I Love Geeks!

I had a blast hanging out at the annual Protocol 42 lan party last night at the University Union building. I don't go to game, just to visit Nick (who is on staff), see friends and to experience this contemporary culture. I just love geeks, they're so adorable. And I truly appreciate this groups enthusiasm for what they do.

The guys on staff spend most of the day before setting up tables, servers, cables. There are a lot of cables. I couldn't even pretend to know what any of these are for, but I'm in absolute awe that this makes sense to these people.

But, they have it all worked out and gamers just need to bring their machines and plug in.

And they did.

I spent most of the evening just wandering around, taking photos, watching the gamers and listening to their exclamations of victory and lament. On the whole, it's a wonderfully assorted group of people and I get a real kick out of observing them. It's also a great opportunity to catch up with friends I don't get to see as often as I would like.

There was also a costume contest this year, which saw some really creative and fun entries. I think my favorite was Shake and Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Though I did really like the Sackboy costume from Little Big Planet which, incidentally, looks like I game I would actually want to play.













The University campus is a fun place to hang out at night. It was a beautiful evening and my friend Mindy and I had fun wandering the deserted courtyard.

We found random things like Nader campaign buttons and this weird sticker. Wonder what this is all about?

A thoroughly enjoyable time, as usual. See you next year, guys!!

Geekery

This photo was taken by Nick at last nights P42 lan party.

It's a.....well....you know....computery, uh, thing.

It's pretty and I like it.

This Made Me Smile Today

At The Car Wash

Why do I take photos of random things? Because I like random things. Random things make the world go 'round. And also I was bored in the car wash and the sound of my shutter makes me happy.


I liked the rainbow soap. I think we should put more rainbow into more things. The world needs more rainbow.


Swishing action!

I do love a clean car.

The end.

And A Cherry On Top

I made these for my sisters baby shower today. I had to buy two jars of cherries, one for the cupcakes and one for me. I just love those damn things.

Oh. My. Stars.

I don't even have words for the cuteness going on here. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go mop up my brains; my head has exploded.

Scratch The Economy On The Butt

Where have I been? Hard to say. The last few weeks have been kind of a blur. But while we're waiting for my brain cells to recoup, let's enjoy this educational video about voting!

A Couple Of Cuties

Would ya look at these happy little faces! I captured these unbelievably adorable smiles a few days ago while doing a small photo shoot for a good friend; her children were lots of fun to photograph!

This young man is nothing less than a miracle. He was born three months early, weighing less than two pounds, and deaf. Thanks to modern science and the grace of God, he not only survived but can hear with the aid of a cochlear implant. You would never know he was born deaf. Truly amazing.


And I've never met a little gal with more spunk than this adorable little peanut.

Thanks for a lovely afternoon, friends!

Wisdom Teeth Day 6: Dry Socket

Hey, ladies!

Did you know we are more prone to developing dry socket than men? And those of us on oral contraceptives are even more likely to develop it? AND certain times in our "cycles" make us even MORE likely to get dry socket? As if we didn't have enough with our bodies to put up with.

Still, it's not as horrible as I thought it would be. Pain pills are my friends for a while, is all. I'm more or less back to a regular diet, it just takes me a really long time to eat anything. I find myself turning down all kinds of treats I'd normally scarf in a heartbeat because I just don't want to take the time to eat it, then irrigate bits of it out of my open sockets with salt water. Not worth the effort.

Maybe this is the motivation I've been needing to finally drop those ten pounds!

Happy Birthday, Nick!

Happy birthday to the love of my life!

Day 2: Me So Hungry!

Seriously.

I. Want. Food.

Real food.

Baby food was amusing the first day, but the novelty has worn off quickly. And I'm soooo done with mashed potatoes. My sister-in-law was kind enough to bring me some Campbells Chicken and Stars soup, my idea being that the little stars wouldn't require much chewing. And I was right, they didn't. Though the little stars are the perfect size to get lodged in my open sockets. Brilliant.

So it's back to the apple sauce, pudding and the like. I was able to mix up a rather mushy batch of Stove Top stuffing, more or less the consistency of mashed potatoes. It's not bad and at least it's something different. Any other time I'd be happy to have all the ice cream and vanilla pudding I want, but as I can have nothing else all I want is something else. Go figure.

