O2fxq4ttVus37U4muaPxX8CXgcfpQjYrNnjqTWUHCy1akpI/s1600/Jean+Valjean+1985+and+Enjolras+2010.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wFxA8ArMX97sRZ0H6I2_mfaljrVyyORN6K5j_VWockAuxIMbOzdSVwZ9rq58vC9DIiUen2MmSF2SZGPWuj6LOVigDSr1O2fxq4ttVus37U4muaPxX8CXgcfpQjYrNnjqTWUHCy1akpI/s320/Jean+Valjean+1985+and+Enjolras+2010.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1985 Valjean and 2010 Enjolras. LOVE. THEM. BOTH.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Also, an epic video of Jason Segel (love) and Neil Patrick Harris (triple love) paying tribute to my second favorite Les Mis song:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/EhXsJjVdj1E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">NOW that is all.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-Ok... it's not quite all. Les Mis is coming to Capitol Theater at the end of May. Tickets are in super high demand and are too expensive for me... which is why I am officially accepting donations because I am DYING to go. If I am not able to raise enough money, I will be getting a copy of both the 10th and 25th Anniversary Concerts and inviting you all to an I-couldn't-get-tickets-to-see-this-show-live-so-I'm-going-to-watch-it-at-home-instead pity slash viewing party. Something to look forward to-</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously. THAT is all. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-70599233706276044522011-03-17T12:20:00.000-07:002011-03-17T12:20:53.410-07:00Reluctant Recommendations, St. Patrick's Day, and pea plants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXgKwBWjYjVwwYaNp3mS8cOfdOpUyYaSkaabxp7W4BT_kq1YIaJ1706kABXtGq2WdUqliKaf-S98_DLTB-zLTtxSCixO7yjRCFx0NsJ7_3pKz3wR-5ec-Esgfk9jBsz7JraW3C8AhSaM/s1600/St+Patty%2527s+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXgKwBWjYjVwwYaNp3mS8cOfdOpUyYaSkaabxp7W4BT_kq1YIaJ1706kABXtGq2WdUqliKaf-S98_DLTB-zLTtxSCixO7yjRCFx0NsJ7_3pKz3wR-5ec-Esgfk9jBsz7JraW3C8AhSaM/s320/St+Patty%2527s+Day.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-Rocking some St. Patty's Day sunglasses-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, Kiddos. First things first, Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all. I must admit, I haven't really been a fan of this 'holiday' since I graduated from elementary school and leprechauns stopped leaving chocolate gold coins on my desk. However, I thought I might do a little research on the significance of this day in order to better understand, and therefore obtain a greater appreciation for it. Naturally, I turned to wikipedia (where the search for all great knowledge begins--and often ends) but soon found that I'd rather just buy a bag of chocolate gold coins and save myself the trouble. I did discover something that I found to be somewhat enlightening in regards to St. Patrick's Day customs in the United States. Apparently, <i>In the Northeastern United States, peas are traditionally planted on Saint Patrick's Day. </i>Who would have ever guessed that March 17th would mark the birth of many a pea plant over the years! That's WAY more exciting than wearing green and drinking beer.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about. On to my real post topic for today... Ahem:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Reluctant Recommendations</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, a confession:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello. My name is Stephanie. I am 22 years old and I am proud to admit that I read books written for and marketed to teenagers. Apparently I didn't get enough angst of my own in high school, so I delight in reading about it now. It wasn't until I was nearly finished with college that I took a Young Adult Literature class and finally realized that I wasn't the only 'adult' out there still devouring stories about teenagers with no intention of ever moving on to books for grown ups. Needless to say, it became the best class I ever had. I suppose these days, it is far more socially acceptable for adults to read tween and teen fiction, since many of the good ones have been or are currently being made into movies. Anyway, that's not really what I wanted to talk about either. (Scatterbrained AND long-winded = me)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have found that when I tell people that I majored in English, they often react with a series of predictable questions (which I will talk about more in a later post) and then eventually get around to asking: "What are you reading? What are some good books you can recommend for me/my daughter/my son who hates reading/my dog/my pet lizard/etc.?" I LOVE this question. There is nothing I love more than to introduce new readers to my favorite books. However, in the past I have felt I had to approach this question with caution. A while back I was reading a blog post by a soon-to-be-published writer in which she outlines why she doesn't like to recommend books on her blog. She says she usually gets one of three reactions: (Blue text = stolen... ahem... quoted text)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I loved it too. Thanks.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. I didn't love it. And I want my $17.95 back. And I want <i>you </i>to give it to me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This reaction is usually accompanied by pitchforks and torches. Probably because of the tough economic times out there.