Making yourself feel better

How not to cheer up your sister when no one shows up for the church activity she has planned:

"You plan too many activities, anyway."

I'll go cry in my room now.  It is definitely time to rethink my approach.

On Your Porch

I forgot how much I love sitting around a guitar and harmonizing.  I'm trying to talk someone into doing an open mic night with me at Broad Street Cafe.  Probably in November.  I'll let you know if we end up doing it.  

Don't count it out yet

They like me. They really like me!  Everything is still up in the air at work, but I have now gone from having very little choice to a wide range of choices.  Blessings come in mysterious ways, my friends.  Very, very mysterious.

At peace

I thought I was supposed to take it.  Turns out, I wasn't.  I was ready to say yes.  I haven't really been happy since deciding it, and a million things have come up to make it a horrible decision.  Luckily, the Lord is looking out for me, and today, I feel like a new person.  I may be able to handle my life. . . (knock on wood).

Melt my heart to stone

I've been addicted to Adele lately.  The Pandora station I set up with she and Amy MacDonald just makes me happy. Sigh. . .

Adele:

Chasing Pavements (I love the dance sequences--gorgeous!)



Hometown Glory


Cold Shoulder


Her cover of Sam Cooke's That's It I Quit, I'm movin' on.


Amy:

Love Love


Mr. Rock and Roll


L.A.



Enjoy!

Cash Cab

My sister secretly (well not so much now) LOVES this show.   The last time we went to New York, she would look around, hoping that the Cash Cab would pull up and make her day.  We were never so lucky.  Imagine my complete and utter amusement when Cash Cab became a plot point (kind of) on 30 Rock this past episode.  I laughed and laughed.  And then thought, my sister may have to watch just this episode!

So, for those of you who need a laugh (It is Tracy, so it may be a teensy bit racy), and also for Miss Ruby, here we go:

The introduction of the game.



A trivia question.



A few random trivia questions.



The winning moment and a funny post-script!



My other favorite moment, was a little lovely bit with Brian Williams.  I love him on Jon Stewart and I feel like he has a great sense of humor that he doesn't get to show on the nightly news.  Tina Fey has used him a bunch of times on 30 Rock, and he is consistently funny.

Life Changing Decisions

Today I was asked to make a choice.  Tomorrow I will go to the temple to make sure I am right.  Part of me does not want to take the step.  It is much easier to live in your comfort zone and stay the easy course.  But sometimes it is time--even if you will miss certain people horribly.  It is what you do to grow up.  Even if we think we are old (or getting older), we always have new moments to grow up.

The Nephites went through their pride cycle over and over and over again.  And I am going to have to take my steps out into harsh reality.  I know the Lord will watch over me. I know that what I decide will be right for me, but I also am a little sad to say goodbye to an important chapter in my  life.  I feel a little like I did when I left Provo--not that I am going anywhere.  It is more a state of mind, and a little bit like moving from one end of Southfork to the other.  Say a little prayer for me. . .

Life in the fast lane

A few weeks ago (possibly over a month! Shocker!),  I was called to be the midsingles (28-45) rep for our stake.  I know that it is important, and there are people out there who need to feel like the Lord loves them, so I was alright saying yes, but a little nervous.  I think my first activity went well.  I'm working on my second.  

Three days later, one of the departments at work imploded.  Years of weird interpersonal communication had lead to craziness, paranoia, and incivility.  My boss asked me to step in and Tim Gunn it.  And I have.  I have stepped it up big time.  10-12 hour days time.  Brain gymnastics. Learning a whole new vocabulary.  And I'm good at it.  I forgot how good I am at it.  Thank you, Heavenly Father for talents.

But it also made me realize that I miss certain things in my life.  So here they are--my goals for the rest of the year, and as my birthday is coming up, a new year.

• Cook something from scratch at least once a week.
• Find a local community theatre troop that I can try out for--be in a production of something.
• Look for a jazz band that needs a singer, or put together my own and head to an open mic night. 
• Be less snobby about who I am friends with--when did I decide I was too cool for some people?  My new ward has made me realize that I had become a little too hipster detached.  Genuine passion. Earnestness.  Vulnerability.  These things aren't bad, we just become cynical.
• Plan something cool for my Primary kids for the holidays (maybe a couple of things).
• Take deep breaths and meditate more.
• Start writing again--even if it is just short stories.  This Amazon contest may be interesting in a year or two. 
• Reconnect with friends I haven't talked to in a while (Hey, anyone I haven't talked to in a while! Let's chat!).
• Be more creative.  I was the artsy one first! What happened to that?
• Write more here.  A lot more.  About anything and everything. What is it for if I don't use it?

What do you miss about yourself that you haven't had time for?