Still, I shouldn't complain. My pain and swelling is still very minimal, mostly I am just really tired. Between naps I've been able to catch up on movies and get some stitching done. I've finished two more embroidery projects that turned out so great! I'd love to post some photos, but they're to be a gift and I don't want to spoil the surprise. I'll be posting some as soon as the gift is revealed.

So ends another day. Now I'm off to rinse with the worlds worst tasting mouth wash.

Same Great Taste, Now Wisdom Teeth Free!

After five years of procrastination, avoidance and several canceled appointments, I finally had my wisdom teeth out. It wasn't nearly as awful as I anticipated, as is typical with things I anticipate to be horrific. Okay, maybe horrific is strong, but there was a whole list of things I'd rather do than have my teeth torn from my skull. Still, it needed to be done and after much persistence from my husband, dentist and dental hygienist (often all three at the same time), I bit the proverbial bullet.


Despite all my fears, it went well. I had a small omg panic moment in the chair, but then the drugs came and the next thing I remember is grabbing onto some strange mans arms while being hoisted into a wheel chair. Before I knew it, I was home. The pain is much less than I anticipated, as is the swelling. I declined narcotic pain medication in lieu of some 800mg ibuprofen, which seems to be sufficient (thus answering my question from yesterday: a bikini wax by a newly graduated beauty student is more painful than having wisdom teeth pulled. Granted, had I not been numbed and heavily sedated, I'm sure the extraction would have hurt more. But I hardly think that's the point.).

Really, the worst part about this whole thing is that I'm hungry. I'm really hungry! I want some real damn food; a chicken sandwich or a curry or something. Instead, this is what I had for dinner:


An order of mashed potatoes (sans gravy) from KFC and a jar of pureed baby fruit. Not satisfying. I must say, however, that the baby fruit is actually rather tasty, just not filling. I've snacked on vanilla pudding, ice cream and apple sauce, but I'm still freakin' hungry. Hmph.

At any rate, I'm just glad it's over and done with. I really appreciate all the kind wishes and cards and phone calls from everyone who's been checking in on me. I really do have the best family and friends; you make such a difference! Eat a sandwich for me, k!

Because Inquiring Minds Want To Know...

Is a bikini wax more or less painful than having your wisdom teeth extracted?

Yes, I know. It's something that's weighed heavily on all of your minds. And lucky for you, I am about to solve the puzzle.

Now I'm no novice to waxing. Sure, it hurts a bit, but it's quick, it's convenient and it has long-lasting results. I'm a big advocate of waxing. I go to the same spa every time and have always been pleased with whichever esthetician I see so I never bother to ask for anyone specifically. Today, however, I got the newbie.

I have never had such a painful wax in all my life. I hated to make any insinuation regarding her competence, but omg it just fucking hurt so bad OMG AGAIN ALL CAPS! So about half way through the procedure I was compelled to ask:

"So how long have you been doing this?".

It was then she informed me that she just graduated from beauty school. No kidding. I tried to keep my tone casual and chit-chatty despite the tears welling up in my eyes...I hate to offend people.

Really? I was afraid of offending the girl who was turning my nether regions in to Red Square?? It would seem so.

The torture lasted all of 5 minutes and, rather than stay and make a complaint, I paid and fled the establishment. The brand new ice packs I purchased to put on my face tomorrow after my oral surgery are now residing on my crotch.

Ow.

At least tomorrow I will be sedated.

No Words

I'll let the little shoes speak for themselves.

Let The Stitching Begin

My Sublime Stitching book finally arrived!!

It's dreamy!

I have loads of ideas and projects I want to get started on. Lucky for me I'm getting my wisdom teeth out next week so I'll have plenty of down time to sit and stitch! It will be interesting to see what my stitching will look like under the influence of pain medication. Who knows, perhaps I'll start a trend in abstract stitching.

(Not So) Little Sistah

I had a really fun afternoon doing pictures with my sister, Amy, today. She's about to become a new mom (and me an aunt!) in about eight weeks!

Isn't she the cutest little mama??

I can't begin to express my joy and happiness for her and my brother-in-law. I love you both, and your little bundle, so very much! I can't wait to meet him!

P.S. Welcome October! I'm looking forward to all your Fall-ness and the pumpkins and, of course, Halloween! Seriously, though....almost 90 degrees today? Chill out, yo.