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. I gave it to my teenage daughter, based on your approval of it, and it has <i>this </i>word in it, and we don't talk about<i> this word ever, and </i>we don't say<i> this </i>word ever,<i> </i>and I don't appreciate you paving my daughter's pathway to hell.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(to read the post in its entirety, including an excellent review of an exceptional book that I will be recommending later, click <a href="http://brodiashton.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-can-no-longer-stay-quiet-i-love-anna.html">here</a>. But don't forget to come back!)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm definitely not afraid of running into reaction number 1, and I don't even really mind getting reaction number 2, but reaction number 3 scares me a little. And also makes me laugh. a lot. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So... at the risk of becoming a construction worker on the road to hell, I've decided to share a select few of my favorite books that I have been reluctant to recommend in the past, explain why I may have been reluctant to recommend each one, and finally, to officially recommend them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Official Book Recommendations</u> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(NOTE: Instead of ordering them from 'most favorite' to 'less most favorite' I've decided to simply list them in the order that they were published because I love them all at nearly equal levels most days, and some days I love one more than another so it is impossible to make an accurate most favorite to less most favorite list that remains accurate in general)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Looking For Alaska </i>by John Green </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This book is about a boy who goes off to study at a private school and meets a girl named Alaska. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reasons for reluctance: language, and a couple of scenes involving <i>this </i>word (It starts with an 's' and makes tweenagers giggle... actually, in my experience, it still makes quite a few English students at BYU giggle, which is more than a little ridiculous.) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All I can say is that I love this book, and that any scene that could be considered inappropriate is included and portrayed the way it is for a reason. (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers#p/search/6/fHMPtYvZ8tM">Here</a> is an excellent video in which John Green himself effectively explains the content of his book that some consider inappropriate for teenagers.)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41IWnKUMzvL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41IWnKUMzvL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <i style="font-weight: bold;">An Abundance of Katherines </i>by John Green</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mentioned reading this book in an earlier post. It's about a kid named Colin who is obsessed with anagramming and only dates girls named Katherine, among other things. It is also excellent.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reasons for reluctance: language, excessive use of math equations that threaten to make your head explode if you think about them too much, danger of spending late night hours anagramming instead of sleeping. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously, though. Don't let the graphs and math junk in the footnotes scare you away. Throughout the book, Colin is trying to come up with an equation that will predict the outcome of all relationships but believe me when I say that you don't have to understand any of the math to enjoy the book. Beware of anagramming obsessions, though. </span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Paper Towns </i>by John Green</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would hope that you see a pattern here. This book is about a girl who runs away, and a guy who tries to find her. Most of the time, this is my favorite of the three John Green books I have listed here. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reasons for Reluctance: language, I guess. Although, foul language doesn't much bother me when I'm reading. I find it pretty easy to ignore, but I know that it is something that will often turn people away from a book. Still, I definitely recommend this one.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Anna and the French Kiss </i>by Stephanie Perkins</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a book about a girl named Anna who gets shipped off to Paris to attend an American private school. You'll notice that it was not written by John Green, but it was through a recommendation BY John Green that I discovered this book.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reason for Reluctance: language, drinking, a little bit of <i>this </i>word. However, if you clicked on the link to Brodi Ashton's blog up there and read her post on this book, you've probably already stopped reading this and are on your way to the book store to pick it up... at least you SHOULD be. It could be argued that THIS is my favorite book most days. Read it. Seriously. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there it is. My top four reluctant recommendations. I realize that my incredibly brief descriptions don't do any of them justice and merely scratch the surface of the plots. Read them all. And then tell me what you think. If you can't buy a copy, get one at the library. If you can't get to a library, I own a copy of each and would maybe possibly consider loaning them to you, although you might have to leave a spleen on deposit (name that movie...) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just so y'all are aware, I don't ONLY read books with foul language, teenage drinking and sex scenes. I always enjoy a good, wholesome, cheesy Mormon romance novel. (Nope. Not afraid to admit that either) I'm always looking for a good book, so if anyone has any recommendations for me, I'd love to hear em! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget to wear green and birth a pea plant! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-all book cover photos were taken from amazon-</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-13958608502708328872011-03-11T15:29:00.000-08:002011-03-11T15:29:20.627-08:00Vegas: Bringing Home What Happened + FAQs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-DISCLAIMER- I seriously worked on this post for 143214 hours (not that many hours, but too many) and I'm still not super satisfied with it. I guess sometimes the creativity is flowing and sometimes it isn't. In fact, probably the best part of the whole thing is this picture that I took and edited with picnik.com. That being said, read at your own risk. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90ufMnh9jm7JO2m-psYpjAcCxwa1W10KDJRB3V94bZY4A2PTP1ehlaxNC_1f0mz6nQQ07B2FEFjhnddMIVhsjEw_bOVzAI43S7hXH5Yr_3JelY7Uk4IB8fCrU0eRgHXjQ47-SHfBHi-M/s1600/Las+Vegas+polaroid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90ufMnh9jm7JO2m-psYpjAcCxwa1W10KDJRB3V94bZY4A2PTP1ehlaxNC_1f0mz6nQQ07B2FEFjhnddMIVhsjEw_bOVzAI43S7hXH5Yr_3JelY7Uk4IB8fCrU0eRgHXjQ47-SHfBHi-M/s320/Las+Vegas+polaroid.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ah, Las Vegas. City of Sin. What happens there often stays there - or so they say. Well, I guess I did it wrong because I brought home photographic evidence of almost everything we did, and in order to prove that there's more to having fun on the strip than... well... whatever it is people do that has to stay there, I thought I'd post about what we did that was allowed to come home with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But before I do, here's a list of FAQs that y'all have asked repeatedly (<--redundant) regarding my trip:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- this is less because these questions have been frequently asked and more because I often enjoy </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">clicking on and reading the content of a FAQ link when visiting a website. Not only does it </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">conveniently answer questions I may have, I think 'FAQ' is quite a remarkable acronym. Answers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">to FAQs most often contain 'facts' which, translated into gangsta speak becomes 'faqs'. (Quick! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Use 'faqs' in a sentence: Yo, G. The faq is mah gat be fly!) But I digress... -</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Why Vegas?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pft. Why NOT Vegas? Actually, it was because dad had to work at a psychiatric conference and I wanted a vacation. That, and the city was going to be full of psychiatrists, and I figured It'd be a chance to try my hand at 'Spot the Shrink on the Strip'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Who did you go with?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b>These guys...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDt2MeYDZ8zmaMus9vtIzrw1ojjCf7BBrzfNwImTzs2ptphyBbjasEOj50Qm1YfwJjwNrriRlN85xJzNjzrCcQ3qo_qLWvwXCEgVONuasGzj-5nYhpkRetIBlyJ306PKrtge-mctXUJk/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDt2MeYDZ8zmaMus9vtIzrw1ojjCf7BBrzfNwImTzs2ptphyBbjasEOj50Qm1YfwJjwNrriRlN85xJzNjzrCcQ3qo_qLWvwXCEgVONuasGzj-5nYhpkRetIBlyJ306PKrtge-mctXUJk/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-the parentals outside the Bellagio-</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>You are 22 years old. Aren't you a little old to be vacationing in Vegas with your parents?</b></span><br />
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Maybe. But think about it this way: Would YOU turn down a free vacation? Plus... the faq is mah parents be pretty fly homies... yo.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>If you didn't drink, gamble or -insertcommonVegasrelatedinappropriatebehaviorhere- than what the bleep did you DO?</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b>Why, I thought you'd never ask...</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Here's what we bleeping did:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">We got to our hotel on Wednesday night, had something to eat and went to bed. Thursday morning, dad had to work the conference, so mom and I walked down to the MGM Grand for breakfast, enjoying the empty smokeless strip. After breakfast, we visited M&M World, spending nearly 2 hours exploring all four floors of the store. They have an insane amount of M&M merchandise (most of which will neither melt in your hand OR in your mouth). They also have a short 3D movie that is... get this... FREE! </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaIIXFTybLUfeiXYPbocpmB33d9yGzH3nQyawJnPU4fi34RadX9VnfLf7sRXdax9LrHIN3i4drSHyGvlb_5qdkcdYhRahL1B9l-yvKgTB-1tHUH2qnbSt80uA1JODwjLtu75Tq1-LtVo/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaIIXFTybLUfeiXYPbocpmB33d9yGzH3nQyawJnPU4fi34RadX9VnfLf7sRXdax9LrHIN3i4drSHyGvlb_5qdkcdYhRahL1B9l-yvKgTB-1tHUH2qnbSt80uA1JODwjLtu75Tq1-LtVo/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+013.