jokes, jeans & Jesus

ALABAMA SHAKES: Listen and Love

2012-01-03T18:05:00.002-07:00

A co-worker introduced me to this lady and these fellows today.

After maybe 20 or 30 seconds of listening I was in love.

New Year's Resolve

2012-01-02T14:15:00.003-07:00

This video stars my dear friend (been friends since we were about 12 or 13) Brookie's husband.

It is a true and hilarious depiction of new year workout resolve.

Hopefully this video will motivate me to keep my resolve.

Monday-December 19th-St. Maarten's

2011-12-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

funny enough, my pre-written post about st. maarten, turned out to be very true. but I will share pictures from the day. again...I was having issues with my camera, so most of these shots I cannot take credit for and I don't have any of snorkeling, so the one of the pre-written post will just have to do. I personally think that is the best snorkel photo of me anyway :)

the island of st. maarten. it has a dutch side and french side. on the dutch side you can drink and drive, but no driving with cell phones. on the french side you cannot drink and drive, but you can drive with your cell phone.

the crew of our catamaran. Joseph, ingrid...and I can't remember the captain's name. The were all super nice and very friendly.

Jonah and grandma swimming in the ocean. Jonah loves the ocean.

mama and brookie in the ocean.

grandma, jonah, brookie, steph

kenzi, cam, sammie, jacque and GORGEOUS st. maarten

the boys hoisting the sail

our...essentially...private beach. it was so gorgeous and perfect.

Scottie being a great dad and swimming to shore with Jonah on his back.

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the wonderful water!

the clan.

The ship in the distance is a pirate ship and Jonah LOVED it!

Kerri and Joseph...Joseph worked on the boat and Kerri fell in love. by the look on his face, he feel in love too.

Sunset while leaving port at st maarten courtesy of my aunt steph.

Sunday- December 18th-British Virgin Islands-Tortola

2011-12-31T12:03:00.003-07:00

Like any other Sunday morning we got up and got ready for church...seriously.

I will be the first to admit that I was not at all keen on the idea of attending church while on my vacation. (100 mile rule and all)

I will also be the first to say that church was definitely one of the major highlights for me on our trip.

I can't say anything about the beaches because I never made it to the beach, but here are some pics of the island. It was beautiful...shocker...I know.

It was a bit overcast and cloudy when we got off the ship Sunday morning, but still as warm as could be.

By the time we were heading out to sea again the sky was clear and blue.

We got off the boat and made our way into town to follow the somewhat vague directions we'd found for the church. We had a great walk through the town. Including the siting of an excavator.

If you know Jonah, you know this was a major highlight for him.

LOVE THIS FACE!

He really had little patience for posing. He mostly just wanted to get up closer to see it.

Jonah also made a friend at church and they had a great time beating each other with plastic flowers.

We finally found the church...mostly because we could hear the congregation singing the sacrament hymn. (They had changed their meeting time a week before). Their meeting house was above a pizza place in a yellow building. My camera was not really working this day (pictures are mostly courtesy of Scottie and Steph)

When we walked in with 27 members of our family and about four or five other LDS members from the ship that we didn't know, we at least doubled the size of their congregation...almost tripled.

It was a great meeting. I loved the speakers.

We had only planned to stay for sacrament, but they were so welcoming and friendly that most of us ended up staying for the 2nd hour as well...they have TWO HOUR church!!! No Sunday School....GENIUS!

The woman who was assigned to teach the Relief Society lesson went home sick, although we wondered if she was nervous about the 15 class members as opposed to the five she would have had if we had not stayed.

The Relief Society president ended up teaching the lesson on the fly and it was really one of the best lessons I've had in a long time. I just loved the RS president. She was so funny and humble and knowledgeable. I would love to go back to the ward again sometime. She was from Dominica. Her friendliness was not just a part of her personality, but definitely a part of her island culture.

After church we found a store so that Scottie could buy Jonah some shoes. Apparently his feet were having a serious growth spurt and he had outgrown the two pairs Scott brought, as well as the flip flops that he bought him in Puerto Rico.

We walked through the town a bit and then headed back to the ship to swim in the pool. We didn't really have time to explore the island more or hit a beach...which under any other circumstance would have been completely devastating. But church was such an amazing experience.

We also attempted family photos that evening...

crowds gathered to watch this photo being taken. It was slightly embarrassing, but mostly funny.

oh the photography!

the beginnings of Kerri the photo bomber.

Kerri strikes again...

What a good looking family.

...and again...

...and again...and this time there is additional bomber who is NOT related to us. The ship's photographer! He was feeling left out since we were not using his services.

my dashing cousin Toph.

Kerri, Brookie, Scottie, Jonah

Lauren, Brooke, Jacque.

Toph, Mandy, Dave, Chan.

The warm sun of San Juan Puerto Rico...for reals...

2011-12-25T21:09:00.001-07:00

I don't have too many pictures from San Juan, but it was a gorgeous day and the hotel we stayed in was amazing.

We arrived around midnight, but that did not lessen the super fantastic view.

I probably could have stayed there for 9 days and been ALMOST as happy as cruising the Caribbean...almost.

We hit up Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast. They didn't have coffee cake muffins which was sad, but I had a delicious breakfast sandwich so delightful chocolate doughnut holes.

We spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon relaxing on the hotel beach.

My uncle Dave really knows how to take advantage of the sun.

Jonah relaxing after playing in the pool on the ship.

Getting ready to head out to sea.

OFF I GO...for reals...

2011-12-25T20:48:00.003-07:00

As you may or may not have guessed, the posts for each day of my cruise were actually preplanned.

Here is the real deal...for Off I Go

An ocean of clouds above Salt Lake City.

This is one sunrise that I am happy to have seen.

But I was also happy to go back to sleep.

Jonah was as happy when we left Salt Lake, as he was when we arrived in San Juan. He was seriously the best traveler. He got a bit antsy, but so did I. Lucky for him he is 3 and can jump from seat to seat. Being (almost) 33 does not allow for that luxury.

The entire day of travel was rough, but well worth it. Three flights later I was VERY happy to be landing in San Juan.

sailing the ocean blue...

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

And of course it would not be a cruise if we didn't spend at least one full day cruising on the ocean blue.

One final day of soaking in the sun and surf in...

2011-12-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

BRIDGETOWN BARBADOS!!

Hiking and exploring the lush green jungles of ...

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

ROSEAU DOMINICA

hope I don't get LOST like Roseau...

get it? I'm hilarious.

Or maybe I DO hope I get LOST if this is what awaits...

Soaking up the rays of the sun, snorkeling and reading while in...

2011-12-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

BASSETERRE ST. KITTS

Nothing like sailing the open ocean on a catamaran in...

2011-12-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

PHILIPSBURG ST. MAARTEN

Sailing the open ocean...

and exploring the underwater wildlife.

Today I am enjoying the beauty that is

2011-12-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

TORTOLA BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS!!!

After getting off the cruise ship and hitting up a Mormon church on the island we're off to explore the awesomeness that is Tortola!

Today I am enjoying the warm sunshine of...

2011-12-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO!!!

This is not my actual ship, but as you are reading this there is a good chance I am sitting on a ship very similar to this one pulling out of the harbor!

OFF I GO...

2011-12-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

Salt Lake To Phoenix

Phoenix to Charlotte

Charlotte to San Juan

I love music & npr

2011-12-12T11:43:00.004-07:00

While you may not agree with the unbiasness of the news coverage of NPR...

there is NO DENYING they have AWESOME coverage of the musical world!

a day well spent in Chubbuck Idaho

2011-12-08T21:37:00.001-07:00

I went up to Chubbuck, ID today.

(You can read about my previous adventures to and from Chubbuck here)

I didn't have a "special" reason for going...although I think that my friend Cali is definitely reason enough to make the drive...so I DID have a special reason.

And while Chubbuck may not sound like a happen place, it was definitely a day well spent

See for your self.

While driving I got a bloody nose. (Why I live in a cold, dry climate...I do not know) My napkin supply had been depleted. I was so close to Cali's I couldn't bring myself to pull over and take car of the situation. So I grab a tampon from the jockey box...problem solved. I can only imagine what the other drivers on the road thought. But it is the best plug for a bloody nose if there ever was one.

We then had lunch Gilmore Girls style...fries from 5 Guys, chips & salsa form Chili's and Panda Express...

And of course we had to have dessert. Courtesy of Nielsen's Frozen Custard in Bountiful.

To make up for the gluttony of lunch we took a 3+ mile walk...and a photo...the photo was more for posterity than burning calories.

And to top it all off we were presented with this...

A day like today reminds me how much my Heavenly Father loves me.

Never Fear...Perfection Isn't Here!

2011-12-02T23:18:00.001-07:00

Matthew 5:48-

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

That scripture has always seemed a bit daunting to me. And from conversations with others, I gather it is a bit daunting to them as well. The concept of perfection is like the concept of eternity...one that my imperfect and finite mind is unable to wrap itself around. I've always comforted myself with the thought that I don't have to be perfect in this life...but then I think, "Well Christ was perfect in this life...maybe it is an end game that I must reach in this life?" Then I freak out and feel so defeated because to me achieving perfection is like scaling Everest with nothing but my bare hands...possible (maybe) but not at ALL probable.

Well my friends...tonight I am breathing a (congested) sign of relief that can maybe be heard round the world and it is all thanks to Greek translation. (Loves those Greeks...their noses, architecture, food, translations.) The footnote for the word perfect in the scripture caught my eye...

GR complete, finished, fully developed

PEOPLE!!!! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THIS MEANS?! There is not even a small chance that I can be perfect in this life. I will not be complete, finished or fully developed until the next life!

Now I know, I can't stop trying, but there is no reason to be down trodden by every mistake I make...which is good because they occur daily...this necessary and desired perfection will happen...just not in my mortal lifetime. I can (and will need to) continue to use the atonement right up until my last mortal breath. And if that breath happens before I can use it a final time...I will still have time to keep working.

Maybe this is nothing new to many of you, but as I mentioned previously, perfection was always such an overwhelming thought to me. Of course by the time I do shed this mortal coil I hope I am a million times closer to perfection than I am right at this moment. And in the meantime I am not looking for a loophole to "eat, drink and be merry". With an attitude such as that one, in this life or the next perfection would not be possible. It is all about the desire of my heart and my desire is to live with my Father in Heaven again someday and be made perfect. It just feels nice to not be climbing up Everest with nothing except my bare hands.

