quotable 2010

these are quotes i have been collecting this year ... some i've seen on friends' blogs (thanks); others i've just run into. enjoy! if you have one to add, let me know.

• "as an individual undertakes to live by borrowing, soon finds his original means devoured by interest and, next, no one left to borrow from; so must it be with government." -- abraham lincoln
• "when one door closes, another opens. but we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don't see the one that has opened for us." -- alexander graham bell
• "pride is spiritual cancer. it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense." -- cs lewis
• "for attractive lips, speak words of kindness. for lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. for a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. for beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. for poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. people, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never through out anyone. remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. as you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others." -- audrey hepburn
• "o segredo nao e' correr atras das borboletas ... e sim cuidar do jardim para que elas venham ate voce." -- unknown
• ‎"don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful." -- ann landers
• "the measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out." -- thomas babington macaulay
• "in the end, people either have excuses or experiences; reasons or results; buts or brilliance. they either have what they wanted or they have a detailed list of all the rational reasons why not." -- anonymous

the holidays have arrived

i discovered these last year -- don't know how i missed out on them for so long -- but they're back! candy cane joe-joe's. for those of you that haven't ever tried them, my heart cries for you. they're only around during the holidays, so go get some!

even though my chiropractor will curse me out, i purchased 3 boxes of them last night when i discovered them on the shelf at trader joe's. hey -- they don't have any hydrogenated oils. i think that makes them okay. doesn't it?

and, for the record, i haven't eaten of them yet. i'm actually a little paranoid that they're gonna run out too quickly, so i want to save them ... i think i may have a problem. a pepperminty and chocolatey problem.

halloween shock

flynn called this morning:

"stinna, are you coming to church for the chili cook-off tonight?"

"yep -- i'm coming!"

"okay, and you have to wear your costume."

"oh. i don't have a costume."

[short pause]

"... you don't have *any* costumes??"

it's shocking, i know ...

cut off

i haven't been able to check my email for almost 24 hours now because they are upgrading the servers or something. i know it's saturday. but this is killing me.

fallin' for you - colbie caillat

i don't know but
i think i may be
fallin' for you
dropping so quickly
maybe i should
keep this to myself
waiting 'til i
know you better

i am trying
not to tell you
but i want to
i'm scared of what you'll say
so i'm hiding what i'm feeling
but i'm tired of
holding this inside my head

i've been spending all my time
just thinking about ya
i don't know where to
i think i'm fallin' for you
i've been waiting all my life
and now i found ya
i don't know where to
i think i'm fallin' for you
i'm fallin' for you

as i'm standing here
and you hold my hand
pull me towards you
and we start to dance
all around us
i see nobody
here in silence
it's just you and me

i'm trying
not to tell you
but i want to
i'm scared of what you'll say
so i'm hiding what i'm feeling
but i'm tired of
holding this inside my head

i've been spending all my time
just thinking about ya
i don't know where to
i think i'm fallin' for you
i've been waiting all my life
and now i found ya
i don't know where to
i think i'm fallin' for you
i'm fallin' for you

oh i just can't take it
my heart is racing
the emotions keep spinning out

i've been spending all my time
just thinking about ya
i don't know where to
i think i'm fallin' for you
i've been waiting all my life
and now i found ya
i don't know where to
i think i'm fallin' for you
i'm fallin' for you
i think i'm fallin' for you

i can't stop thinking about it
i want you all around me
and now i just can't hide it
i think i'm fallin' for you

i'm fallin' for you

ooohhh
oh no no
oooooohhh
oh i'm fallin' for you

friend suggestions

i don't know how facebook arrives at suggested friendships. well, some are obvious: my sister's friends -- hey, if i know my sister, it is possible i know her friends, too. others, i just don't see the link. let's just face it, facebook is amazing.

well, it took almost 3 years, but facebook finally decided i should be friends with pharmacy boy. interesting. apparently facebook is stalking me on my trips to the pharmacy.

umm, ignore.

put your records on - corinne bailey rae

three little birds, sat on my window.
and they told me i don't need to worry.
summer came like cinnamon
so sweet, little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

maybe sometimes, we've got it wrong, but it's alright
the more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
oh, don't you hesitate.

girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
you go ahead, let your hair down
sapphire and faded jeans, i hope you get your dreams,
just go ahead, let your hair down.

you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely,
sipping tea in the bar by the roadside,
(just relax, just relax)
don't you let those other boys fool you,
got to love that afro hair do.

maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it's alright
the more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
don't you think it's strange?

girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
you go ahead, let your hair down
sapphire and faded jeans, i hope you get your dreams,
just go ahead, let your hair down.

you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

'twas more than i could take, pity for pity's sake
some nights kept me awake, i thought that i was stronger
when you gonna realize, that you don't even have to try any longer?
do what you want to.

girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
you go ahead, let your hair down
sapphire and faded jeans, i hope you get your dreams,
just go ahead, let your hair down.

girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
you go ahead, let your hair down
sapphire and faded jeans, i hope you get your dreams,
just go ahead, let your hair down.