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXGB23XhFzUZdSYSHIR9D0_Qt-W8u7Y86KOIfsb5rUxVkUa1dP-5evAUEmhTkFqfqrJL4GbNOOuaVT7-pEJcw3wF79updyVDw5i0d1_gUbHiOCLbBT0mf5pi0d8OXQ6mxZ8mfJQ8_AoQ/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXGB23XhFzUZdSYSHIR9D0_Qt-W8u7Y86KOIfsb5rUxVkUa1dP-5evAUEmhTkFqfqrJL4GbNOOuaVT7-pEJcw3wF79updyVDw5i0d1_gUbHiOCLbBT0mf5pi0d8OXQ6mxZ8mfJQ8_AoQ/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+014.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> -making friends with Blue-</span> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrdlwPu7tZeNdDG-_bFp6GF-heKzk4A-H3EoUTVbyh72Zj0GpaLEUUwXmlirJ5I8RJ3a6aJa0W68Dsq4yo_AMmTLAziRiNszXfjtfkjbYQpoDV-UwWJWVX-wQI8PaFfCa4NMTdXmedFc/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrdlwPu7tZeNdDG-_bFp6GF-heKzk4A-H3EoUTVbyh72Zj0GpaLEUUwXmlirJ5I8RJ3a6aJa0W68Dsq4yo_AMmTLAziRiNszXfjtfkjbYQpoDV-UwWJWVX-wQI8PaFfCa4NMTdXmedFc/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+020.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">-Waiting outside the theater, rockin' our 3D glasses-</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After the movie, we spent some time in the CocaCola store, buying souvenirs, drinking Diet Coke... basically enjoying a little heaven. Dad picked us up after that on his way home from the conference, but not before we bought some show tickets for later that night (we teased dad that we were going to make him take us to Thunder from Down Under. He didn't know what that was, so he didn't really get why we thought it was so funny until we explained it to him) and stopped for a quick photo-op:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLL3JfycPNsEJJv5wIawYWp4W1mPtwKqInAD_zz_3yCkABE25ltjdMnRTHj0jNUNMBC7IeR2qnr81XZRpJf_tdIB_sQW_8sNxwsLQSh0sQATtJWHQkX6HxGro29sEKoK5UAUlUrxhe4vY/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLL3JfycPNsEJJv5wIawYWp4W1mPtwKqInAD_zz_3yCkABE25ltjdMnRTHj0jNUNMBC7IeR2qnr81XZRpJf_tdIB_sQW_8sNxwsLQSh0sQATtJWHQkX6HxGro29sEKoK5UAUlUrxhe4vY/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+021.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">-Ironman and Me-</span></div><br />
We stopped back at the hotel for dad to change his clothes and then visited the Wildlife Habitat in the lobby complete with these little beauties...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WjwnBhNjgQWoyAup9iwxMMqkt94g8mL50Kk2A6fpTaTUbiU5mW3eplmHd2bFVsFNQ4ihyphenhyphenn6jSqWvvbJ6iEdJAhh8eKRT37rZn12YvD21FeitQWJSCrTgue4a57D46Ff_XJolw2EsgS0/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WjwnBhNjgQWoyAup9iwxMMqkt94g8mL50Kk2A6fpTaTUbiU5mW3eplmHd2bFVsFNQ4ihyphenhyphenn6jSqWvvbJ6iEdJAhh8eKRT37rZn12YvD21FeitQWJSCrTgue4a57D46Ff_XJolw2EsgS0/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+025.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Flamingos! (I bet you can't guess where we stayed). While walking through the habitat, we found a couple other things to do... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrv1r93Ui5II_DvCJohwVoY0MHnHo9lQJS2pG9JUUZQo8vcdmAidlJjheWw1XA7p7tPfYe5UbNQPfrPgu8LeMsbjmFNXZTm1n2DMNmTC751dCQWmeoF5atDdrGZ0rp3vdrd8t1-LZZHI/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrv1r93Ui5II_DvCJohwVoY0MHnHo9lQJS2pG9JUUZQo8vcdmAidlJjheWw1XA7p7tPfYe5UbNQPfrPgu8LeMsbjmFNXZTm1n2DMNmTC751dCQWmeoF5atDdrGZ0rp3vdrd8t1-LZZHI/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+028.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJ8LMvzUi367nCb6tLd5YP4MuLJFDD3DggsqPst9nAD57sGtBgoOIuzJEf9o-5qNvMRTDUFLwQAYuBhbKPz8zY4_YYcVtG2jSgtN-wYmPRl2dyAf33ovpZPb1VrVm_DeweuVGI_gQU8Q/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJ8LMvzUi367nCb6tLd5YP4MuLJFDD3DggsqPst9nAD57sGtBgoOIuzJEf9o-5qNvMRTDUFLwQAYuBhbKPz8zY4_YYcVtG2jSgtN-wYmPRl2dyAf33ovpZPb1VrVm_DeweuVGI_gQU8Q/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+030.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Like drink Flamingo spittle... and pose by a waterfall... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, we drove over to Circus Circus and had lunch before walking the midway (or, the children's casino as I like to call it) and pausing to watch a few Circus acts, like these Amazing African Acrobats:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyeY3bRSmaTFlAHliZILbYnxTucaalD_nDHMD3W3FAdRbEpgxGTTR-OG0zNGiD_HAW98f0iq-ZNLKKBN5G20Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(they moved the bar even lower than that, but I failed to get video evidence. Hella. Awesome)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and also some trapeze artists (of which I don't have any photos or video because watching them swinging from the ceiling made me super nervous and I couldn't peel my eyes away long enough to get my camera out)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leaving the children's casino, we stopped at the adult casino because this was my first trip to Vegas since becoming old enough to try my hand at a slot machine and figured I better take advantage of that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not gonna lie... I was super upset to find that slot machines no longer take coins, and they no longer give coins, but felt a little better when I doubled my money and then some! (Granted... it was a penny slot and I only put in a dollar, but hey! Winning is winning!