Countdown... to X-mas or the final one

Good lunch with good people and good food.
Good feeling, break is right around the corner.
Gotta take care of a few small things.... then it's Christmas time.
That or the world is coming to and end. We'll see, I guess.

Presented with a present problem

So we weren't gonna do presents.
And then we were gonna do just like something small.
Then he got online and ordered himself a $6 scraper for ski waxing, as his gift from me.
Sweet, I thought, off the hook and done!
Then.... I get home and he tells me he got me a present. An expensive one. That I'll really like. Godammit. So now I have to get him something after all.
What....?

When are the next olympics?

My new year's resolution for next year?
To learn how to do the freestyle swim....
I haven't been entirely successful in doing yoga once a week, as was my resolution for this year. But I have done significantly more yoga this year than any other year. So it counts.
And now I'm off to the pool to improve my strokes. I've been swimming every Tuesday morning all semester.
Breast stroke. Exclusively.
Cause that's all I know how to do.
But it gets old and I get mad and frustrated when senior citizens in the next lane swoosh by my with long, elegant, effortless freestyle strokes.
I want to to that too.
Last week I decided to give it a go. Just went for it. Picture a dog drowning. And swallowing tons of water. That was me.
1 year. I'm shooting for somewhere right in between Ryan Lochte and the drowning dog.

So all those people promising to do good deeds and stuff....well, that's great. You guys save the planet. I'll be in the pool.

When people ask "so do you like it here?"

Well, let's see what I missed, thus far, this year.....
Everybody's birthday
Sister's wedding
Grandma's last days, death and funeral
Dad's retirement
Friend's babies

and probably a bunch of other stuff.
So you see, it's not that I don't like it here... we're not talking about Chinese food. It's not that simple.  I do like it here. But being here, I'm missing out...like, a lot.

A bug

One of my latest pet peeves?
Well, since you asked…. The Gluten Free Fad.
First it was fat-free and then low-carb and now it’s gluten. And most people don’t even have any idea what gluten is, they’re just happy to join the craze, thinking it’ll make them healthier. Or seem healthier, whichever one is more important.
And so facebook gets full of comments and statuses like “making gluten-free french fries!!” which is almost as difficult as making vegetarian rice…. Or “these gluten-free corn-tortillas are amazing!” when, again, people don’t usually stress that their milk is non-alcoholic…but maybe we should?


Potatoes and rice are probably happy though, since they got so much crap during the carb hysteria, now they can proudly say they’re gluten free.
And sugar, oil and flour everywhere can get it on and form vegan cookies, cause as we all now, as long as it’s vegan, it’s totally good for you.

I’m not saying there’s not a point behind these fads.
Yes, too much carbs is not good for you.
Neither is too much almost anything.
Too much of the all the additives they put into refined flour is also bad for you, hence the fear of gluten…. But, unless you’re actually gluten intolerant, completely cutting gluten from your diet can actually cause you digestive problems and other health issues.
People’s need to justify and advertise simple choices like whether they picked skim or soy for their latte (if they totally blew it and went with whole you know that shit won’t make it onto facebook) or that they ate something green and vegan and shaped like a tower for lunch (how often do we see yesterday's mac and cheese warmed up in the micro wave on instagram?)… Well you guessed it, it bugs me.

End rant.

Sunday Funday

There is just something about snow.
And the winter landscape.
Makes me feel at home like nothing else.
We skied Pomerelle today. First time for both of us on that mountain. Uncle Larry calls it a “pimple on my ass” as compared to Sun Valley.
And… well, I can see his point. It’s not big and it’s not steep.
But it is cheap.
And right on the way coming back from Buhl. And they had fresh, real snow.  So, it was a good day.
Well worth the drive and $.

Today...?

I keep saying it's my favourite show... Modern Family, yet somehow I care enough to always miss it. Although today I've been confused as to what day it actually is all day long long. I've said
"see you tomorrow! yeah, friday...so tomorrow?" twice.
And "this is what we normally do on Tuesdays"
and "so maybe on the 5th....whaddya mean today?"

I blame it on going out to dinner Monday night. I mean, who does that?
That lopsided my whole week.
Maybe I'll call tomorrow Saturday and call it good?

Confession

Crime: The tree is up and decorated.
I cleaned first, of course.
I haven't totally moved away from mother's teachings. You have to clean before you decorate. That's the rule. And one I follow, none the less. Just like you brush after you eat (new studies on that, please be quiet..)
I may be putting my tree up 24 days too early. But my bathroom is clean, my floors vaccuumed and I dusted the side table before putting that decorative green and red table cloth on it.
Plea: So, you see mom... I am not breaking all the rules.