oh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow

mission: accomplished

i just realized that i have gravely forgotten to make a very special announcement. as you will note, this news is long overdue. and i apologize to all who have been negatively impacted by my gross oversight. those closest to the subject were informed immediately, but i feel the need to give public recognition for this awe-inspiring achievement.

let it be known to all who are connected through this vast world wide interweb, that on saturday, july 22, 2010, my manager mark finally fulfilled his dream of becoming #3 on my google favourites.

it was at times a difficult, yea even arduous, battle that required his constant time and attention. and my patience. many long hours were spent reading accounting literature out loud, pontificating on remote accounting principles, and stretching out the smallest of insignificant small talk. with brazen disregard for phone call etiquette and cunning creativity mark persevered in finding reasons to call multiple times daily, from the wee hours of the morning to long after what should be bed time. yet, despite his travail, at times i was unsure that his focused effort would pay off.

but triumph was destined to be his.

congratulations, my friend: you have done well.

a meta

my goal this week is to bring my lunch to work everyday. for two reasons, mostly:

1. i am cheap.

2. i have zero self control when french fries are on the menu.

so far, so good.

but, it's only tuesday ...

sunshine

my manager mark calls me sunshine, y'know, as in, "good morning, sunshine!". it's his way of reminding me that he has already battled an hour and a half of traffic and is in the office long before i even hit snooze on my alarm clock.

as a special treat, every once in a while, he will sing "you are my sunshine" to me. he usually loses the words somewhere in the middle of the first verse though, so today he put in the effort to google the full lyrics.

and because we used to sing that song about my brother when we were all kids, i knew most of the words ... until it took a sharp southward turn at louisiana. did anyone else know this song was about crawfish gumbo and jambalaya?

you are my sunshine
my only sunshine.
you make me happy
when skies are grey.
you'll never know, dear,
how much i love you.
please don't take my sunshine away

the other nite, dear,
as i lay sleeping
i dreamed i held you in my arms.
when i awoke, dear,
i was mistaken
and i hung my head and cried.

you are my sunshine,
my only sunshine.
you make me happy
when skies are grey.
you'll never know, dear,
how much i love you.
please don't take my sunshine away.

i'll always love you
and make you happy
if you will only say the same
but if you leave me
to love another
you'll regret it all some day;

you are my sunshine,
my only sunshine.
you make me happy
when skies are grey.
you'll never know, dear,
how much i love you.
please don't take my sunshine away.

you told me once, dear
you really loved me
and no one else could come between
but now you've left me
and love another
you have shattered all my dreams;

you are my sunshine,
my only sunshine.
you make me happy
when skies are grey.
you'll never know, dear,
how much i love you.
please don't take my sunshine away.

louisiana my louisiana
the place where i was borne.
white fields of cotton -- green fields of clover,
the best fishing
and long tall corn;

you are my sunshine,
my only sunshine.
you make me happy
when skies are grey.
you'll never know, dear,
how much i love you.
please don't take my sunshine away.

crawfish gumbo and jambalaya
the biggest shrimp and sugar cane,
the finest oysters
and sweet strawberries
from toledo bend to new orleans;

you are my sunshine,
my only sunshine.
you make me happy
when skies are grey.
you'll never know, dear,
how much i love you.
please don't take my sunshine away.

c.r.i.m.e.a.i.d.

i just got this memo from our office building management.

of all the things to steal ... the back seat of the car?

magic show

put on a concert at magic mountain on saturday for church public affairs. it was really a lot of fun. really made me miss helping my dad put on concerts in salt lake ...

anyway ... the show was a lot of fun. and the line-up was ... (yes, i stole the bio's from our mc's script. but only because i am lazy.) ...

matt abernathy (i loved this guy -- you should check him out)

our first performer recently attended an alex boye' workshop for musicians in salt lake city, utah, where artists were privileged to learn powerful performance insights. an audition was held at the conclusion of the workshop, with the winner having the opportunity to perform here at magic mountain today. matt abernathy was chosen due to his unique earthy style and powerful raw vocal talent.

for this singer/songwriter, there's truly no greater privilege than to unleash his deeply sincere and well crafted original songs; born to reflect a deliberate celebration of life's triumphs, as well as its sometimes very difficult trials.

the musical climate in america is a far cry from his birthplace on an island in the south china sea. matt abernathy is the product of a vibrant & complex culture. "hong kong will always be home to me," says matt. "it's hard to not miss my 20 years in the far east. there's simply no place like it anywhere." abernathy is fluent and literate in two chinese dialects, mandarin and cantonese.

after moving to america, matt abernathy performed as a solo act in many venues throughout the san francisco bay area. occasionally his vocal talent brought him to sing the lead with various members of the marshall tucker and elvin bishop bands. he has also been featured on two southern utah singer/songwriter association special edition cd's and has performed on kutv news in utah. he is very thankful for the opportunity to be part of this magic mountain concert and grateful to all who are in attendance!