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS08ywl0SNAdBjtltHsDH5hgl3O9RSMPtcSCsYoJehz7FQjrebVb1Dyrt_r3wMWZikwdDstJTNLcl3ReR2YDPXFWZI4COkA5hhtUgyfD7vaEp4Hh-8J9ES7FAYx0ZW_g58cC3M8bcY-M/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS08ywl0SNAdBjtltHsDH5hgl3O9RSMPtcSCsYoJehz7FQjrebVb1Dyrt_r3wMWZikwdDstJTNLcl3ReR2YDPXFWZI4COkA5hhtUgyfD7vaEp4Hh-8J9ES7FAYx0ZW_g58cC3M8bcY-M/s200/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+036.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpcdepTNkdXe0SSsi5FZwiu1x2a_hEuJS8A8SiX3cCFbSDHBpga8FBsOi45HlKLB0EStPY5H8OXdylmngU0KcbZqnxPf8lyijmgLUxW8Mha1mhrCqsS-FtDudEaSkj9UOC5Gg6oNpm10/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpcdepTNkdXe0SSsi5FZwiu1x2a_hEuJS8A8SiX3cCFbSDHBpga8FBsOi45HlKLB0EStPY5H8OXdylmngU0KcbZqnxPf8lyijmgLUxW8Mha1mhrCqsS-FtDudEaSkj9UOC5Gg6oNpm10/s200/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+037.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <--- </span> I started with this... and left with this ---> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That night, we saw Donny and Marie. It was FANTASTIC. I had originally wanted to see The Lion King or Phantom of the Opera, but I've seen Phantom twice, and tickets to The Lion King were more expensive, but I'm really glad we ended up where we did. Not only was it clean, both Donny and Marie are excellent performers. Seriously... If you end up in Vegas any time soon, this show is a must-see. After the show, we ordered a movie and went to sleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Friday morning after breakfast, dad went to work ... and mom and I went to Venice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd5WkxjICLv5Obt7XnpNpIPp7ob4eUkGLLk9G0UNqebt6ImsPKbjiOBhl6SmEyKWLpZzFSL81j-NCa-nqbriBPrf0ADE65dW7JB2NzJtlu0I-KbE46QscSAHws91LingVYWXV5fPLFB8/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd5WkxjICLv5Obt7XnpNpIPp7ob4eUkGLLk9G0UNqebt6ImsPKbjiOBhl6SmEyKWLpZzFSL81j-NCa-nqbriBPrf0ADE65dW7JB2NzJtlu0I-KbE46QscSAHws91LingVYWXV5fPLFB8/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-Here we are standing on a bridge overlooking the beautiful Venetian canals where we watched </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">an awkward couple enjoying a Gondola ride-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After also wandering through the shops at Caesar's Palace, we were exhausted and went back to the hotel for a nap. That night, we went to Margaritaville for dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6dta1DCSfFtk_O-HtucRZsEG_nP9I6DKWT-eC-fTfpqF8DemKFTv86Y35KKP_KnvY8bm60v1iOTyB118FAV2kt_Huqurq23RvTFthJ1N26xjSKyNECmUrqqbp7Beh0WLueQ_IWmVL1w/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6dta1DCSfFtk_O-HtucRZsEG_nP9I6DKWT-eC-fTfpqF8DemKFTv86Y35KKP_KnvY8bm60v1iOTyB118FAV2kt_Huqurq23RvTFthJ1N26xjSKyNECmUrqqbp7Beh0WLueQ_IWmVL1w/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+045.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-First flamingo spittle and now THIS?! Maybe mom had some things that should have stayed in Vegas- </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, some would argue that going to Margaritaville for the exceptional food is like claiming to choose Hooters for their exceptional hot wings... but seriously. They do make an unforgettable Cheeseburger in Paradise. They also have a pretty great patio that overlooks the strip and is perfect for watching intoxicated individuals nearly stumbling into things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Full of cheeseburgery goodness, we decided to spend the rest of the evening walking up and down the strip and through all of the hotels along the way: New York New York, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, and finally over to the MGM Grand where we caught the monorail back to the Flamingo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLOlgnCvVDMx4Z5qbf77q-4W9vMU0gyoPdiOLIILDc6rXW815iH5mEX7VLFAvOYrxUlO_0H-jJZqh3Wi8CbxLqM59YtNEiCjlEstB5weWbfylDsNHh-5WoqPMLQ-qEqejR2vi1jS5eG4/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLOlgnCvVDMx4Z5qbf77q-4W9vMU0gyoPdiOLIILDc6rXW815iH5mEX7VLFAvOYrxUlO_0H-jJZqh3Wi8CbxLqM59YtNEiCjlEstB5weWbfylDsNHh-5WoqPMLQ-qEqejR2vi1jS5eG4/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+050.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-Jelly Bean Statue of Liberty-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next morning we packed up and headed home. Unfortunately for me (but probably fortunately for the parentals) I completely lost my voice and wasn't able to sing all the way home like I did the entire way there, AND we hit a killer snow storm coming into Cedar City, but overall... it was a great trip. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there it is. Fun in Vegas that no one has to be ashamed of (aside from the flamingo spittle) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh... and one more thing... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qqNOiMOHhDN1OhigKBDQHs4wwArz3VR9VFwqU7eezBMcSqofS1gkKIZ4DkN5UvkelnMBzbsBT9VshWu4ZPuFVJl2GvC3zWtFPQZeHoLUFMdci33u-Ca43FNtIICUmrByz2_gARkUXyo/s1600/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qqNOiMOHhDN1OhigKBDQHs4wwArz3VR9VFwqU7eezBMcSqofS1gkKIZ4DkN5UvkelnMBzbsBT9VshWu4ZPuFVJl2GvC3zWtFPQZeHoLUFMdci33u-Ca43FNtIICUmrByz2_gARkUXyo/s320/Las+Vegas+Feb+2011+057.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-another thing that probably should have stayed in Vegas-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry, dad. I couldn't help myself. :) Despite my less-than-stellar presentation, I'm pretty sure none of you are ever going to look at a FAQ link the same way again... so my work here is done. I'm out, homies. And that's a faq.