Small & Simple Every Time

2011-12-02T23:00:00.001-07:00

For the last week I've been fighting a cold/sinus infection/something that is making me tired and giving me a horrible cough. I stayed home from work today and slept for half the day. Later in the evening I did venture out so as to keep from going stir crazy and to purchase a humidifier at the strong suggestion of my mother. And seeing as how she is my mom, and the smartest person I know, I decided to heed her suggestion. Incidentally the humidifier is working as evidenced by the condensation on my windows. I could dance around my room naked with my curtains open and I don't think my neighbors could see. But I digress.

disclaimer: this is NOT the display at Smith's Marketplace.
It was much, Much, MUCH BIGGER....SOOOOO BIG.

As I walked through Smith's Marketplace searching for a humidifier and mouse traps (no evidence of mice yet just being prepared...Unfortunately the terrible, horrible no good very bad raccoons remain) I came across a sight that brought a grin to my face...which was quite a feat considering I am pretty sure I look like death warmed over and feel even worse...a HUGE display of duct tape...and not just regular grey duct tape...but many, many colors and designs...candy cane stripes and tie-dye and bright neon colors! It was so beautiful. It made my day. Had I felt better I would have stayed and meticulously gone over each color and design a chosen a few, but I am so exhausted from not sleeping well that my ear to ear grin wore me out.

Driving home I chuckled to myself as I smiled with delight at the two blue lit trees on the corner of South Temple and State...duct tape, blue lights, a Santa hat hanging on my front door in stead of a wreath...all these things fill me with joy. Such small and simple things, but such a overwhelming feeling of simple "glad-to-be-alive-ness".

P.S. I am definitely going back to have a better look at the duct tape display.

Christmas time is here...

2011-12-01T21:58:00.001-07:00

...and with that comes many exciting traditions and adventures specific to the holiday season. One tradition I have (it's my 3rd year doing this, so I feel like it is safe to say it is now a tradition) is reading about the life of the Savior. I like to read, in this order, the books of Matthew, Mark, John and Luke. Luke is last because of the alliteration..."Luke is last" Just kidding...Luke is last because I love the account of Christ's birth in Luke the best and since it is Christmas I feel like that is appropriate. John is second to last, not because he is simply switching places with Luke, but because I LOVE "the great intercessory prayer" that Christ offers as written in chapter 17 of John. Now that you know all the details of my tradition...oh...except this one...this year I've decided to read a book a week...ok NOW you know all of them. I'm currently in Matthew... obviously...which brings me to the purpose of this post.

As I was reading tonight I came to verse 13 in chapter 5-

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

As I read this I commented to myself (out loud) that this verse is a perfect description of how I've been feeling lately...salt with no savor.

Unfortunately no great revelation struck me after that as far as how to go about getting my savor back. So any suggestions on regaining savor, moxie, joie de vivre...please send them my way.

However...as I continued reading I came to verse 14...which seems logical since 14 comes after 13...

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

I've read this scripture many a time, or recited it in seminary, or heard it over the pulpit or in conversation even...but not until about 30 minutes ago did the following occur to me...This scripture is not simply referring to the times that I am good and great and wonderful...full of flare and moxie and savor...this scriptures says that I am...right now and always...the light of the world...a city on a hill...that is NEVER EVER hidden. So in my moments covered in awesome sauce AND my moments covered in not-so-awesome sauce...I am still a light of the world and I am still set on a hill (which is true as I do live on a hill). I can't run away from those...responsibilities? callings? privileges? They are mine and they are here to stay. So now it is REALLY imperative that I find my moxie again.

As to not end on a depressing note...I did see s spark of it today on my way home from work. At Christmas time in Salt Lake, Temple Square is awash in lights. I LOVE IT. on the southeast end of the temple is a HUGE evergreen that has often, since I was a child, until a few years back, covered tip top to trunk in red lights. Standing under that giant tree looking up at those read lights is one of my favorite moments in life ever. Unfortunately in the last few years that tree has NOT been covered tip top to trunk and I have been saddened. Today on my way home as I drove up State to North Temple I passed the plaza to the south of the church office building and all the lights were on. Including two tall evergreens with red lights...and wait for it...an entire "forest" of red lit trees! I squealed for joy! (which incidentally was first of two squeals for joy this evening) And then chuckled at myself and sat at the stop light basking in the true contentment that washed over me. Christmas lights brought that feeling. Something small and simple brought a dash of savory salt back to me. I have high hopes of a savory, moxie filled December...despite the freezing cold!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T20:04:00.001-07:00

I know...not a particularly creative title...and after a considerable amount of blog silence, I could probably do better. But alas...I'm a bit sleepy from a lot of food. I really want to get these pictures posted though!

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year. It was pretty simple and quiet but it definitely was one to remember as evidenced by the photos below. (Oh and the food was A-MAZING this year)

this year Kerri suggested that we dress up like pilgrims and Indians. I decided that is was probably a good idea to have a turkey in the mix. Although, did you know, at the first Thanksgiving venison and corn were served? also...each of these costumes was homemade...except maybe Jonah's...I can't remember...it was a Halloween costume from a few years back. (Please take note of my mama...she is great, isn't she?!)

I created this all on my own...well with a little help from Walmart and Michael's craft story (incidentally I've discovered and I am insanely overwhelmed by craft stores and never want to go to one on my own again)

Gotta love those smiles!

This is my cousin Cam...he is hilarious and enjoyed "killing" the turkey (aka me).

We sure miss Kelli!!

Scott is now a master turkey carver! And way to go on the turkey Mattie...it was delicious..as was the gravy. I know...gross that I ate my own kind today. I was feeling a bit cannibalistic I guess.

One tough Indian

Me and my buddy.

Killing the turkey...

Jonah and I had a game of basketball after dinner.

He was definitely appropriately dressed for the weather.

It was a great dinner...all the food was amazing and the dressing up made it that much more entertaining! Thanks to my wonderful family for making not just Thanksgiving awesome sauce, but every day of my life!

trippin' in the fall...and not of the road variety

2011-10-19T18:32:00.001-06:00

Today is a gorgeous autumn day here in Salt Lake City. The temperature is perfect. The sky is blue. The sun is shinning brightly. Not a day to be at work...and if you MUST go to work then for sure a day to at least take a stroll. Which is exactly what my friend Becky and I decided to do. About twenty minutes after work we met up and decided we'd stroll around the Capitol. It is about a mile around...a pleasant stroll and we were taking BB with us. (BB is Becky's little girl. Her real name is Brooklyn, but when Becky was still pregnant I would refer to the baby as BB for Becky's baby or Baby Brooklyn and it stuck. Although I am the only one who is allowed to call her that.) The stroll started out great. Just walking and chatting and laughing. And there is a nice incline so we were even getting a bit of a workout.

As we were coming down the hill behind the Capitol walking towards my house right in the middle of a sentence I suddenly find myself falling to the ground and I am pretty sure somersaulting head over feet. Since we were walking side by side on the side walk I was trying to stay to the edge to give Becky and BB room and apparently the grass and the sidewalk at that particular juncture were NOT level and my foot landed between the two and well...next thing I know I am laying on the ground with a twisted ankle and a scrapped knee. Well I figured a scrapped knee. I didn't actually look at as I was more concerned that I had just twisted my ankle. (What I find amusing about this is A) it was funny because I fell and it is funny when people fall down. And B) I have been running lately...the last few months...regularly and not once..not a single time have I ever tripped and/or fallen down.) Making sure my ankle was fine we continued on our way discussing the horribleness of someone twisting their ankle because it reminded us of the many times we'd both twisted ankles playing ball.

We arrived back and my house and continued chatting while BB played on the grass. I decided to look at my knee since it was stinging a bit...and low and behold...it was not my ankle I needed to worry about...

The result of my trippin'

You may not be able to tell from this photo but below the blood my leg is a bit red with some smaller cuts and scrapes...it is also turning into what I think might be a nice bruise...at least that is how it feels.

The last time my knee bled like this was the result of a crazed standard size black poodle dragging me down the sidewalk by his leash...seriously. But that is a story for another day.

After receiving first rate medical attention...i.e. I washed my leg and knee off with hot water whilst sitting on the edge of the bath tub.

I have a few more trips planned for the fall...hopefully they won't turn out like this!

my heart just might burst...

2011-10-10T22:40:00.000-06:00

This little girl...I CANNOT get over. I look at a picture and I melt and grin all at the same time.

She is a very thoughtful little girl.

A little unsure of what is going on...

...but not that unsure!!!

Mi familia...I had left the party before the picture was taken...and Kelli is Chile.

GORGEOUS FAMILY!!1

"but his hand is stretched out still."

2011-10-09T18:19:00.002-06:00

Disclaimer: this post is of a fairly personal nature. I just felt inclined to write about it today...so here you go...

Lately I've been struggling with my faith...not faith in the sense of my religious beliefs, but my faith in myself and also my faith in Heavenly Father and the Savior. I don't doubt the existence of my Father or the Savior or the truthfulness of the gospel...no...I just have really been doubting my ability to succeed in life I guess is what it is. Don't ask me what my standard is for success...I'm not really sure (which actually could be part of the problem...but I'll ponder that later). I've just felt like my best is not as good as other people's bests or as good as it should be. And I know that it is silly to compare...everyone's best is different...and what is my best one day might not be my best the next day. I just feel like I can do better...physically (although I did enjoy a 20 mile bike ride yesterday), mentally, spiritually, emotionally...I've been in a funk, YES! That is the word...funk. I haven't been depressed...just "ho hum"...especially spiritually. And having been in a spiritual funk before, I know the primary answers to getting out of it...pray, read scriptures, go to church, listen to conference...all good things to be sure. But in my funk, I have really been struggling with those things. Lacking faith in myself has proven to be a fairly tough road block to get around in order to do any of them. But do not despair...this is not a tell of sadness.