I'm starting to feel the feeling

I think this weekend will be partially devoted to Christmas decorations.
By American standards that is definitely not too early.
By Swedish standards, it's kinda early.
And by my mom's standards it's "have I taught you nothing?!?" early.

This just in

I'm in love with Tina Fey. When I grow up (don't hold your breath on that one) I want to be just like her.

Driving

As we were wrapping up breakfast at the Kneadery, downtown Ketchum this morning, also wrapping up a 4 day Thanksgiving ski weekend, and were getting ready to hit the road back to Pokey, Dylan turns to me and goes
“are you driving?”
and I say
“sure… you want me to?”
and then  I didn’t drive at all. I hardly ever do. He just always has to say that to make me feel like I’m this luxury passenger while he’s driving Miss Daisy and working harder than a coal miner.  

Getting soft

Ok fine, I guess it can't hurt....here we go

I am thankful for:
- My job. I know it's just a job, but 40 hours a week adds up to a good chunk of your life. And if you spend all that time being miserable, you should really ask yourself whether it's worth it. I don't love my job, but I do like it. Not everybody is that fortunate.
- My family. The one at home I miss so terribly but that still respects and supports me in living so far from them. And the one I married into who has taken me in with open arms and hearts and made life away from home still feel like home..
- My friends, near and far, old ones and new, for making me feel accepted, liked, supported and all that good stuff.
- And Dylan, of course. For sticking with me through thick and thin. For loving me even when I feel like I don't deserve it. For keeping me grounded when I loose sight of what actually matters. For being my partner in a pretty freaking good marriage.

So yeah. That's what I'm thankful for.

my 2 cents

I can't get behind marshmallows on food.
Or nutmeg.
I hate nutmeg.
We had a feast of a Thanksgiving dinner last night, early I know... but whatevs. And it was all delicious and all... I ate too much and everything else that you're supposed to do and it was great and fun and slightly nauseating.
Just like it's meant to be.
But ok, so the marshmallows.
I like sweet potatoes. Fried, baked, whatever... but cooked with salt. And served with salty, or at least not sweet, condiments.
Sugar, cinnamon, marshmallows... no, not on food.
That's just too weird.

Dancing a snow dance as I'm typing

Lots of sounds being down here. We're like the sandwich meat now, people up above and down below.
It's not bad though, this place is way better.
Hopefully the people moving in to our old place are non-psychotic. That usually helps with the neighbourlieness...
So with Thanksgiving coming right up. I'm thankful for our new apartment.
And skiing.
The countdown has begun.

A Lower Level

We've been moved. We now reside downstairs as opposed to up above and so far it's.... well, messy, unpacked, the shower doesn't drain and most of the storage space in the kitchen is up so high I'll need a ladder to get it.
We got a lot done and are actually mostly moved in.
We are however, not exactly mostly moved out. Left upstairs is a bunch of crap I don't want to throw away, don't want to keep and most of all, don't want to have to sort through.
That and cleaning.
Blah

First Friday in Forever

Weekend! there you are.... Why I missed you. It's been awhile... let's hang out.

Hairy

I keep googeling hair styles, trying to figure out what to ask for at my hair dressers appointment tomorrow. I don't know why, I'll get what I always get.... a shorter haircut, nothing too different or radical, and long enough to still be pulled into a pony tail.
For the first time ever, however, I am going back to the same hair stylist who cut my hair back in August.
That's exciting. I also happen to love this person, she is ultra cool. I'm hoping some of her aura will somehow be absorbed as she trims my tresses.
Anyways, you know how people always say "my hair dresser" like you say "my doctor" and "my dentist".... well, I never had one before, mostly cause I've moved a lot, and been poor a lot (so my mom or a friend has done the hair cutting) but now, I won't have to explain to her when or where or why I last got my hair cut. Cause she knows. She was there.
Yeah.
I got a picture of Sophia Bush printed off.
The odds of me looking like Sophia Bush tomorrow evening?
Let's not get into that.

Love

Snow on the ground still. Hills are white. I'll be happy to take some more. We need some more.. whenever is convenient for you, Madre Natura.
After a long day of belly aches, of various degrees and discomfort levels (it was hard not to hurt someone or break something) and a class I had not prepared for anywhere near satisfactory..... I came home to a husband  sweet as melted hearts and a casserole just minutes from ready.
Thankful.

Misrecognition

Lady in the elevator today:
Hm, you look a lot like somebody I talked to in a session yesterday!
Me: Yeah, that was me... we talked yesterday.
Lady: Really...?! I didn't recognize you!

Ehrm... you just did...?