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-65859030433322291312011-03-08T10:20:00.000-08:002011-03-08T10:24:56.581-08:00The Best Date Ever<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night I went on the best date ever. There was no uncomfortable conversation, no awkward silences, no nervousness and DEFINITELY no awful doorstep scene. In fact, I enjoyed a little hand holding, a little snuggling, and ended the night with a hug, a kiss, and an 'I love you'. Not to mention the fact that I got to spend time with one of the most handsome guys I know. Sounds perfect, right? That's because it was. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And all because of this place...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media2.ct.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/kXyGvaAw6tc-ZMdUblJjew/l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media2.ct.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/kXyGvaAw6tc-ZMdUblJjew/l" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this guy... </span></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgFj2FAvJ63QBEYvyw1wcEZVzq9DadKMHIk6BqtCHwt35c7G0hnOyxz1V0cYhFiwG71UgaBRYwqzH943Qe_3ieJymzkU0_YMGqUNHPmvbTwP2l2OcTFDSxL0urx6K5c1gZ71hVtyyz14/s1600/Image087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgFj2FAvJ63QBEYvyw1wcEZVzq9DadKMHIk6BqtCHwt35c7G0hnOyxz1V0cYhFiwG71UgaBRYwqzH943Qe_3ieJymzkU0_YMGqUNHPmvbTwP2l2OcTFDSxL0urx6K5c1gZ71hVtyyz14/s320/Image087.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meet Kyle. The sweetest three-year-old nephew there ever was.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made plans at the end of last week to go to the movies on a double (turned triple) date. Kyle's parents told me that he was so excited, he woke up on Sunday morning asking if it was the day for his "bate" with Nennie. And who WOULDN'T be excited to spend an evening with me?! I am, as Kyle likes to say, the BEST. (Ok... more often than not, he is prompted to say so, but that doesn't make it any less true) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night, the time for our bate had come at last. We met at the dollar theater (Kyle's mom and dad came, and I brought Megan because we didn't want little Lucas to feel like a 5th wheel) which was PACKED, despite the crappy weather, and discovered that the movie we wanted to see (Tangled) was sold out. The next showing wasn't for an hour, PLUS it was in 3D and we would have to pay and extra $2 a ticket which is ridiculous when you're only paying $0.75 each in the first place.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had almost opted to go home and watch a movie when Kyle heard the words 'Harry Potter' and instantly decided that he wanted to see that instead. We were a little worried that Harry Potter was going to be too scary for a three-year-old, but didn't want to break the poor little guy's heart by telling him we couldn't go to the movies at all since he'd been looking forward to it for days, so we bought tickets and hoped for the best.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kyle was so good through the whole movie, and only had to cover his eyes at a few scary parts. As each preview started, he would ask me "What movie is that?!" and glue his eyes to the screen while perching on the edge of his seat (Megan and I soon realized that he was mostly only sitting on the edge of his chair because we forgot to get him a booster seat and if he sat all the way back, the chair tried to swallow him. haha. oops) All during the movie he kept asking "What is Harry Potter doing?!","What is the bad guy doing?!", "What's that?!" and was super excited about the snake, the owl, and the dragon. He sat still mostly, except for one quick trip to the potty, or to climb on my lap or Megan's lap or to get more snacks. He even put his arm around me at one point, smiling at me and patting my back. So funny. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lucas was really good too, only crying a little bit, until his parents gave him some licorice that he chomped on until he looked like he'd killed and eaten a small animal by the time we left.</span></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshGr9FLj2WMxhhEvEBRQDYXI-R8Ik06qeLqKgKqabKRKOvtTFib3cLBeaYxbHUtNksCBah7asI1uLWLsQuxw1MjUZcYpKmTA9hbri07ugfGtbst_P5A_lEOWcdMevBCOSIdhdofc4N5E/s1600/IMG_20110307_212416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshGr9FLj2WMxhhEvEBRQDYXI-R8Ik06qeLqKgKqabKRKOvtTFib3cLBeaYxbHUtNksCBah7asI1uLWLsQuxw1MjUZcYpKmTA9hbri07ugfGtbst_P5A_lEOWcdMevBCOSIdhdofc4N5E/s200/IMG_20110307_212416.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can't see his blood red hands, and his face doesn't look nearly as messy in the picture as it did in reality, but how cute is he?!</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zS1Q1nN1GtaqkAb0AuUBnsK-iwQk5MgzA4x9AVRtmoGddvjNzZzchco4lW394JIyrrX4C-ywAjB-MftKDlF6TwbtAiC0rzaO0OjGMb4fnfp-0vFKIaXbXcMU4IbXuun1M8sIPRgR2vY/s1600/IMG_20110307_212405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zS1Q1nN1GtaqkAb0AuUBnsK-iwQk5MgzA4x9AVRtmoGddvjNzZzchco4lW394JIyrrX4C-ywAjB-MftKDlF6TwbtAiC0rzaO0OjGMb4fnfp-0vFKIaXbXcMU4IbXuun1M8sIPRgR2vY/s200/IMG_20110307_212405.