alex boye

alex boye' has been entertaining audiences worldwide for over 15 years. alex was born and raised in london, england,and has had hits in over 15 countries, selling over half a million cd's and has performed alongside such groups as bryan adams, george michael, simon garfunkel, mc hammer, vanilla ice, n'sync, jay-z, the backstreet boys, jordyn sparks, dancing with the stars winner derek huff, missy elliott, mary. j.blige, david archuleta, and the smashing pumpkins to name a few.

alex served a mission for the mormon church in bristol, england, and, upon suggestion of his mission president, decided to pursue music as a career.

he has performed in many notable venues across the nation including the mgm grand in las vegas.

in acting, alex played a walk-on role in cbs's hit sitcom, how i met your mother. alex has had music featured in several movie soundtracks including charly, the dance, baptist at the barbecue, suits on the loose, and church ball.

he loves to laugh, and says some of the highlights in his life have been giving a book of mormon to prince charles, joining the mormon tabernacle choir, and marrying his wonderful wife julie.

alex recorded two solo songs on the new tabernacle choir cd "come thou fount" which has garnered rave reviews reached #1 in the billboard classical charts. he performed the 2 songs recently on the mormon tabernacle choirs' sold out midwest tour, and at the pioneer day commemoration concert in the conference center in salt lake city even receiving a standing ovation from the mormon church's president thomas s. monson.

jericho road

whether performing in a japanese concert hall, a radio station in alabama, or a halftime show in front of 65,000 football fans, jericho road continues doing what they do best – giving their fans great music with catchy melodies, tight harmonies, and positive lyrics. since they jumped into the music scene in 2001, abe, brett, dave and justin continue to be one of the most sought after groups in christian music, performing at universities, youth conferences, corporate shows, firesides, and sporting events all around the world. they have sung in more than 35 states and five countries. this year their schedule takes them everywhere from anaheim to orlando! they just finished recording a new cd that will be released in october! but for now, we're happy to have the guys here at magic mountain!

don't ask

i hit myself in the face with my car tonight.

no problem

it is possible that i have been chatting / texting too much recently. one of my co-workers just said "thank you" to me and my reply was, "np".

yes, i said the letters.

best sandwich ever

i know i've been too lazy lately to post anything, but ... some things are worth making the effort. and this sandwich is.

tomato, avocado, green onion, garlic powder, black pepper, basil, and cheese. eden's copyright.

i'd eat it everyday.

if she'd make it for me everyday.

fruits of my labors

this is what i have been doing:

RLOC

and this:

424(b) Prospectus

at 3:30 this morning, i became a free woman.

... for the time being, anyway.

carpe diem

today:

• i got to work before 9am.

• i wore a skirt *and* did my hair.

• i bought a gym membership from costco.

• i branched out and bought a chocolate chip frappuccino with peppermint for happy hour half-price frappuccinos week -- not as good as my regular mocha non-coffee frap.

• i tried bayer (aka "the wonder drug") for my back pain -- verdict: works better than tylenol (and since i'm not donating blood until saturday, i'm okay to take it).

• my co-worker got called "laura webb-ensen" for not taking a lunch break.

• i learned how to fed-ex at work.

• i hand wrote out 42 percentage calculations on one sheet of paper.

• i locked myself out of my office after everyone had already gone home, and then spent an hour and a half chilling with the security team waiting for the admin to come back and let me in, rather than pay a $300-fee to have them open the door for me.

big day.

reverse thinking

arb

for those of you that don't want to read a bra story ... stop reading. for everyone else ... i can only say that it has been a long day / week / month / year ... [sigh]

about 2 hours ago, i took a break at work to run to the restroom. as i dried my hands, i did the once over in the mirror and realized that i could read the size and fabric composition print on my bra through the back of my shirt. heh. funny i never noticed that about this shirt before.

i got back to my desk and commented to my co-worker that it's a good thing i was wearing my sweater most of the day.

when i got home a half hour ago, i changed into pajamas and realized what was wrong: my bra was inside out.

[shakes head]

yes

resolutions, v. 2010

i wasn't going to make resolutions this year.

but i found a bit of hope in a rather commonplace text received shortly after midnight, on new years day: "happy 2010! make it a great year."

at first i didn't think much of it -- i'm sure i have received a similar text or email or something every year since bread was first introduced to peanut butter -- but, i read it a second time and it hit me that *i* can make it a great year. immediately, the cynic on my shoulder chimed in with a "well, you can try ...", followed by a "but you can't control most things anyway."

i decided i am tired of that faithless argument. and i'd like to ride the wave of hope a little longer.

so, here we go:

1. de-stress. i intend to keep a longer-range perspective on time and other commitments. i know that because i am who i am, i need to keep my calendar full; however, i can't keep over-filling it. i will make conscious effort to more realistically fill my calendar, allowing time for the unforeseens. additionally, if i think i've mis-estimated, i'll adjust.

2. exercise. as is the case every year, with busy season looming, i hesitate to set a specific goal for this, but if i don't do it now, i never will. i'd like to get out and jog or run twice a week: monday and tuesday. pronto.

3. scripture reading. i've been out of this habit for far too long. i'll work my way through the Doctrine & Covenants, one verse at a time until i can pick up more momentum.

my stress level just increased, so i better stop. if any of y'all have suggestions, i'll take 'em. thanks!