Alone in a family I adore

So, I'm here at this Women’s Studies Conference.
In Oakland, California and it’s like super cool and everyone is all radical and their heads are shaved and their tattoos are flashed and the world will change, right here, in the Mariott Hotel where the elevators aren’t working and I rode the service elevator up to my room twice today and walked down the stairs the same number of times.


And I adore some of the women here.
And I don’t understand some of the women here.
And I don’t feel connected to all of the women here.
But I do feel connected to some of the women here.
And that’s just it. See?

I did the smooching of the professionals.
I asked my questions to the panel.
But that’s not where I’m trying to be.
Sometimes I feel like being a feminist is like trying to make your body be all about your neck (or some other random part, you pick..) while in reality, it’s just a crucial part of you.
Who you are.
No more and no less than any other part.
It’s simply essential,
in a crucial, humble kind of way.

Oh, I was born in a liberal bubble, what do I know?

Left and Right switching seats

In one of today's sessions I had a women on my right say that on her campus they did "Porn and Popcorn" nights where they first watched a traditional porno and then a By women for women-produced porno, and then compared and contrasted the two and had a feminist discussion about it.
Then a woman on my left said that the president of her university didn't agree with women wearing pants.
I felt, litterally, right in between.

A Good Good Thing

Soooo, that was good.
Really, very, wonderfully good.
I am extremely impressed with the man the people of this country elected their leader.
I think he is a wonderful leader.
And, obviously, an extremely talented public speaker.


When you talk, you only hear what you already know.
But when you listen, you can learn.
That’s what I’m here in California to do now.
Listen and Learn.
I feel pretty confident I can do that.
At least the former.

You know what to do

Just go vote. Listen to Papa Nike and Just Do It.
If you don't vote, you don't have the right to complain afterwards (which is sooo fun) and the only statement you're making is that you don't  think your voice deserves to be heard.
And that's just silly.

Warm days to save

Whenever I listen to the local weather forecast, I feel like they’re saying it’s “unseasonably warm” and that “temperatures are well above average”.
Always.
And it’s been that way since we moved here, over two years ago. It’s never unseasonably cold and temperatures seem to never be low.
So maybe they should re-evaluate?
But since Sun Valley makes their own snow (it’s like the resort just flips off the sky and goes “I got money bitch! I’ll buy snow!!... so weird, anyways) I don’t have to worry.
Yet.
I will worry later if Pebble stays green and days stay warm.

This particular warm day (my, I think it was even unseasonably warm..) has been a good one. I went out to clean the litter box and ended up barefoot in my neighbour’s closet, going “holy crap this is huge!” and now that’s where we’re moving to.
Downstairs.
And not just the closet, either. The whole apartment.
We are moving, but without the renting a truck and having to collect boxes from grocery stores.
Win.

Then I went for a long walk with a good friend. It was like an active therapy session. We both got to vent. We both got to listen.
Fresh air, crunchy leaves, slow cars on the cemetery.
I returned with a lighter heart and a runny nose.

So yeah. Daylight saving and all.
I feel like I saved mine just fine.

Anyways

The election is almost over. Then we’ll know. And then I won’t any longer know (quite as easily) who to erase off of my facebook friends list without further reasoning. I actually struggled a little with that today…. Normally, I delete anybody who makes an Obama joke or expresses how they favour Romney, just like that. Except for this one (well, more like three) person who is just so freakin entertaining that I can’t stand to loose the posts, rants, drama sparks, inappropriateness and, quite honestly, flavour, this person brings to my news feed.
But I had that mental wrestling match with myself a long time ago, and won, so that’s history.


But no, today… today, I had a friend of my husband’s brother’s wife (I know, right… we’re obviously real close) share a non-Obamaish picture. And I was like “Nooooo, now I have to delete you and feel guilty, or not delete you and feel like hypocrite.. gosh!”

She’s not deleted yet.

What’s also interesting is that right when the semester started, we had dinner with some people and this one guy made this anti-Obama comment and I ended up sharing my one-post-you’re-out facebook rule and he was like “Oh wow so you’re gonna delete me?” and I was like “I don’t have to, we’re not facebook friends..” and then, a couple of weeks ago, he sent me a friend request. I ignored it. Seems like unnecessary button-clicking to first be- and then de-friend him.

Anyways.

I smell like ointment and peppermint

Got naked and now I feel amazing.
That's a massage for ya.
Now I'm thinking I should really do that weekly yoga session since I've kind of been slacking of lately.
Also, I want to do something fun tonight... I've been in a radom "oh I deserve this" kind of mood lately... don't know what that's all about, but I keep being nice to myself. Which I guess is nice. Although I should probably try to be nice to others too...?
Oh well.