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though Kyle ate nearly half of my popcorn and helped himself to my Diet Coke, I'd definitely say it was a successful night. Here's to hoping he didn't have Harry Potter nightmares all night or too much of a sugar high from all the crap I let him eat. :) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">--SIDENOTE-- I still plan on blogging about my February Vegas trip... eventually. What with the awesome dating agenda and time-consuming bathroom remodel project going on, I just... well... haven't yet. :) </span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-53070441385610798302011-03-02T14:01:00.000-08:002011-03-04T10:07:48.592-08:00What to do when sleep has deliberately removed itself from your list of acceptable and desirable activities to engage in during the midnight hour (and the hours that follow...)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was going to post about my Las Vegas vacation today, but instead I’ve decided to push the schedule back a little (check that schedule-pushing power!) Anyway, I couldn’t sleep last night and discovered a couple of surprising things about myself—and my name. Here is my list of activities when sleep is not an option:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Play Solitaire.</b> I downloaded the BEST solitaire app ever and have since been a little bit obsessed with the game. That being said, whenever I have trouble sleeping, I often play a few (hundred) games while winding down from the day. Ok. Maybe not THAT many, but the point is, instead of helping my brain shut down for the night, this has begun to have the complete opposite effect and when I finally DO get to sleep, I dream of flying face cards against a felt green background. Needless to say, solitaire before bed is now a no no.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Solve your Rubik’s Cube.</b> Since solitaire is officially out, I figured maybe I ought to exhaust my brain power by working on my Rubik’s cube skills. Yes... I have Rubik’s cube skills. My little brother taught me to solve one a while back and we used to have solving races before he left on his mission. By the time he gets home, I hope to be able to actually WIN one of those races. :) It’s been a while, so I’m ashamed to say that my best solving time is consistently over three minutes which is unacceptable. By the time my arms were too sore to solve, it was nearly 1 am and I’d only shaved 30 seconds or so off of my solving time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. Read a book.</b> I’ve been re-reading An Abundance of Katherines over the past few weeks, so after I became frustrated enough to toss the cube across the room (partly because I wasn’t solving any faster and mostly because I SITLL wasn’t a bit tired) I picked up the book and read. By the time I was finished and—you guessed it—not sleeping, it was on to my next activity.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. Anagram.</b> So, Colin Singleton (the main character in the book mentioned above) is this child prodigy that worries about not achieving his genius potential, but more importantly, he loves to anagram. (Seriously, this book is awesome, and I’d tell you all to go out and read it, but that’s another can of worms for my post on reluctant recommendations.) Anyway, I’ve never been all that great at scrabble, but I love word play and since I was—yes—still awake, I thought I’d see what I could do with my own name. Not only did I FINALLY find the activity that could exhaust my brain enough to sleep, I also now understand Colin’s fascination with it. Turns out ‘stephanie kenner’ is a bit of an anagramming gold mine. Who knew?! Here are some of my favorites. With commentary, of course.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- Ten keep hare inns.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> First of all, lodging for rabbits? Awesome and worthwhile profession... and probably not easy. I mean, those guys multiply pretty quickly from what I understand. But to be one of TEN? That’s just a dream come true.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- He ran in keen step.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I’ve always said that if you’re going to run, it oughta be keenly.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- I earn the pens, Ken!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Yeah... jeez, Ken! You better think twice if you’re going to accuse Barbie of not earning her living! I mean not only does she work as a medical doctor, animal doctor, beauty queen, rock star, princess, athlete, lifeguard, lawyer, and chef (among other things), she EARNS THE PENS!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- Rake pennies then!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Seriously, next time I complain about anything, I’m gonna stop and think about how it could be worse. You don’t want to exercise, Stephanie? You don’t want to do the dishes or your laundry? Well why don’t you rake pennies then?!?!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- Kneepants! In here!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Britches, I’ve been looking for you all day. Are you telling me you’ve been in here the whole time?!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- In the sneaker pen</b>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i>Hey, fellas. Has anybody seen my new pair of chucks?</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> I’m pretty sure they’re in the sneaker pen where you left them.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">- Spank teen in here</span>.