Yesterday, while on my bike ride...actually, while sitting on a rock out at Saltair an older gentleman came by on his bike and said hello and we chatted about the perfect day it was for biking and how it felt so good. He said, "It really makes you feel alive." He hit the nail on the head. That is exactly what I felt. I watched all these cars that had driven out there to look around and I thought, "how boring...I-80 is such a boring road out here. A bike is WAY better." (This is not to say that I'm ready to bike up Emigration canyon to Ruth's, but I did love it). And as you may have read in the previous post, riding bikes was like being 13 again. Well I guess that ride sparked something inside me...besides just some very sore body parts. This morning I woke up at about 7:50am and realized that it was fast Sunday. And for the first time in, I'll just say a while, I got on my knees and basically just told Heavenly Father that I really needed to "feel the fire again". I acknowledged that my fast would not be all day, but I hoped that it was enough so that somehow I could feel that "alive" feeling I felt on my bike ride more powerfully. I got up and got ready and off to church I went. Scott gave Lyla a beautiful blessing and as the testimony meeting began the thought occurred to me that despite my lacking in spirituality, I do have a testimony and I can share it. But it wasn't my ward and I feel awkward bearing my testimony in other people's wards. But with about ten minutes left in the meeting, and Kerri joking that she would go up if I would, I finally said, "ok" and got up. Which I think surprised Kerri. It surprised me. Usually when I bear my testimony I tend to feel an overwhelming push to do so. Today...I didn't feel that...I don't think I could. But I somehow knew that getting up was the right thing to do. It was the answer I was looking for.

And it was. The second I got up I felt something again. And when I got to the pulpit I was so overwhelmed with gratitude and the reassurance that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me I could barely get two words out. I did manage. I know he loves me because as I got to that pulpit I saw my family sitting in the congregation and if you know my family you know how awesome they are. And I know that my family is an expression of the love my Father in Heaven has for me. I also thought about the drive home from Cedar with my mom last weekend and Cannon Beach, and the north shore of Oahu and how I feel his presence and love overwhelmingly when I am in nature.

As I sat down I thought about how I had felt so undeserving asking for that "fire" again and two scriptures came to my mind:

Matthew 14: 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

The second scripture wasn't a specific verse since the phrase is found in the Book of Mormon quite a few times and is the title of this post:

"...For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

I was so blown away that a simple, short request that I had uttered only an hour or so previous was so immediately answered. And so comforted by the fact that though I am not a "gold star member of primary" right now, his hand is stretched out still.

It is funny, how a principle can be such a part of my life for the last 32 years and yet, I am amazed each time I see the principle illustrated in my life.

I know that the "alive fiery feeling" is something that I am going to have to continue to work for, but knowing that it is there for me to feel, that is an amazing feeling and enough spark to keep me going.

32 Going on 13!!

2011-10-08T23:38:00.001-06:00

Today I took a 20 mile bike ride. I rode out to The Great Saltair with my friend Mary. Mary is one of my oldest friends. We've been friends since we were 11 probably. We lived in Palatine, IL and were great friends. One of the MANY fantastic things about growing up in Palatine, IL is that there was a great bike trail that ran all over the place. One of my most favorite things to do was go riding with my friends on the bike trails. The were pretty flat for the most part (IL is pretty flat) and there were nicely paved and we went the back way through neighborhoods and even through a forest preserve.

Today as Mary and I were on our ride we were both chuckling about the fact that we will forever be 13 together...well technically 13/14...Mary is older :) We still laugh ALL THE TIME when we are together. It is one of my happiest moments in life when I am laughing with Mary. I love getting her to crack up to the point she cannot breath...it is an ego boost for me...plus it is hilarious. Anyway...the bike ride was filled with great conversation and a LOT of laughing. As we were riding we both felt like we were back in Palatine, riding on the bike trail, just chatting away. Not in any particular hurry...just enjoying the journey so to speak...although certain parts of my body did not so much enjoy the journey...including the dead creepy looking snake and the PILE, yes, PILE of dead chickens sitting on the side of the road. It was a true 13 year old adventure and I loved every minute of it...even when parts of my body didn't.

Gorgeous day on the lake for boating!

Antelope Island from Saltair

The Great Saltair!

amazing that it is blue skies over the lake and gray skies over the mountains on the other side of the road...oh wait...we're in Utah.

Bright orange marshes

So right below the bottom of this photo is a creepy looking HUGE dead snake...I took FOUR shots of the snake just to make sure I caught it on (my injured list) camera...not a single one turned out. Though the yellow flower is kind of pretty...

Another unsuccessful snake photo attempt.

Headless dead chicken in the road...and oh wait...what is that just the the left of Mary's tire...

A PILE OF DEAD CHICKENS...some headless some not....

Very odd...

It was a fantastic ride and we plan to do it again next Saturday!

I LOVE BEING 13 AGAIN!!!!

taking the long way part II

2011-10-08T23:10:00.002-06:00

As you may know, whether it be from actually knowing me, or reading part I of taking the long way, I LOVE taking the long way...whether it is driving home from 90th south on State Street...or in the case with my mama last weekend, taking HWY 12 home from Cedar City.

My mama and I were in Cedar last weekend and decided to go check out the leaves up Cedar Canyon. I figured we'd drive up the canyon, over the mountains, pop out on 89 and then cut back over to I-15 at Bear Valley. But as we were nearing the HWY 12/89 Junction my mom asked if I wanted to head down HWY 12. I will NEVER turn down the chance to drive HWY 12. (unless of course there is a really bad snow storm...because it is SCARY in a really bad snow storm.)

There are almost 2.8 million people in Utah (as of the '09 census). I would imagine that at least 1.5 of those people are never going to experience the beauty that is HWY 12. I can only hope that my little blog will help to share the awesomeness that is HWY 12...one section of it anyway...and SR 14 and a little blurb of HWY 89...

Driving up Cedar Canyon on SR 14...looking down into Kolob

The leaves are a-changin'!

Did you know that all the trees in an Aspen grove share a root system, thus making it the largest, heaviest living organism on earth.

There was a sign back down the road a bit that said "You can own this view!" Can you really own a view? Am I going to have to pay someone for this picture someday?

If you have never been on Hog's Back (rode between Escalante and Boulder) you NEED to go.

Seriously...just take a Saturday or Sunday and go on a REALLY long drive...it will be worth it...

I promise....

I wouldn't lie about something like this...gas is expensive these days.

God is good.

I LOVE THIS!!

Up on top of what I think, is Boulder Mountain. It looks out towards the Henry mountains I believe...and into Capitol Reef...plus there were HUGE GORGEOUS Aspen groves up here!

Ok so decide when you're going to go and invite me. I'm a great tour guide AND I will chip in for gas!

You really have to see this all for yourself. These pictures do not do it justice...plus I missed a LOT of other B.E.A.U.TI-FUL sights!!!

my main man

2011-10-08T22:26:00.001-06:00

a Friday or so ago I had a date with my main squeeze...Jonah. We went on our old standby date of water fountains on Temple Square and riding the train. He and I are such a good pair...we move at the same pace, we love the water, we love riding Trax and we both love to stop and smell ALL the roses. We had such a great night. (camera disclaimer...in case you are just joining us...can't really tell what I am taking pictures of.)

We started off with Hawaiian Punch Slurpees (possibly my new favorite) and the Slim Olsen's car wash.

Apparently just a few weeks earlier Jonah did not like the Slim Olsen's car wash, but thanks to Grandma Russell and his mama he was totally content to sit and drink his Slurpee and watch the brushes clean the car. I think the trick is a cold treat. That has ALWAYS made the car wash more enjoyable.

Up close and very personal.

We decided that we would walk down to Temple Square since I live so close...that would later prove to be a bit more difficult than I thought. We had to stop and visit the statues at the Daughter's of the Utah Pioneers museum. Jonah really just loved getting right up close.

A happy kid.

Looking at the reflecting pond is serious business!

Those shot actually turned out not too shabby. The shadow of the tree looks pretty fantastic, along with the contrasting red. Sometimes not being able to see turns out pretty great. (Pretty sure there is a life lesson in that somewhere.)

some of the MANY flowers that we stopped to smell.

Alas, not every pictures turns out how you'd like when you can't quite tell what is in your shot...

But other times you get lucky!

A boy after my own heart. You'd better believe that we both ran along the edge of these fountains running our hand through each one.

I realize this picture is HUGE. But it has to be so you can see Jonah. It was just a stroke of luck that I caught him giggling right after he'd put his hand in the fountain to taste the water. I have tried to explain that while we can touch the water, drinking it is not a great option...but the sneaky kid ran to the other side and dipped his hand in giggling all the way. I just laughed and laughed.

touching the water while Brookie is close by to keep Jogie from drinking it.

He really, really wanted to ride this bike...not the actual bike in the photo, but the red bike rack shaped like a bike. It is difficult to explain the purpose of a bicycle shaped bike rack to a 3 year old.

No joke...we sat on this bench...that Jonah was convinced was a bed because it was so wide...for 25 minutes just watching the fountains. I LOVE THIS KID! Enjoying the little things in life. The fountains at Abravanel Hall are pretty great.

Happily riding the train!!

Jonah ordered the mac & cheese...best mac & cheese I've ever tasted...he thought so too because he just shoveled that stuff in. I had salmon which was delicious. If you're downtown and need a place to eat The Blue Lemon is tasty.

Enjoying dinner. I had a picture of his plate which was almost completely devoid of mac & cheese, but alas it has disappeared...

By the time we were heading home it was dark.

I don't have a photo but when we got to the cross walk at North Temple and Main, we ended up hanging out there for at least 4 cross walk lights. A man sat down in front of the fountain on that corner and pulled out a hymn book and harmonica. He was actually quite good and Jonah thought so too because he would not let us leave. Finally we crossed the street and were about half way past the conference center on the way up Main (so not really far up Main) when Jonah decided he wanted to ride on my shoulders...and of course being the best aunt ever that I am, I carried him all the way up the hill on my shoulders...got a date with Jonah AND a work out in! Thanks bud. I really just love this kid.

So glad...

2011-10-04T14:49:00.000-06:00

...that Jesus is not on Twitter...because I would have no idea how to follow him.

dancing with wild abandon...

2011-10-03T14:19:00.001-06:00

Why is it that watching a music video in which the artist is dancing and (not really) singing to their own song provides such a high?! It just puts the biggest grin on my face. Here is another one to go along with Robyn's Call Your Girl Friend.

ENJOY.

taking the long way...part I

2011-10-02T22:08:00.002-06:00

So of you reading this may or may not know that I often prefer to take the scenic route...both literally and figuratively. As of late, it has been in the more literal sense as evidenced by the pictures below.