Blue

Decided to mix it up. Got to change every once in a while.
So now it's blue.
I have a report to type, a lunch (which I just inhaled in less than ten minutes) to digest and a presentation to go to in a half hour.
But hey, it's Friday...
And I'm getting a massage tomorrow.
So there's that. 

F*#$%!!!

I messed up big time on that one. Big, Big time. The adult thing to do right now is a big, fat public apology.
My ass handed over on a silver plate.
So that's what I'll do. Real soon. Just need to get my ass ready for it.

I'd so much rather dress up like a fairy princess and run around campus asking for candy.

Winging it

Love: the feeling when you open your mouth, hope for the best and when the sound of your voice hits your ears.... it's like somebody else is saying all those smart things and you're just like "Damn, if I didn't know better, I'd say I know what I'm talking about!"

Hate: When that question you were dodging somehow still finds you and you open your mouth, hope for the best and Lady Luck is on a coffee break (or you pissed her off) and for every word that comes out of your face, you just dig yourself deeper into a whole of bullshit and nonsense.

Snowdance

My new skis are ready for winter.
So am I.
Bring it!
No, really... Please, please let it be a good snow year.

On a different note, I didn't really see any costume last night that was really all that amazing. Lots of boobs and skin and skimpy stuff. Lots of Mario brothers. A few smurfs. Cowboys and soldiers and gypsies. Nothing outstanding. Still, I think they should have done a best costume contest at the Flip.
Anyways, that was Halloween.
Thanksgiving next.
Mountains will open.
Snow please.

Somebody needs a time out...it's me, it's me

Comfort eating without good comfort foods around.
Also sucks.
This salsa is like tomato juice with green flakes in it.
I need a good cry and I think I know where to get it.

close and yet so far away

Nothing like Facebook to find out your grandma died. This sucks.

Grrr

Look at that. The new tiger is like a legit statue and not a kindergarten art project. 
Also, the Pocatello backdrop is stunning dressed in winter.
And, I don't know what to be for Halloween.
Finally, I'm feeling very lost calendar wise. Wednesday, it's Wednesday. But feels like Thursday and yesterday was Monday.
Is it weekend yet?

waking up is hard to do

I had a really bizarre dream last night where huge, deep fried (so yes, they should hav been dead...) spiders kept infesting my bed room.
Then the alarm went off and I was thought "I know I've heard that song before..."
I almost fell back asleep while showering.
But, hey... now this Monday is over and it really wasn't that bad.

Key question

Good night last night, lots of people out.
Good to see a lot of them.
Good laughs.
Stomachpitlaughsarethebest.
Definitely one of the better ones, as far as nights in Pocatello goes. Now I have homework calling my name, but what I really need to figure out is whether I want a touch screen or a key real keyboard….
That’s right, I’m about to join the smart phone club.

Reality

Friday morning. Alone in the office, listening to Dagens Eko while having my coffee.
The weeks fly by, they really do. I don’t necessarily mind it, and I sleep like a baby after days of non-stop bran activity.
But I sometimes miss being able to slack off and be irresponsible. Going to Goody’s a Thursday night… I could have done that, easily.
But had I, I’d be hating myself right now.
Hm.
Happy weekend!

Boohoo

 All of last night, and this morning too… I just wanted to cry.
It’s like trying to hold back a sneeze, all these tears are just sitting in my head, wanting out.
Maybe I’ll have to watch Beaches..?
It’s physically impossible not to cry when watching that movie. 

Can I blame somone else for this..?

So I fell off the curb, right?
Foot’s been hurting since.
Went for a run last week, pain but not unbearable.
Attempted a run yesterday.
Sometimes I’m an idiot on so many levels.
Disaster, that one was.
Now I walk with a limp and hate myself for every step I take.

Yeah... yoga pants

We walked to the library this morning, got there a little early and stood outside waiting for it to open. A small crowd had formed before the doors were finally unlocked and I was observing this group of people. Most were dressed, more or less, like me and D; sweats, sneakers, hoodies… dressed like a Sunday calls for.
But this one lady, she had her skinny jeans on, heels, a nice top and a professional looking shoulder bag. Her hair was done too.


Last weekend I was at TJ Maxx and noticed there as well, that a lot of women go out to do their weekend errands in high heels and cute outfits. Or, you know, outfits that are supposed to be cute… or were at some point, or would be on a different person..
(I’m evil, I know -but I do like puppies…)

Anyways, this just sorta baffles me.
I don’t understand dressing up when you don’t have to.
And sure, sure, I try to look somewhat put together too even if there’s not an official dress code.
I don’t go to work in sweatpants and I don’t wear my pajamas to the grocery store.
But I would never wear jeans on a mellow Sunday at home, or heels to go shopping.