A Grand Day Out

If you're having Tums for breakfast, does it mean it was a good night? Or a bad one?

Actually, yesterday was a really lovely day! We started the morning with our traditional anniversary breakfast at Ruth's Diner. We always insist on being seated on the patio, despite the chilly September temperatures (part of the fun for us is bundling up in a cozy sweater and sipping hot chocolate and tea in the brisk morning air). There was really no need for the sweater this year, however, as it was a delightfully warm morning and we sipped our tea and coffee in perfect comfort.

After breakfast, we had some time to kill before our afternoon movie so we took a little jaunt through Emigration Canyon. The colors are just starting to change and we're anticipating in a few weeks they will be vibrant. *sigh* Fall is here!

After the movie (we saw Igor, which was less awesome than I anticipated but still cute and entertaining), we headed to Jason's Deli for lunch. As we were enjoying our club sandwich and salad, we saw Mark Hamill's face pop up on the television with the caption "Happy 57th Birthday" appearing beneath it.

Wait, we were married on Mark Hamill's birthday?

Wait, Mark Hamill is 57? He could be my dad! Trippy. But the fact that we were unknowingly wed on Luke Skywalker's birthday brought up an entire conversation about the missed opportunities to "nerd up" our wedding, including reciting vows in either Wookie or in the style of Yoda ("as my lawful wife, take this woman I do"). There's always our 10th anniversary, I suppose.

Our evening came to a perfect end with dinner at Cafe' Molise. What an absolutely delightful establishment. A bit on the pricey side, but delicious food and a perfect ambiance for a relaxing and intimate meal. We dined outdoors in the cool night air, amongst the trees and the lights that adorn the patio. *sigh* Lovely.

Seven Years

It's been seven years today.

Don't ask me where the time went, I couldn't tell you. What I can tell you is that I love this man. Each day with him is the happiest day of my life. Just when I think I couldn't possibly love him any more, the sun rises again and I do.


Charles Schultz said that "happiness is a warm puppy". Well, my happiness is a warm husband. Plus he's house trained.

I love you, Nick. With all my heart. Thank you for your unyielding support, your love and for always making me laugh.

Happy Anniversary!

P.S. Look under your pillow ;)

Experiment: Blue Cupcakes

I'm currently in the process of planning a baby shower for my little sister. She'll be a first-time mommy and I'm really honored and excited to throw this shower! It's also another excuse for me to get in the kitchen and bake some cupcakes! I love to bake cupcakes.

Since she's having a boy, I thought blue cupcakes could be a fun idea. So I did a little experimenting today...

I love how the blue food coloring makes a swirly pattern while being mixed into the batter. At this point, I thought it was looking kinda cool.

Here are the cupcakes fresh out of the oven. Hmm. Doesn't look so much blue, more like mold. Yeah. These look like moldy cupcakes. Perhaps they'll look better once they're frosted.

Nope, they sure don't. They look like moldy cupcakes with white mold on top. They still taste great, but if I hadn't made them myself I don't think I would be so keen on eating one.

Okay, so lesson learned....blue does not translate well to cake. I think I'd be better trying white cake and blue frosting or maybe just some blue sprinkles. Nick made a good point, however...these grotesque-looking cupcakes could be fun for Halloween!

I Share With You Because I Love You! Yes, You!

My friends,

If you're not already reading Cake Wrecks, well by-golly you should be! It'll make you laugh, it'll never make you cry, and it'll make you say "what the..."

Until I discovered this blog, I had no idea how little the term "professional" meant when it came to cake decorating. It seems any old bugger can slip into this title! Spelling and reading skills are apparently not required to correspond in frosting. And if you have an affinity for the creepy and oddly inappropriate, cake decorating could be your calling!

Beyond the cake decorators themselves, I'm curious about the people who actually order these cakes. While I admire those who have the amazing skill to sculpt realistically out of flour and sugar, I'm simply baffled by the subjects of some of these cakes. I mean, who thought it would be a good idea to serve baby?? Who gets the honor of slicing this cake, I wonder? Or how about this life-size replica of a bride ("I'll take a slice of boob over here!")?

Where is the logic? Where is the tact? You'll find none of that here. It's brilliant and so hilarious!

The icing on the cake that is Cake Wrecks is Jen, the sites author. Her witty commentary never ceases to make me laugh and her posts always make my day! Dessert + other peoples stupidity = genius. It's a perfect formula.