A couple weeks ago I took a day trip up to Chubbuck, ID. Why Chubbuck you ask? Well why ever not?! It is only the home of one of the most fabulous ladies to ever have graced the earth!

Cali and I have been friend since the summer of 2005. It was a memorable summer to say the least, one of the best I've ever had. Suffice it to say we've been best buds ever since. And so whether she lives in Provo "horrible place to drive" Utah or "where the #$!! is" Chubbuck, ID...I am making the drive. (And just a PS regardless of where Cali lives, I'll always be visiting.) Anyway...after a super fantastic visit full of laughter and good counsel and delicious food I headed home down I-15. While making my way musically down the road I saw a billboard for a scenic route via Highway 91. Being a fan of back roads and wondering what was on the east side of the Idaho mountains I was off...

Clearly I made the right choice!!

Arriving in Logan I decided to get out and take some pictures of the Logan temple with my "best guess" camera. Who knows, maybe I would get lucky the same way I did at the Portland temple.

I'll let you be the judge...

I can't believe I I barely missed getting the entire west side in the shot!

I think this was my favorite.

After my jaunt around the temple I figured it was time to head home. As I was leaving Logan I came to the fork in the road. I could either go down Sardine Canyon or head off towards Hyrum. ASSuming (RED FLAG) I could make it back to Salt Lake going through Hyrum, I stopped at Wal-Mart (because the Chevron I stopped at didn't sell road maps...not all of us have GPS people) and bought a road map and saw that there was indeed a back road that would take me from my current location to my beloved Huntsville. I failed to notice that a chunk of that road was marked as a dirt road and merrily headed down the road...

And then...the choice I made may have not been clearly the right one...

That is a cow

And this is the road...all the way to Huntsville...in fact in some spaces there were big rocks to avoid.

The drive was gorgeous...some of the leaves had started to change...and then of course there was the bat incident as I was driving down the mountain into what I was pretty sure was Huntsville...it was totally dark at this point. I was disappointed that I didn't get to see the valley as I drove down the mountain...since it was pitch black...however that did made for some FANTASTIC start gazing as I drove across another mountain to get to the canyon to drive home.

A 2+ drive ended up taking almost 5+ hours and it was worth ever bump and minute.

The Champ loved the drive as well...and she really earned her name...as she always does!

musical crack

2011-09-28T13:40:00.001-06:00

I am not sure what is going on, but I can't get enough of this song...I think my sisters (Mattie, Kerri...it's on you with Kelli gone) need to maybe recreate this some Saturday night!

It's such a good feeling to know you're alive...

2011-09-08T23:47:00.002-06:00

It is such a good feeling to know I'm alive...and I definitely know I am alive after this trip to Oregon...whether it was my conversations with Megan or Kim or Lobster Fest with family or the awesomeness of nature...most likely a combination of all of the above...I realized that I am definitely alive. Alive and really full of gratitude for my life...grateful to a Father in Heaven who has given me my life. He and I may not always see eye to eye on things and sometimes we get in fights...but it is in moments like the ones documented in the pictures in the posts below...standing at Wahkeena falls, watching the sun set over the Columbia River Gorge, standing on the beach watching the waves roll in, laughing hysterically, listening to monks chant...in all of those moments...I felt alive and full of the goodness that is in the world...my gratitude was inexpressible...it still is. I don't really know any words better than the ones that I have not so articulately used above.

Perhaps The Brothers Karamazov can help:

Brothers, have no fear of men's sin. Love a man even in his sin. For that is the semblance of Divine Love and is the highest love on earth. Love all God's creation, the whole and every grain of sand in it. Love every leaf, every ray of God's light. Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things.

Portland Temple...I think?

2011-09-08T16:25:00.001-06:00

As you can see from the previous post I spent a gorgeous day at Cannon Beach. As I believe I mentioned there was much frolicking that occurred. Running through waves splashing water every where...I felt so free. Unfortunately I was enjoying myself with such abandon that I kind of forgot about the Canon...my camera. She has been with me for almost 4 years. She and I have been on many trips and documented many a fantastic family moment. I am devastated at the loss which I am currently suffering. While it would have been poetic if my Canon had died completely at Cannon Beach, she merely became terminally ill (at least I think...my fingers are crossed for a miracle). She still snaps pictures quite well for the most part, but the screen is just white. Which means A) I cannot see exactly that I am snapping. (Which did make for some fun shots at the Portland LDS Temple this morning.) Not a huge problem but B) I also cannot change the settings which means shooting at night may not work...or in conditions other than beach conditions. If anyone knows of a place or someone who could maybe look her over and see if she is salvageable I would greatly appreciate it. If I can't find anyone my nephew Jonah may have just acquired himself a fairly nice digital camera.

Below is a look at what I did manage to shoot this morning on the temple grounds...

my gracious wonderful friend Megan actually snapped this one.

Cannon Beach

2011-09-07T15:24:00.001-06:00

My camera has only been permanently maimed but not killed...so I was able to get my pictures from Cannon Beach!

I may or may not have got a little teary-eyed when I saw the Pacific.

my groundhog day

2011-09-07T01:36:00.001-06:00

DISCLAIMER-I may be giddy from exhaustion or over excitement...however that being said...I still think that in a week or two I will feel the same way. Proceed...

Today was a good day.

I woke up. (albeit after a lousy night's sleep)

I had French toast for breakfast, made with real (homemade courtesy of Megan) French Bread-dowsed in buttermilk syrup with a side of cheesy potatoes.

I set off on a two-ish hour drive to the coast...

Cannon Beach.

For more than two hours I frolicked in the waves...literally. Ask Megan...she might actually have a picture...not sure. She is sneaky like that.

(definition of frolic: Play and move about cheerfully, excitedly or energetically)

Then I waded through the water and found some amazing tide pools and rocks COVERED in sea anemones, mollusks and starfish of every color. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. The waves rolling in were breath taking.

Then I drove (actually I was the passenger) down the Pacific Coast Highway to Tillamook, OR.

I saw some insanely breathtaking views.

It was unreal.

Once in Tillamook I checked out the cheese factory.

ate some ice cream. (PS Tillamook ice cream...kind of over rated...but their yogurt...FANTASTIC)

almost lost my cell phone

and best of all had some fantastic fish n' chips and chowder. (If you are ever in Tillamook there is a fish shack across the street from the factory...THAT is really the place to go in Tillamook.)

Then I rode back towards Portland driving through the Tillamook forrest.

Surrounded by gorgeous trees on either side.

Once back in Portland I met my friend Kim Clark for dinner and chatted for almost four hours.

I had not seen Kim in more than TEN YEARS.

Dinner ended, the chatting continued and then a drive back to Megan's house (where I am staying) during which Kim and I seemed to be transported back to our senior year of high school...cruising around Bountiful at night, with no particular place to go.

So that was my day. And can I just say...if there was a day that I had to relive over and over and over again...this might very well be that day. This trip has been amazing...everyday the things I see are more beautiful and I think today was the culmination and to top that off I got to see a very dear friend.

I can't help but feel pure joy right now. I am sincerely overwhelmed with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for my life and especially for this travel opportunity...ALL of my travel opportunities I've had (and will have) this year.

Today was a good day.

I suppose the only bummer was that in all my frolicking about in the waves my sweet little Canon camera got herself a bit waterlogged. Hopefully a lovely rest in a bed of rice will do her a lot of good and the pictures I took will show themselves.

The pictures below were taken with my cell phone...not fantastic, but not horrible...besides, even the best camera could not do this experience justice.

Cannon Beach. This is the other end of the beach from Haystack Rock. I would HIGHLY recommend exploring this end.

Haystack Rock. Beautiful, no doubt. But I say a lot of haystack rocks on Rialto Beach in January. Like I said above...the other end of the beach is where it's at.

Scenic overlook on the Pacific Coast Highway. I could have sat up here all day.

View from the Pacific Coast Highway.
For a lot of my life I have dreamed of driving the Pacific Coast Highway. I imagined it would be indescribable. I was right...and that is just a small portion of the highway.

my life at the moment...

2011-09-05T23:16:00.001-06:00

As (some of) you may (or may not) know, I am in Portland Oregon. Lake Oswego, Oregon actually. No, I am not moving here...although I am TEMPTED...VERY. VERY. TEMPTED.

I have been having an absolute fantastic time. In fact I would dare say that it has been somewhat of, what I would call a perfect vacation.

It has been relaxing.

There has been (almost) non-stop laughter. (That is not an exaggeration.)

The food has been A-MAZING. EVERY. DAY.

french pastries. fresh fruits and veggies. burritos. bratwurst. french toast w/ buttermilk syrup. cheesy potatoes. honey mustard chicken (a new favorite). cedar plank salmon. Panda cookies.

I got a haircut.

I have seen many gorgeous waterfalls.

There has been hiking.

There has been beautiful sunsets.

Lobster Fest in Woodland, WA.

Endless conversations about the ins and outs of life.

sleep.

reading.

All of that and I still have three more days! Here are a few photos so far...

Horsetail Falls-near the Columbia River Gorge

Multnomah Falls

Wahkeena Falls (this was my favorite of the falls at the Columbia River Gorge. And tied for first with Lower South Falls at Silver Falls State Park)

Wahkeena Falls

Sunset over the Columbia River

Sunset at Columbia River Gorge

tree farm in Silverton, OR just outside Silver Falls State Park
I think I might want to run a tree farm one day.

South Falls

Silver Creek

Lower South Falls.
This is also where I've decided to live.

and Lower South Falls again. I LOVE IT.

We went to an Abbey. We heard monks chant. And took in some spectacular views. This does not do it any sort of justice. Especially not justice for the chanting monks. Truly one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard.

So there you have it...so far!

the new, but still fantastic, beautiful South

2011-08-25T16:22:00.001-06:00

I've loved this song for...16-ish years... Anytime I hear it...I mean ANYTIME...I am just filled with a little joy and can't wipe the smile off my face...which is somewhat...odd?...considering the subject matter.

The group singing in the video is the new Beautiful South...now known as The South and is a different combo of people from when I first heard the song...but it is still fantastic...and this may be blasphemous, but I think I might actually like Alison Wheeler's backing vocals the very best (Sorry Brianna Corrigan...you are wonderful too!) (she is the female on stage).