That would just be weird. And uncomfortable.

Did someone sneeze?

I don’t like the word bless or blessed.
Because of how people use it.
Because of the people who normally use it.


I am grateful, however, that I get to interact with, and work closely with, so many talented, inspiring, professional, passionate and warm people.
Seriously.
I cannot think of a single person in my close work environment that I don’t like.
I am part of a great team where ever single person brings something unique and valuable to the table.

I’m pretty lucky. That’s all.

I would be a Taxi driver in hell

I had to drive to the Idaho Falls campus today, to give a presentation.
I. Hate. Driving. places I where I don't know my way around. It was never a matter of will I get lost, but how badly will I get lost and will I make it at all?
I made it.
I got hella lost first, mostly due to road work, but I did make it. After stopping at Wendy's to ask for directions and this super sweet girl left her spot behind the counter to walk out to the parking lot with me and actually point to all the (two) intersections I would have to maneuver.
Did I say I have no sense of directions...?
But I made it.

luxury

Tomorrow night I'll be sleeping in a hotel bed. And there will be a bathroom that's all clean and just for me and little soap and tiny shampoo.
I don't know if there will be a bath robe, might not since we went pretty budget, and that's fine.
But if there is a bath robe, I'm getting up earlier to make sure I have time to wear it.
I'm not stoked about the drive or being gone and missing work and all that... but I do love sleeping in hotels.
Got to remember to be happy about the little things.

Sunnyday

Pretty mellow weekend. Some time with friends, some time alone. Some time for just us. It's been good.
It's also been sunny and crisp, still is for that matter. And I love the coolness.
Started today with a bike ride along Old Bannock Highway. Orange leaves, cold breeze, frozen fingers, runny nose.
Way to wake up.
Now, a breakfast and a shower later, the TV is screaming football at me and I want to punch it.
I hate football. Did I say that before?
Good. I hate football.
Because it never ends. Because it's a violent sport that gives the players injuries for life and prevents the viewers from actually having a life.
Yardline, interception, first down, offensive line, shut up.
I need to do some homework.

Friday

What I hate about volunteers is that you have nothing on them. If they say they're going to show up or do something or whatever and then don't.... that's it. You can't do shit about it.
Deduct kharma points maybe...

What he said:

"Yeah... gotta tell ya, I'd sure hate to be in your position"
Funny.
I'm not a fan of being in it either, actually.

How I feel

I feel like this is really unfair. That is how I feel. I feel left behind with a workload I was not trained to deal with. Expectations from people and departments I don't even know who they are, what they do, how this all really works?
I feel like this is not the job I signed up for. Give me a new director, please!

To sum up

Romney's face. And the way he says "Obama care". Makes my skin itch, my eyes bleed and my ears want to spontaneously close up.

Different feet

My foot still hurts from falling off the curb Saturday morning. Yep, I injured myself before even leaving, loading the car at Tiffany's house. It made hiking around the woods during out kayaking trip a little tricky and a little painful.

There were also some people on the trip that made everything a litte tricky and a little painful. People who should maybe not have been on a kayaking trip.

We were discussing this, me and Tiff, as we were changing after swimming. We were talking over the stalls, assuming we were alone. But we weren't. Foot in the mouth, that one.

Love in a bag

I just delivered a love gift to the economics guy.
Not from me obviously, but from a lady (and I should sooo know her name but I don’t) who was going to hang it on his office door but was afraid/embarrassed to cause people would see her.
So she asked me to do it. And I did.
After I sort of peeked in the bag… only to find out her name.
Of course.
But it wasn’t in there.
Anyways. There’s loooove on my floor.
Cute.

Bad ass

The FedEx lady was a bitch. And I was not in the mood.
If my life was an action movie, I would have jumped over the desk and punched in the face/choked her/knocked her out.
If my life was a reality show I would have screamed profanities at her, reached over and grabbed a fistful of her hair and made an awesome scene.
But since my life is neither, I said nothing.
Literally, instead of being like "oh, I see... that makes sense, I'll be right back with that information you requested"
I. Said. Nothing.
Just walked out. And returned 5 minutes later with the requested information.
I think I showed her.

Long day. Over. I'm gonna quit this day now. The hug I so wanted all this long day I had to steal while the noodles were cooking. And then I had to hold on to it so it wouldn't just quit.
Here's a little truth; most people aren't mind readers. My better half is defenitly not a mind reader. Ergo: you have to spell it out for him to get what you want. Or a shot at what you want at least. Good Night.