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ... I better stop before things get out of hand.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... in other news, my phone keeps turning on Bluetooth without my permission today and I can’t figure out how to make it stop. Blasted technology. </span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175514048567476837.post-34688053495482821342011-03-01T10:39:00.000-08:002011-03-01T10:50:18.072-08:00I wanna be a bloggionaire...<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes... a bloggionaire. (Curse you Travie McCoy for attaching your ambitious monetary desires to catchy melodies and planting them in my head!) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I’ve started a blog!! Actually, I set it up quite a while ago, but after spending a ridiculous amount of time (hours...) trying to figure out how to make it look pretty, failing miserably, and finally consulting with someone who knows more about blogging than I (thanks, sis), I successfully added a background I liked. Unfortunately, at that point I was all-blogged-out and couldn’t find the brain power to actually post on said blog. Needless to say, it remained postless for weeks. Mind you, I didn’t abandon the poor barely birthed blog... no. I visited it faithfully nearly every day, each time congratulating myself on how beautiful that background was, and dreaming about the day I would one day post something on it and thus allow it to fulfill its potential. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is that day. Well, as close to it as possible... as you can see, I have yet to come up with an acceptable title for what is likely to go down in history as the coolest blog ever... or something. In time, my friends, in time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In searching for inspiration for my first post, I turned to the blogs of my friends and family, where I discovered something a little shocking that I hadn’t noticed until now. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As proof of my discovery, I have included the appalling photographic evidence... taken directly from the blogs they originally appeared on and edited for emphasis and identity protection (yep... without permission from their owners.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">--Identities of all photo subjects have been concealed in order to maintain their privacy-- </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiOJq_ETTm-NdhUR0M40DrE5FGnLK9HUuA4JyttCYnlOJSJZkbIzyUy4yWzlLdxwq4N_ohnq-wmoYNijp4JOG721O4JjMhPqufIAKb96f6Fba7bW9Ckeqj2wG4sEeSsQeT3o7NwLAgSs/s1600/Halloween+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiOJq_ETTm-NdhUR0M40DrE5FGnLK9HUuA4JyttCYnlOJSJZkbIzyUy4yWzlLdxwq4N_ohnq-wmoYNijp4JOG721O4JjMhPqufIAKb96f6Fba7bW9Ckeqj2wG4sEeSsQeT3o7NwLAgSs/s320/Halloween+1.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There! In the corner! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6khtihUfdaqYDuPmDCBR3q1dDp5BaPaQIOEgKpY2Ma2J7e9QWyNwAIyt8NJ_Xn48yTqVABQeGCgp_x1X4vqav1AI_h7KBVYNXyYmxuxhXjpXJqjchNUnPGPNHpQG1iCzX-1svA_Oo97w/s1600/Superbowl+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6khtihUfdaqYDuPmDCBR3q1dDp5BaPaQIOEgKpY2Ma2J7e9QWyNwAIyt8NJ_Xn48yTqVABQeGCgp_x1X4vqav1AI_h7KBVYNXyYmxuxhXjpXJqjchNUnPGPNHpQG1iCzX-1svA_Oo97w/s320/Superbowl+1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and again...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPrMbu0aJ_m6geUF1RIYlxjJzDp_9iDIheZpFdCig1svSHC9_cA_RjQbcnEZmZXrJHul2pue2uohd1kn6A39w7wByjk3Fmkb9l2CQrAf1lipxCPWnU_JF1ByefPFpZgvzJjrIo8mt300/s1600/Christmas+Eve+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPrMbu0aJ_m6geUF1RIYlxjJzDp_9iDIheZpFdCig1svSHC9_cA_RjQbcnEZmZXrJHul2pue2uohd1kn6A39w7wByjk3Fmkb9l2CQrAf1lipxCPWnU_JF1ByefPFpZgvzJjrIo8mt300/s320/Christmas+Eve+1.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and AGAIN!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, readers (all 2 of you. Hi mom.) It’s true. I have been making sneaky and generally unattractive and unintentional background appearances in the blogs of others for some time now. It isn’t something I’m proud of, to be sure, and is a problem I intend to put to rest right here and right now... It's time I made an intentional appearance in a blog of my own! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9y-_ZOOBGNHYHYirutchRO3FUUtxen1-g3GHxAhU38e6vUq6NFQaWLkrL4rfxJdV44qaHfGfCY7_n0n_9XlONpK45bmytz7bJ9uxR67FazYgkpdxSmrdwQfpsgzvJVXKrgAl0E2H3J9U/s1600/2684.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9y-_ZOOBGNHYHYirutchRO3FUUtxen1-g3GHxAhU38e6vUq6NFQaWLkrL4rfxJdV44qaHfGfCY7_n0n_9XlONpK45bmytz7bJ9uxR67FazYgkpdxSmrdwQfpsgzvJVXKrgAl0E2H3J9U/s1600/2684.bmp" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">!!BAM!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to a new era of blogging. I've officially cleared the first-post-ever-hurdle. Here's to hoping I can keep my momentum and make it to the next. (What the track metaphor? I don't think that's going to work. Stand-by for something more self-applicable... </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've got nothin'. Oh well. I think I'll go watch last night's Bachelor episode now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming Soon:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Wholesome fun in the city of sin</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Reluctant recommendations </span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06014715449451564427noreply@blogger.com10