Give it a listen. You might love it too.

my two little loves

2011-08-12T22:56:00.000-06:00

These are my babies...not in the sense that I birthed them of course...but they are the apples of my eye...they have taught me, among other things, that our capacity, as humans, to love, is truly infinite. Here are a few of my most recent favorite shots...

contemplating where to dig next

checking out Brookie's car

"I'm awesome, I know"

Brookie & Jonah

Baby Lyla

Daddy's pushups with an added weight
(incidentally he did 30 of them with Jonah on his back for all of them)

a bit skeptical, but oh so adorable!

laughing at Coco...aka auntie Kerri

sleepy "LJ"

"Hi guys. Lyla Jean here."

Summer joy

my aunties taught me well...

2011-08-12T22:45:00.001-06:00

The other night I was leaving a family dinner...one of who knows how many in the last month...I don't say that with any frustration...in fact just the opposite. I am so grateful for all the time that I've been able to spend with my family this summer. Whether it is family dinner, watching Lost Horizons, playing at the lake or eating awesome homemade fish tacos...I feel so blessed. But I digress...as I was leaving family dinner and firming up plans to see my cousin next week in Cedar City I thought about the fact that even now, at age 32 I am excited to hang out with my cousins...who are all at least 5 years younger than me...most of them a lot more than that...but I love it. Being so much older it is kind of like being an aunt (which I am...and this applies to my niece and nephew as well). I thought about that and thought about my own aunties. Especially my mom's two sisters. Growing up I spent most of my summers in Utah. And while I was here I spent a LOT of time with both Steph and Jenn. I always felt like I was the center of their attention...even when they had kids...I always feel so important around them...because I know I am important to them. It makes me feel pretty awesome that they wanted to spend time with me. And so when it comes to my cousins and my nephew and niece (and any future ones I might have) I hope to always be able to express that same love that I've always felt from all of my aunts. At age 32 I am happy to say that I know they all love me and really do care so much about me. I hope that my cousins and nieces and nephews always feel that from me. So to Steph and Jenn...thank you for being my initial examples...and to the rest of you...thank you for continuing with their example.

Things that brought me joy these last six days...

2011-06-16T23:07:00.001-06:00

Saturday-going to IKEA with this here lady...and getting the last two cinnamon rolls and milk.
(also there was a family reunion that wasn't too shabby)

Sunday-THE SUN! Punny, but true!

On Sunday I also enjoyed this...

...and this...

Monday-Driving all the way to work with the tunes blasting, sunroof open and the windows down!

Tuesday-

Provo River

Timpanogos

Bridal Veil Falls

Shorts (I wish I had video of Shorts making her way out to this rock...hilarious. And no, she is actually not posing. She doesn't even know I took the picture...unless she is reading this...and in that case...SURPRISE!)

Wednesday-dinner at Vinto in Salt Lake with Megan.

seriously...lamb, fire roasted tomato, fetta...wrapped in the most delicious bread ever. Best. Calzone. Ever.

Thursday-rewatching SYTYCD performances and discussing it/arguing about it with Amber via Facebook.

This quick step was...it was just...I don't even know...just watch...

Here's to another six days of joy!

I spent a day in San Francisco

2011-05-30T20:15:00.000-06:00

About two weeks ago I spent the day in San Francisco. Here are some photos that I shot.

So excited to be in San Francisco!

Golden Gate Bridge

It just occurred to me that these two photos do not prove I was actually in San Francisco...

this is from Erika's car whilst driving on said G.G. bridge...all the while hoping for an earth quake to see if the bridge really is as structurally sound as they say it is...

On the waterfront (sans Marlon Brando) watching the sea lions bask. It was kind of chilly...although not really...just overcast...they looked so comfortable. I was very jealous.

Loved the boardwalk. AND the candy store where I found the BEST cotton candy salt water taffy...that is luckily made at Taffy Town...which happens to be in Salt Lake City!!
Also...this is where Erika went into the men's room because she could not wait in the women's line that was ridiculously long...I didn't wait either...I just didn't have to go.

Lombard street. we didn't walk up those steps to the top...mostly because that would have been CAKE compared to walking up the block below...which I can't believe I didn't take a picture of...seriously...steepest hill I think I've walked up...and I thought the Avenues in Salt Lake were rough...

Those feet do not belong to me...nor do they belong to Erika...and yes...they do belong to two different people.

How could I NOT take a picture of this?! It was so gorgeous! Even with the seat belt hanging out of the driver's side door... This picture is dedicated to my friends Marlo and Wyett Ihler.

YAY Giants! This photo is dedicated to my Uncle Dave.

Erika and I are in the car driving over to China town to eat Dim Sum...and as we drove along I saw this couple inside the restaurant...they were holding hands (click on the photo and you'll see better)...I don't know why, but those two holding hands and that fellow laughing...I just really wanted to have the candid shot...I hope they don't mind...

I will eat here the next time I am in San Francisco...
I LOVE GARLIC!!

China Town...I LOVED China town. I loved the woman laughing at me because of my excitement over finding Hi-Chew for less than a dollar (SO EXPENSIVE IN UTAH)...I loved all the shops and all the people on the streets...I would love to go back again...especially to see my most favorite part of China Town....(see below)

those four ladies sitting down are playing some sort of gambling game...I don't think it was poker...they are playing with pennies...they were very animated and I wished I'd gotten video and a closer shot...but I felt kind of intrusive...especially after the shot of the couple in the restaurant...

There are just cool, random things in San Francisco...more time in that city would definitely be time well spent.

A billboard in the mission district that made me laugh. I also had the awesome experience of sitting in a very loud bar while watching an old vampire movie from the 70's play on the wall.

I don't have any pictures in Palo Alto...which is where I spent another day. It is unfortunate because Palo Alto is GORGEOUS. I would not mind living there at all...AND I ran into my wonderful friend Heather Hammond while attending a singles ward on the Stanford campus (which has it's own mall...the Stanford campus I mean)...such a small wonderful world.

one of my favorites

2011-04-10T12:20:00.000-06:00

I know I've posted this previously, but I feel like it is definitely worth reposting time and time again.

check it out

2011-04-09T14:56:00.000-06:00

Gates Hunsaker is the nephew of one of my favorite friends.
You can read about the accident here and keep up with the blog about his continued progress here.

I don't miss her...but she is sure fantastic too!

2011-03-29T23:56:00.001-06:00

Kerri is only forty five minutes away in Provo and I talk to her about once a week, so while I don't miss her like I miss Kelli...she is super fantastic as well...and famous!

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

missing her...

2011-03-21T00:14:00.000-06:00

I really miss this girl...a lot...a lot. Thankfully I have these gems to tide me over when it gets really rough...

fyi

2011-03-19T12:59:00.000-06:00

117 days

M&M&M-the 5th

2011-03-05T11:53:00.001-07:00

dj b-rooke random shuffle
Here you go folks...randomly shuffled all the songs in my iTunes library and here were the first 25 that come up today. Judge all you want. I'm going to keep on listening!

Fleetwood Mac - Florence + The Machine - Radical Face - Holly Williams - Gabriella Cilmi - Lady Gaga (you should click this link...it will be worth it and not at all what you're expecting...unless you're a regular reader) - All American Rejects - Miley Cyrus (I mentioned her in a post from last month so there should be no surprises) - Glee Cast - Beach Boys - Snow Patrol - Train - Band of Horses - Ingrid Michaelson - Lykke Li - Bon Iver - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Alison Krauss - Amanda Marshall - Jason Mraz - Vertical Horizon - Shakira - Joe Purdy - Talking Heads (there are two links for talking heads. you should definitely click at least "Heads") - Catya Mare

Gorillaz...what isn't super fantastic about talented cartoon musicians?

some random musings on basketball...

Carpeted gym floors are HORRIBLE...do you hear me LDS church buildings...HORRIBLE and VERY, VERY dangerous...they are career killing. Better to get a wood floor burn than a twisted knee.

All basketball players should be forced to keep their nails almost painfully short. I have too many scars from finger scratches.

Why anyone ever thought that short shorts were better to play ball in than long shorts is beyond me.

while making a jump shot from the outside is very rewarding, there is nothing like going in for and successfully executing a layup. Especially when you can make one equally as well from the right and left sides.

I love the sound of basketball shoes squeaking on the wood floors as the players run up and down the court.

the basketball court is truly the one place where I do not take anything personally...unless you were from Rancho High School or Basic High School.

M&M&M-the 4th

2011-03-04T04:07:00.002-07:00

March Music Madness the 4th

Run This Town

did you know that along with featuring Rihanna and Kanye West, Jay-Z also features a duck throughout this song?!
(thanks to Courtney and Wayne for pointing this out)

dj b-rooke top 25 shuffle
click the links for more info or a YouTube video.
(artists who have appeared on previous lists will not be linked)

Brooke's basketball facts

Fact #7:

did you know that I once spent an entire Saturday playing multiple basketball games for a tournament which my club team won? Go junior Pirates!

Fact #8:

did you know that the Saturday we won that tournament we ate granola bars, McDonald's cheeseburgers and grape Gatorade?

(and that my friends is why I have a special place in my heart and stomach for McDonald's cheeseburgers.)

M&M&M-the 3rd

2011-03-03T12:51:00.001-07:00

March Music Madness the 3rd

dj b-rooke
that is my iPod's name. don't be surprised...I'm typing this post on my Mac named Millie.

I have a fairly large song library...Millie contains quite a bit of it...but I have over 200 CDs and about 15 or so discs full of MP3s. The music varies greatly. Below are a list of 25 artists that pop up when I shuffle my entire song library on my iTunes. Obviously my discs of MP3s and my CDs are not included. (I think the iPod top 25 shuffle should be a daily occurrence for M&M&M)

BROOKE's basketball facts

Fact #5:

did you know that from age 12 through age 14 I played at three different basketball teams? Sometimes all three at the same time. There would be weeks during which Sunday was the only day I did not have practice or a game.

Fact #6:

did you know that I played power forward from the time I started playing basketball?

M&M&M-the 2nd

2011-03-02T23:47:00.003-07:00

March Music Madness the 2nd

When I was younger we were a one car family...so we walked a lot. According to my mother "I thought I was a seasoned walker at such a young age that I didn't feel the need to hold hands in precarious places". So my mom wrote this song. It works. For those of you who have children...send your thank you notes to my mom.

Brooke's basketball facts:

Fact #3:

did you know that my very first full sentence was "Danny Ainge throws basketballs in the basket."? I have it on tape if you don't believe me.