Magic Pills

These are my new magic pills.

They're hand crafted by leprechauns and contain rainbow sprinkles, unicorn dandruff and fairy dust.

Taken each day, these crimson capsules will be the catalyst for an enchanting feeling of remaining upright and will grant the ability to get shit done. To put it clinically: red pills make feel better.

Side effects may include impulsive singing, blue birds on your shoulder, and pooping rainbows.

State Fair 2008

We took a jaunt over to the Utah State Fair tonight. We hadn't been for years...it's sure a lot more commercial than I remember. More vendors and less entertainment. Kinda lame. Though we did get some Dippin' Dots. I loves me some Dippin' Dots.


Our main interest was in the photography exhibit. I had entered three photos for judging in the "amateur" class, my first time submitting any of my photographs into a competitive environment. I was banking on this being a good learning experience and was interested in observing the other works submitted.

Much to my surprise, I received a Fourth Place ribbon for this photograph. This is one of my favorite and most treasured images, as this typewriter belonged to my grandfather. Typewriters were his passion and this machine, circa 1934, is the only relic I have of him. I find it very interesting that this image was chosen for a ribbon, and am also very gratified. My grandfather always reminded and encouraged us to follow our passions. I know he's smiling about this.


So I realize fourth place isn't magnificent, but I placed and for a first-time that's not too shabby. I definitely learned a lot from the experience, and the lessons learned are much more valuable to me than the ribbon. Still, it's something to smile about.

Quote For The Day

"Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."
~G.K. Chesterton

I love this quote.

It's whimsically inspirational.

Anyway, what's life without a few dragons?

I Love Unicorns! And Embroidery!

I completed my first embroidery project!

I was hooked from the very first stitch and had such a blast with this pattern. It was unbelievably easy and my mind is already buzzing with loads of project ideas. I'm just itching to get started on the next one.

As you can see, I love unicorns which is why I chose this as my first project. Still, I am passing this first project on as a gift. Everyone should have some unicorn love.

Bathroom Updates

It's been just over two years since we moved into our house. It's an older house and while it's definitely been a great first house, it needed some TLC. Little by little we have been making small updates here and there, our latest project being the bathroom.

This room was way overdue for a makeover. The hardware and fixtures were most likely the original pieces installed in the home when it was constructed and the decor was, well, let's just say it was no longer our style.

This is the bathroom before. It's a small room and the darkness of the shower curtain made it seem even smaller.

And check out these moon and sun ceramic masks circa my bedroom in Jr. High. I don't know why I hung on to these for so long. They did match the shower curtain, but I'm way over my moons and stars phase.

A new shower curtain, new towel racks and a few new decor items and this is what we have. Much brighter, cleaner and simpler and, on the whole, a much more relaxing room to be in. Which is important, because we spend a lot of time in here.




We got rid of the moon and sun and replaced them with an actual hand towel rack. Much more practical and attractive. Some new decorative pieces tie in nicely.

The old light fixture screams 1978, which was when this house was built.


The new fixture is simple, yet modern and brightens the whole room.

The worst offender of all was the sink and faucet. The grime and rust was permanently embedded in the handles and throughout the entire piece. Despite all our attempts to scrub and clean, it never looked any different. It just had to go.


Oh, it's just dreamy! I shudder to think that we lived with that horrifyingly gross faucet for two whole years. I never thought I could get so excited about bathroom hardware, but it's like Christmas come early.

All the credit really must go to Nick, for he single-handedly installed everything. Handsome and handy! I hit the jackpot.

Black Books

Another new favorite British comedy, Black Books staring Dylan Moran. It's genius. I love it. Have a look!

Sakes Alive, It's Cold!

Well good morning, Mr. Storm Cloud! Was that you doing all that thundering last night? Oh, that was a marvelous thunderstorm. I thank you.

It's a chilly 52 degrees this morning and Mr. Storm Cloud is throwing down some icy hail. I like the sound of hail almost as much as I like thunder.



This chilly weather is welcome, a sure sign that Fall is on it's way. Smell ya later, Summer!



Perfect conditions this morning for a hot cuppa tea in my favorite mug.



And it was cold enough I even had to put my elephant socks on. Aahhhh, nothing like a proper thunderstorm, a hot cuppa tea and some snuggly elephant socks. Now all I need is a good book.