Fact #4:

did you know that when I was a sophomore in high school I decided that I would like to be a high school basketball coach? I think it is still something I might like to do.

basketball+tunes=March Music Madness

2011-03-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

March Music Madness-the 1st

Agnes Obel-Danish...like me. plays the piano...unlike me.

BROOKE's BASKETBALL FACTS:

Fact #1

did you know that Brooke Lee Russell lettered in varsity basketball her sophomore year of high school?

Fact #2

did you know that Brooke Lee Russell's jv basketball team was 21-2 and made up almost entirely of freshman (blr) and sophomores?

March

2011-03-01T23:36:00.000-07:00

March is upon us...

What to write about...

I really enjoyed having a purpose last month with each post.

So, I am going to continue that same structure for March.

Welcome to

March Music Madness.

March will entail lots of music...

and more than a hint of basketball.

I hope you enjoy.

February=Love: the 28th

2011-02-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

(so I really did want to post this on the 28th...but I guess I am struggling with the scheduling feature of blogspot)

February=Love: the 28th

It is the last day of the month.

There are so many things still to write about.

I could make a blanket statement...

say that I love my life.

Which I indeed do.

I could say that I love that I have the ability to feel love.

It is probably the best motivation that I have in my life...

loving those around me, wanting the very best for them...

does it get any better than that?

But I think what I will end with is my lifetime love affair with reading.

I love to read.

I love books.

Many, many different books.

From different authors.

different time periods.

different genres.

I've rarely met a book that I didn't love.

and I can't really say that I've met any books that I didn't at least like.

I think that almost always you can find something worthwhile in a story...

some life lesson.

some of my most beloved...

The Power of One

Bryce Coutenay

The Great Divorce

The Four Loves

A Problem of Pain

A Grief Observed

The Screwtape Letters

C.S. Lewis

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Matilda

Boy

Going Solo

Roald Dahl

The Little Prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Richard Bach

Written on the Body

Jeanette Winterson

The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway

The Giving Tree

Shel Silverstein

There's a Wocket in my Pocket

The Cat in the Hat

Horton Hears a Who

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

The Lorax

Dr. Seuss

The Velveteen Rabbit

Margery Williams

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley

Animal Farm

George Orwell

Hamlet

Williams Shakespeare

The Princess Bride

William Goldman

(of course this is the version which Goldman abridged from S. Morgenstern's classic tale of true love and high adventure)

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

(to be read every four or five years)

The Boxcar Children

Gertrude Chandler Warner

Night of the Twisters

Ivy Ruckman

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

The Book of Jonah

Jonah the prophet

The Book of Ether

an account of the brother of Jared and his family abridged by Moroni

My Name is Asher Lev

Chaim Potok

Hiroshima

John Hersey

And truly...this list is never ending...

but I will stop now.

I hope you had a lovely February.

I think that March shall be March Music Madness

a little b-ball

and some tunes!

Questions for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences...

2011-02-27T21:42:00.001-07:00

Why is it that when hosting the Oscars people who are normally HI-LARIOUS, become awkward and non-funny? (seriously Anne could join SNL she is hilarious)

Melissa Leo?
(I mean she was great in The Figther, but Oscar worthy?)

Really?! You have to show the E.T. silhouette? some of us are still petrified of E.T.

How can you possibly think that Social Network's score is better than Inception's score?

Also...how many dresses are you going to make Anne Hathaway wear?

Why are there little kids singing "Somewhere over the Rainbow"?

Why are all the winners coming back on stage?

And why do we keep getting close ups of Melissa Leo?

And last but not at all least...WHY does Leonardo Dicaprio keep getting snubbed?!

February=Love: the 27th

2011-02-27T18:13:00.004-07:00

Rebecca Louise Fischer, Sara Anne England Greener, Jessy Kay Excell Allen

and Becca Williams Doutre...

this post is dedicated to you.

February=Love: the 27th

taking a shower.

I know there are those of you out there who are probably shocked that I've never mentioned this before.

You are probably my old roommates.

So in the case that someone is doubting my deep and abiding love for taking showers...

yes...deep and abiding...

then all you have to do is ask any number of roommates that I've had.

They have definitely had some input.

If I could shower three times a day, I would.

(And no, I am NOT a germ-a-phob.)

There is nothing I detest more than when I have to take a quick shower.

To me a quick shower is ten minutes...but even fifteen or twenty is never quite enough.

Thirty minutes at least.

Unless of course the hot water is broken...

or irresponsible roommates (who are NOT those listed above) forget to pay the gas bill.

Then it is get in

rinse.

turn off the water.

soap up.

turn on the water.

rinse.

get out.

repeat if necessary for hair washing

(which happens almost every time I shower...and I still have amazing hair)

I can't believe that anyone who has read this post is all that surprised by this.

(A shower is typically part of a bathroom.)

In college I would shower at 3:00am sometimes...

because of course you're still wide awake at 3:00am when you're in college.

One of the highlights of showering for me is the fantastic singing that happens while in the shower.

My favorite song to sing in the shower is

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

I learned all the words by the time I was probably 3 or 4 I would imagine.

A close second is

Last Kiss.

I learned all the words to this one by the time I was ten or eleven.

My parents listened to the oldies station all the time.

Not only are showers a good time to exercise my vocal chords

but they are relaxing.

And a good time to work out the mysteries of the Universe.

While I LOVE swimming...whether it be in the pool, the ocean, a river or a lake...

NOTHING takes the place of the refreshing feeling a shower brings.

Last summer I spent many, many Fridays at Pineview.

I loved every minute of it.

One of best parts of those days was coming home after a long day in the sun and water and taking a shower.

It was the cherry on top of those wonderful summer days.

If I'm in a bad mood the shower is the perfect place to sulk and let my anger wash away (pun totally intended)

If I'm in a good mood then there is much joy and singing.

If I'm tired it is a refreshing wake up.

If I'm tired it is a soothing lullaby.

After all...we never know when a zombiepocalypse is going to happen...

so let's follow Tallahassee's advice and

"enjoy the little things"

February=Love: the 25th-a musical love

2011-02-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

February=Love: a musical love

Adele

Yep...here is another super fantastic live performance!

And if you STILL haven't bought the album...

GO. NOW.
she sounds almost exactly the same live as on her album!

February=Love: the 24th-a musical love

2011-02-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

February=Love: the 24th-a musical love

Adele...again

I told you...her album came out on the 22nd...so...enjoy this live performance

and then just go get the whole album.

and while you're at it download some Mumford & Sons

and just for good measure, a little Arcade Fire

February=Love: the 24th

2011-02-24T01:00:00.005-07:00

February=Love: the 24th

ma. mom. mommy. mama. mother.

I LOVE my mom.

Not unlike Jonah, my mother has made quite a few appearances on my blog.

And if you know her, you know exactly why...

she is the cat's pajamas

the bee's knees

the dog's bollocks

and if you don't know her and don't know why she is

the cat's pajamas

the bee's knees

and

the dog's bollocks

you can learn.

here,

here

and

here.

and for my mom...

this is for you.

(and the rest of the fam, I suppose)

"I love you so much"

February=Love: the 23rd-a musical love

2011-02-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

February=Love: a musical love

Adele

yes, I know, again

but her new album, 21, was released yesterday.

So,

listen.

love.

and increase your music collection.

February=Love: the 23rd

2011-02-23T21:31:00.001-07:00

February=Love: the 23rd

this should come as a surprise to no one

at least no one who reads my blog

my February 23rd love is none other than

Jonah Scott Russell

come now my friends...

you knew it was going to happen at some point this month

and today was as good a day as any...

covered in flour waiting for the sugar cookies to bake

We all know how much I love him.

you can click

here

and

here.

And of course

here,

and

here.

And really, let's face it, if you just did a search for Jonah on my blog you'd probably come up with a couple posts regarding Jonah and the whale and more than a handful of posts on Jonah boy.

But before you roll your eyes in exasperation just remember...

Scott and Mattie are having a baby girl Russell this summer...

So now there will be TWO kids that I will blog about nonstop!!

February=Love: the 22nd (yes, I know it is a day late)

2011-02-23T13:56:00.001-07:00

February=Love: the 22nd

the bathroom...

yes...

I love the bathroom.

Not public restrooms...but my own bathroom in my own house.

Not specifically the house I'm in now...

although it is a house full of fantastic bathrooms.

You may have read my earlier post about Wonjun...

well some of Wonjun's and my best conversations have taken place in the bathroom.

It is a good thinking place.

(and remember...I am not specifically talking about the toilet, but the entire bathroom)

our conversations have taken place in

the shower,

on the toilet,

on the counter next to the sink,

while sitting on the floor,

or while in the bathtub.

It is always quiet and relaxing.

It is a very private place.

It feels safe and secure and I know that no one is going to bug me...

unless I invite them in.

(and Wonjun is the ONLY one that ever gets invited in)

While I was in Washington my friend Aja and I were discussing living in Hawaii on a few acres of land in an Airstream trailer and we were discussing how I wouldn't need a bathroom in the trailer because I could have one outside...and I was kind of sad about that thought.

Because as super fantastic as an outdoor shower and toilet will be...I would miss being able to go lock myself in the bathroom.

However Aj did point out that my trailer wouldn't be too huge so it would be like a bigger, yet still enclosed and private space.

Not too mention if I'm in Hawaii when will I not want to be outside?

February=Love: the 21st-a musical love

2011-02-21T09:41:00.001-07:00

February=Love: the 21st-a musical love.

I love Sue Sylvester.

While Glee is not my favorite show ever, I think that Sue Sylvester is one of the funniest characters on television and I usually find a way to stay caught up on Glee, although I never manage to see it when it is actually on. (what night is it on anyway?)

I also tend to really like the musical numbers, especially the ensemble ones.

So this particular Glee episode had a double bonus for me; an ensemble number that INCLUDES Sue Sylvester. Watching Jane Lynch get so into Sing by My Chemical Romance had me laughing out loud. Not too mention how could you not love that plaid track suit.

(although why are they dressed like lumberjacks?)

And so my friends...enjoy today's musical love.

Incidentally Sing is a fantastic song to blast with the windows down while your driving.

February=Love: the 20th

2011-02-20T21:13:00.002-07:00

February=Love: the 20th

I love

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

It really is a coincidence that this is my February love today.

It was not a conscious choice on this sabbath day.

I could not let the month go without acknowledging one of the best things about my life.

"I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I know who I am.

I know God's plan."

Being a member of the LDS church means having the fullness of the gospel in my life.

And having a fullness of the gospel means knowing that I not only have a Savior who was willing to die for me,

but also a Heavenly Father who was willing to sacrifice his Son for me.

A sacrifice that will allow me to return to my Father in Heaven.

Having the fullness of the gospel in my life means that I know where I came from.

It means I know where I'm going.

Perhaps I could have learned all of these things without being a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

but I think it might have taken a lot longer.

The truth is out there. There is truth everywhere. In many, many religions.

But the restored Priesthood and the gospel in it's entirety can only be found in

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness was ushered forth through a boy who was only 14 when the restoration began.

And though his life ended on June 27 1844 when he was only 38 years old

the gospel has moved forward and will continue to do so.
(click here for previous post about this)

What I want most in this life is probably to just feel genuine happiness and see others feel the same.

And I find that so often because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don’t quit, and you will make it."

February=Love: the 18th & the 19th-a musical post

2011-02-19T16:13:00.001-07:00

February=Love: the 18th & the 19th-a musical post

Yes…I did not post yesterday. It was kind of a crazy day and by the time it ended it was almost 4:00 am.

So today I bring you multiple live musical performances from the 2011 Grammys that I L-O-V-E-D.

1st: Mumford & Sons, Avett Brothers & Bob Dylan

(and seriously, after you watch this…if you're not a hard-core-in-love-fan of Mumford & Sons…
I think you might be deaf)

2nd: Rihanna, Eminem, Skylar Grey & Dr. Dre:

Love the Way You Lie/I Need a Doctor

I was never a huge fan of rap, but Eminem and Jay-Z changed all that for me.

and Skylar Grey and Rihanna…their voices are super fantastic.

3rd: "Forget You" Cee Lo Green & Gwyneth Paltrow
And this was made even more fantastic live performance of what "Forget You" would have been,
by the additions of the Muppet's and Gwyneth "I'm awesome at everything" Paltrow
(EW gets credit for the new name of GP)

So there you have it folks…not one, not two, but THREE musical loves…
because I love all of you!

February=Love: the 17th

2011-02-17T04:00:00.010-07:00

February=Love: the 17th

Wonjun

I.LOVE.Wonjun.

There is a very good possibility that some of you reading this do not know who...

Wonjun is.

(yes, who)

this is wonjun

I will tell you who he is.

Wonjun is my oldest friend and my very best friend.

His mother is from Morocco and his father is from Greece.

He does not live with his parents. He has never lived with his parents...as far as I know.

As far as I know he has always lived with me.

We spend pretty much all of our time together.
We have the same job at the same place.

We did have a two year hiatus from one another while Wonjun was in Marseille France.

He had to wear a white shirt and tie AND a name tag pretty much everyday for those two years.

It was a rough two years to be without him.

But the year he came home was an even tougher year...I mean for me, I was having a rough year.

But being the absolute best friend that he is, he stood by me and I got through it.

He is about 5'11". He has a prominent roman nose. Dark hair, dark eyes...almost black...and a nice olive-ish complexion which I am jealous of everyday.

We like all the same things.

We don't really argue...

but we do often disagree.

We have a LOT of discussions ranging an extremely vast spectrum.

Pretty much we talk about everything under, near, above, around and through the sun.

I don't know what I would do without Wonjun.

Though I imagine that someday one or both of us will get married and we will have to go our separate ways.

That will be tough...but I think we will both know it is the right time.

You may be wondering why I picked today to talk about Wonjun...

well it is because today is Wonjun's 32nd birthday.

I can't believe we've been friends for that long.

There are so many things I never would have gotten through without you.
I love ya buddy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WONJUN!

Here is to another 32 years!

February=Love: the 17th-a musical love

2011-02-17T03:41:00.007-07:00

February=Love: the 17th-a musical love

Can't Help Falling in Love with You

by Elvis Presley

this is my ALL.TIME.FAVORITE.SONG.

I LOVE music

but there is not a song I love more than "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" by Elvis.

Lots of people have done lovely covers.

But when I hear Elvis's version...the one you can listen to below...I melt.

Every time.

So for your listening pleasure, but mostly for mine ;)

And here are two other of my favorite Elvis songs...just for good measure...because how can you not love that velvety voice?!

February=Love: the 16th

2011-02-16T00:53:00.004-07:00

February=Love: The 16th

I love when a person, place or thing brings such joy to me that it causes happy tears and goofy grins that I can't wipe off.

Most of this months blog posts (if not all of them) do exactly that.

And I LOVE that feeling.

Just being happy for no discernible reason can bring tears to my eyes.
But more often than tears,
a huge goofy grin spreads across my face and I can't wipe it off and then I start laughing.
Like right now...
as I'm typing this...
I'm think of things that make me feel this way.

Perhaps it seems silly to be so excited about the ability to feel this.
But I don't think so.
"Men are that they might have joy."
(2 Nephi 2:25)
And in those moments, I feel like that is what I'm experiencing.
A little minuscule taste of what awaits me on the other side.

I don't take being happy or experiencing that joy for granted.
Sometimes being happy is really tough for me...
as I'm sure it is for a lot of people.
I'm not implying my life is more difficult than other people's...just that being happy doesn't come easy.
(People often think I'm in a bad mood, or upset, or ornery...
I think it's because my mouth naturally turns down.)
So when these moments come I soak them up like my hair soaks up the sun during days at Pineview.

I often think of these moments as tender mercies of the Lord.
At times I think that my entire life is made up of tender mercies.
I feel so lucky and so blessed to have the life that I do.
And so in those moments when I can truly feel and outwardly express the joy that comes from them...I go with it.
I never want my Father in Heaven to doubt how I feel about my life
and all the persons, places and things in it...

and most especially...

how grateful I am to be able to feel both joy and sadness...

but especially the joy.

February=Love: the 15th-a musical love

2011-02-15T07:44:00.008-07:00

February=Love: the 15th-a musical love.
My newest musical love is
Sister Rosetta Tharpe

This musical find is courtesy of my friend Marie Heywood.

(if you're in Provo go to The Parlor for lunch or dinner.
And if your not in Provo, go to Provo and then go to The Parlor for lunch or dinner)

This makes me so happy.

I told Marie that I wasn't sure if it was

Sister Rosetta...

the Gibson she is tearing it up with...

or the choir backing her up.

Probably all three!

can I get an "amen" ?

February=Love: the 15th

2011-02-15T07:30:00.005-07:00

February=Love: the 15th

The Parent Trap

I LOVE THE

The Parent Trap

(1961)

I love

Haley Mills.
I LOVE

Maureen O'Hara.
(when I die I'd like to meet her as soon as possible.
After all the hellos with family of course)
I love

Brian Keith.

My all time favorite movie.

No competition.

To this day I laugh out loud whenever I watch it.

And while Dennis,

Natasha (RIP),

and Lindsey (bless her heart)

did not totally ruin the remake...

NOTHING will ever be as wonderful as the original.

If you have not seen it, please, this weekend, or today, rent it...not just buy it...

every home should have a copy of The Parent Trap.

(oddly enough I only have it on VHS...but I have a VCR)

And because it is such a classic...
and a VERY close second in the race for Brooke's favorite movie of all time...
a little shout out to
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
I mean what is not too love?
it's got nuns and Nazis.

Sorry there is not video.
Copyright patrol is all over this one.
Just have a double feature tonight or this weekend.
watch them both.

a visit from cookie cupid

2011-02-14T20:51:00.001-07:00

Today this delight came fluttering through my office. It was fantastic. Along with the joy, laughter and love, cookie cupid brought a giant homemade and intricately decorated sugar cookie, FOUR chocolate covered strawberries (homemade as well) and of course what would Valentine's day be without conversation hearts!

Here's a little taste...

February=Love: the 14th-a musical love

2011-02-14T11:09:00.001-07:00

February=Love: the 14th-a musical love

Really...what else could I post today but this:

who doesn't love L-O-V-E

February=Love: the 14th

2011-02-14T00:37:00.000-07:00

February=Love: the 14th

Today I could write about so many things.

I could write about the history of Valentine's day...

which I find extremely interesting...

so do yourself a favor and Google it

or just check out what the History Channel website has to say.

Last year this was my Valentine's post.

Since this year I'm writing everyday and specifics I don't feel like I need to dedicate this post strictly to Valentine's day.

I will say this...(again...see last year's post)

Valentine's day has never really been about romantic love for me.

I mean that is included, but I think it's great that there is a day set aside to remind us to tell people we love them.

(something we should do more than once a year)

And with that...I'm going to tell my sister Kerri Ann Russell how much I love her.

Why did I pick February 14th as the day to write about one of my most favorite people?

Because it is Kerri's half birthday. So it seemed appropriate.

(it is also my cousin Amy's (she is the 5th of February on my first love post half birthday. Happy half birthday to you as well. I think you should take yourself on a cruise)

I've written about Kerri before...I think on her birthday.

But I just want to tell you (Kerri) that I love you.

I'm so grateful and lucky to have you as my sister.

You are funny...so, so funny.

You make up the best lies

(all in fun of course...funeral for the whales...it's a good story...ask me.)

You are very kind and are often thinking of others. That is a great trait to have.

You are smart...I think the smartest of the Russell siblings...

the ones related by blood...

Mattie might be smarter than you ;)

You have common sense.

You are genuine.

And you are truly wise beyond your years.

(shorts and I still love to talk about her birthday party last

year and the conversation we had with you)

You thirst for knowledge.

You like to know how things work just to know.

You have such a strong testimony and you are not afraid to share it.

You work very hard in school.

You're very good with money.

You are very good about setting goals and making plans for you self.

And then reaching those goals and following through with your plans.

I could continue for a long time.

I think you all, including Kerri, get the picture.

I hope that everyone has the opportunity to have a sister like Kerri.

So there you have it folks...my February 14th love.

February=Love: the 13th

2011-02-13T23:07:00.004-07:00

February=Love: the 13th

Las Vegas.

Yes, you read that correctly.

I have what I might truly describe as a deep and abiding love for Las Vegas, Nevada and it's surrounding suburbs...

much of my love goes out to Henderson/Green Valley specifically.

I know this may seem odd.

I don't like to gamble.

I've only ever played slot machines...

which are kind of fun, but a waste of time.

I lived in Henderson, Nevada for about two years.

I attended Green Valley High School for my freshman and sophomore years.

Those were overall

(quantifying for my Woods Cross friends)

my best high school years.

And things were by no means perfect...

but I had some great times...

some of the best of my childhood.

I came to understand who I was at my core.

I met people who changed my life...

whose influence I still feel today.

I could write a novel about my time in at GVHS and in Henderson...

perhaps I will...

I think I have a first chapter somewhere actually.

But I will spare you for now.

Instead...check out the brief slide show.

This is Mike, Brad, Aja, Brooke, Danny and Mary.
Some of my very favorite friends.
We're at Aja's 16th birthday at Leaps & Bounds.

For some reason Aj and I really LOVED making things out of cardboard.
(and I still do...can't speak for her, though I would lean to yes)

Brooke, Bri, Kyle and Michelle as the cast of Peter Pan for the home coming float

Sean and Brooke at the Renaissance Fair.
Many of you know I do NOT like Halloween...
for many reasons...one of them being the dress up part.
So you may be surprised to learn that we dressed up often.
The year before this I was wearing the Jester costume.

Danny, Brooke and Aja hiking/climbing at, I believe Spring Mountain.
We would go hiking a lot...and we usually ended up climbing mountains without equipment or a way down.
It's amazing none of us died.

Repelling in the Subway at Zion National Park.

Just looking at these makes me realize what an awesome teenagehood I had there.
not to sound cheesy, but it was unique...
I know how lucky I am to have had those two years.

Great friends
(which I've managed to find everywhere...don't get your panties in a bunch)
TONS of swimming
sand volleyball
playing on the varsity basketball team
sweet 16 parties to rival MTV's.
pool hoping and getting chased by hotel security
riding the CAT bus.
people watching...possibly the greatest on earth!
McCarran airport (pre tightened security)
Seriously...you can have so much fun at an airport.
In-n-Out burger...which is now in Utah thankfully!
Best vanilla shake in the state.

I know I was so lucky to live there.
Despite the horrible weather in the summers.
Like I said...a deep and abiding love.

my date with Jonah

2011-02-12T15:52:00.001-07:00

Last night I had a date with Jonah.

As many of you know he is my favorite date.

We made cookies.

Best. Idea. Ever. Seriously.

The night began with a carpet picnic of pizza and crazy bread
and watching Toy Story 3...of course

(which incidentally Jonah almost has memorized)

But Toy Story 3 was no match for making and decorating cookies...

Rolling out the dough

we're working on the importance of actually rolling the rolling pin ON the dough.

Jonah also REALLY loved spreading the flour on the counter so the dough wouldn't stick

Apparently you can never have enough flour as evidenced by his pants.

This was Jonah telling me that HE was going to use the cookie cutters all by himself.

I can't believe I didn't get more pictures of that.

Trying to explain to a two a half year old how to make the most efficient use of the dough by spacing the cookies close together when cutting them out is not very easy.

But that is ok because that just provided more opportunities to roll out the dough.

Then it was on to the frosting while the cookies were baking.

Jonah was pretty good about adding the ingredients...

This was very serious business and he was so good about helping.

He just had a difficult time getting a FULL cup of the powdered sugar...

Posing for the camera while getting ready to add food coloring to the frosting.

True fun is not had unless a real mess is made!

As usual my date with Jonah was great. Lot's of laughing and eating cookies.

I would show you pictures of us decorating the cookies but Jonah was more excited to eat them without frosting.

I love this picture...and especially our matching dimples!

Love you J-man!

February=Love: the 12th-a musical love

2011-02-12T12:31:00.001-07:00

February=Love: the 12th-a musical love

The Dixie Chicks

Yes...you read that right.

I LOVE the Dixie Chicks.

Ever since my friend Jessi K played Goodbye Earl for me.

She knew I didn't love country, but assured me I would love the song.

And as usual, she was right.

I thought it was hilarious and my love for the Dixie Chicks was born.

I love so many of their songs.

Goodbye Earl

Cowboy Take Me Away
(because it reminds me of Jessi AND it's a good song)

Traveling Soldier
(because it reminds me of my brother AND it's a good song)

Top of the World

Taking the Long Way

I Believe in Love

Easy Silence

Everybody Knows

Bitter End

You Were Mine

And many more...

in fact I don't think there is a Dixie Chicks song that I wouldn't enjoy listening to.

But my one of my favorites is

Not Ready to Make Nice

I love the video

and the live Grammy performance

and I love why they wrote it.

One of my favorite documentaries is Shut Up and Sing.

I would like to have posted both the Grammy performance and the video...
but alas, copyright does not allow me to post a good quality video of their Grammy performance. So click here to see it.
And watch the music video below.

And if you miss the talent of the Dixie Chicks like I do...
check out Courtyard Hounds.

And while you're at it...
check out Dan Wilson
of Semisonic fame
of Hotel Cafe Tour fame
and co-writer of many of the Chick's songs with the Chicks themselves.

February=Love: the 11th-a musical love

2011-02-11T09:06:00.001-07:00

February the 11th: a musical love

ARCADE FIRE

I love Arcade Fire

I arrived to the Arcade Fire party in about 2006.

So a little late...
I'm just glad I arrived.

My love for them was solidified when they performed on Saturday Night Live

in February of 2007.

They performed a couple songs off of Neon Bible.

Here is Intervention.

I was only going to post one video but this performance is also too good to miss.

I was recently reminded about how great they are live...

again, on Saturday Night Live...

They performed a couple songs off of The Suburbs.

GREAT ALBUM.

And an AMAZING live performance.

Oh to have been in that audience and seen them live.

Someday.

For now...enjoy!

February=Love: the 11th

2011-02-11T00:28:00.002-07:00

February: the 11th

The Book of Jonah

I love the book of Jonah in the Old Testament

I once heard Elder Holland say that we're not supposed to have favorite scriptures...

so I imagine the same might apply to having favorite books of scripture.

But, since Elder Holland mentioned that he has multiple favorites...

I feel it's ok since I too have multiple favorites.

So I list the book of Jonah as one of my favorite books of scripture.

I love it.

What I love about Jonah is that he struggled for a while with his faith.

I like to read about that in the scriptures...

to know that great prophets of old struggled just as I do.

Not in the believing...but in the applying the beliefs in their lives.

I don't struggle with the believing.

Which is, I know, a great blessing.

So I do not mean to sound as if I'm discounting that blessing.

But what I do struggle with is the application of what I believe in my life.

To the point...I lack faith in what I believe... in what following the gospel can bring into my life...the power that is has to change me. It is silly, that I lack this faith, as I watch all around me, the gospel of Jesus Christ change lives. Yet, I am unsure about whether or not it can change mine. This is not to say that I'm in constant doubt or that I haven't seen it in my life before...I just struggle getting to the point where I let it work.

So it is through the stories of prophets like Jonah that I find my faith in what living the truth brings. And I find comfort in knowing that my Father in Heaven will be very patient with me. Even if Shamu has to help me get there.

And as an added bonus...in case you do not know the story of Jonah...this little girl will set you straight.

February=Love: the 10th-a musical love

2011-02-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

February 10th: a musical love

I love Enigma.
judge all you want...I don't care...I will still love them
they have been helping me fall asleep since the early 90's

I have loved them from the first moment their dulcet tones met my little ears.

My favorite Enigma song to this day...

Return to Innocence

And the video is probably still my all time favorite music video.

When I lived in Las Vegas four of my friends and I made our own backwards video.

It is pretty awesome...and needs to be put on DVD...I digress.

For your viewing and listening pleasure...

February=Love: the 10th

2011-02-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

February 10th:

my Super Brooke quilt

This quilt was a Christmas present.

Christmas of '99.

It is by far and away one of the best gifts I've ever received.

It is currently keeping me warm as I type.

There so much to say about this quilt.
It means so much to me.
But I will spare you from sentimentality and memory lane.
Not to mention I wouldn't even know where to begin.

I will, however, say this.

It was a group effort on the part of Rebecca Louise Fischer and her mother and sisters.

I have a photograph (not scanned unfortunately) of Bec and her sisters and their sore fingers.
The quilt was HAND STITCHED.

I think saying that it was made with love probably says it all.

It's getting a bit thrashed because of the serious use it has gotten.
but it's be thrashed with deep and abiding love.

I suppose I could just display it.

But why?

It's useful and I love it.

Here is the center of the quilt.
Every superhero needs an emblem.
We can see some of the wear and tear on the emblem.
Worn and torn with love.

If you look closely you can see around the edges where the name "Super Brooke" has been embroidered.
That was done with a machine...
a freaking AWESOME machine!
But other than that...
ALL. HAND. STITCHED.

Here is it.
Not on display for you, but actually on my bed.
See those lines bursting from the emblem?
Yeah, ALL. HAND. STITCHED.

That is some serious love right there.

salted roads...or roads made of salt?

2011-02-09T18:34:00.000-07:00

This is NOT really a love post. So my apologies.

This morning I walked out to get the newspaper and saw this:

and this:

Yes my friends and civic leaders of the city of North Salt Lake...that is salt on the road...NOT ice...NOT snow...S-A-L-T aka sodium chloride aka NaCL.

It was at least an inch if not two inches thick. I backed out of the driveway and started down my pretty steep hill to Valley View drive...as I came to the bottom of the hill and the stop sign and prepared to stop I started to slide down my hill...onto Valley View. Luckily, no one was driving down the road at that moment, but as I turned onto Valley View, I thought, "huh...that's odd...isn't the point of salting the road so that we DON'T slip?"

I realize I live on a curvy steep hill that is not driving friendly when ice and snow is involved. HOWEVER...I do think that this was a bit overboard. I think I'm going to take these photos to the city building. All this salt is A) ruining the road B) making my car dirty...city of NSL-you're paying for my car wash and C) acting as a catalyst to the rusting process on my car (not that is is rusty in many places, but there are a few spots...and this is not helping). So perhaps you and Maaco should get together and get me a new paint job.

Sincerely,
Brooke Lee Russell

February=Love: the 9th- a musical love

2011-02-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

February 9th: a musical love

The Naked and Famous

they're from New Zealand

they're relatively new

and I can't help but be happy when I listen to this song