Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Hoff....
Well, anyone who knows Todd should not be surprised that we ended up going to the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl last night. Determination will always win out I guess. Nothing was going to deter Todd from getting there. Not the fact that tickets sold out before we knew it. Not the fact that it had been snowing non stop. And definitely not the fact that I told Todd...NO!!! At first I thought I was okay with going. But, when tickets sold out so quickly and when the snow just kept falling, I was grateful we weren't going. I've tried to be supportive of his passion...but I'm SICK of football games. I'm SICK of being cold. I'm SICK of commuting across the horrible, snowy black ridge. How is it that we ended up going you ask? Well, manipulation that's how! Ha Ha. JK. Todd was respectful and crafty...he didn't push. He just checked the KSL ticket ads everyday for two weeks. Each night we would casually mention what was on sale. I always blew it off. Then, the NIGHT before the game he slyly mentions at dinner, "There's tickets on sale for $30 bucks. They're right behind the BYU bench. We can meet the guy at the game. It's a really good deal." UGH. I can't say no to that pleading face. I went back to all the reasons we should go...who knows if we'll be living this close to Las Vegas next year. We may never get the chance to go. Todd has never been to a bowl game. That is a really good deal. It's not supposed to snow tom morrow. We'll probably sit around and be bored tom if we don't go...and the list goes on and on.
And on a whim, we jetted off to Las Vegas. Thank-goodness for my 24-hour dog watcher dad! We drove down that day and came home that night...we got in at like 1:30am. I'm glad we went so that Todd can say he's been to a Bowl game. I'm glad he has [kind-of] gotten it out of his system. But...the game kinda sucked. First, the BYU fans there were freaky! I saw like four fights among the fans. Mostly over people who got mad at fans in front that were standing. People were honestly screaming at each other. Every now and then a fan would stand up and yell at the other fans for not cheering loud enough. We're talking a serious a-chewing. One group of middle-aged guys got kicked out. This old dude behind me kept yelling slams at Obama during the National Anthem, etc. Like, "Don't go and change that Obama" and "It's a great country try and keep it that way Obama". It's an fing football game. Keep your political views to yourself. Honestly. He and these other old dudes also kept yelling at this little kid in front of them for standing and so on. He was like 6 years old! honestly. These fans were scary...and ornery.
The outcome of the game was also sucky obviously. We didn't play that well. We had sooo many penalties it was ridiculous. Max was also not back to his old self. The officials were horrible. And, It was bloody cold!!!!!!!!! I think that covers my list of complaints. These complaints were all erased however when we got to hear "the Hoff" sing the national anthem. That's right David Hasselhoff performed. It made it all worth it. If only The hoff could sing. It was a bit painful. It was awesome.
All in all, I'm glad we went. We had fun laughing at the crazies and trying to keep each other warm. We also enjoyed In and Out after the game.
GOODBYE BYU Football Season...FOR REAL THIS TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Baby Girl Call
6.6 lbs
Born: today, December 19th 9:30am
Congratulations to my sister Jenny who gave birth to this little beauty this morning. I may be a bit biased, but Baby Call (who may never have a name) is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. She is so tiny! Everything about her is perfect. Beautiful skin, cute little bum, and LOTS of dark hair. We are so grateful this little one decided to some early on her own (and not on her due date, Christmas DAY!). Jenny was only in the hospital for three hours before she had her. This labor was much easier than her first...minus the part where her epidural had a patch or something and she basically gave the birth naturally. Can i just say that better not happen to me if I ever decide to have kids after that. I had the honor of being present during the birth. This was a first for me (never even watched it on tape). I was a bit disturbed...and anxious watching my sister WRETCH in pain, but it was pretty awesome to see life take its form. Jenny was a champ. Baby Call, you're beautiful and perfect. Remember I'm your favorite aunt.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Knocking on wood does NOT work. Just two days before the GIANT snow storm, I said to Todd "don't you love winters in Southern Utah?" Ha Ha. Weather Gods, one. Me, zipo. I always like the first snow storm though... when everything is white. fresh. new again. We had a great time in the snow. It started Saturday and pretty much hasn't stopped. Over the weekend I kept thinking of the line "Since we no place to go....". And no place we went. Except to the base of the canyon by our house where we let Ty loose to play in the snow. Who knew he'd be such a snow dog! Later we went to my mom's to let Brucie and Ty play in the snow and Melissa remarked that Ty looks like a bunny when he runs through the snow...it's so true and so funny. He bounds. Bruce-not so much...picture a snow plow. 
lookin sexy. Todd kept making fun of my bitchin sweats and 700 layers. I may have had purple fuzy socks on top of pumpkin socks. It was hot. 
Needless to say we (and by we I mostly mean Ty) had a great time playin in the snow. Actually, we had a great weekend. Although the snow hampered a much anticipated "girls night out", we made up for it. Saturday morning we went and saw Australia for the hospital's party (they rent out the movie theatre). Australia was fantastic. I definitely recommend it. Then, we ordered in, let the snow fall, and watched ELF! Friday, December 12, 2008
If I haven't already made it abundantly clear that I haven't been lovin life lately-- now you'll all know. We've opted not to share the woes that seem to be compounded by our recent (or not so recent) incidents of misfortune. Still, publicize or not publicize, these woes (or as some call trials) seem to have gotten the best of me (and at times Todd). They have robbed us of any semblance of Christmas cheer. They have taken our focus. They have snatched our ability to rebound. This is the part where a more faithful woman would insert the epiphany that accompanied such self pittying....the epiphany about how selfish she has been..about how grateful she is for all the wonderful, god-given things she has.
Like I said.... a more faithful woman.
There would be no Christmas for us. At least none of the part that was within our control.
When we were away for Thanksgiving my sister called and asked if we wanted them to get us a Christmas tree while they were out cutting theirs'. With disdain, i said no thank-you. Afterall, I had just returned all the beautiful, new Christmas ornaments I had just bought (I had planned a BYU-themed Christmas tree. We bought matching BYU shirts for the dogs and planned to take our Christmas card picture in front of it). I told my sister i had no desire to celebrate Christmas this year. Celebrate what? My misery? The bad economy? The hype and sensationalism that always accompanies Christmas? No thank-you. I had also scared Todd into agreeing not to exchange Christmas gifts with each other and had gone down the list of gifts I usually buy looking to shave off the ones that came with less obligation.
Christ's birth be damned.
And no...still not to that epiphany. Still bitter. Still stubborn. Still cold.
When Todd and I got home from the evening listening to Christmas music in the canyons, we were greeted with a rush of the crisp smell of pine. When my had groped for the stair rail, it was met with the prickly handshake of garland. When Todd got to the bottom of the stairs and reached for the light, he paused. There was no need for the light. The brilliant glow of the most beautifulest little Christmas Tree shined across the entire room...and instantly melted my mean cold heart. It's true...something straight from the Grinch. My family, defying my mean, cold heart, snuck into our apartment while we were away [being filled with Christmas cheer], pulled out all seven hundred of my Christmas boxes, and decorated our entire house. My sister took the smaller tree that they had planned for their front room, and packed it full of our ornaments from last year. They even hung our stockings (did you see Ty's!? It's his first Christmas!). They even dusted!. I must have walked around the entire house 20 times saying "I can't believe they did this". In an evening, a family wanting to show their love and support, changed my entire person. I was and still am in awe at what a sweet and selfless act this was. I will never forget. What a reminder of what Christmas is all about. What a reminder of what an ass I have been. What a beautiful little Christmas tree.
May we all pass on this beautiful act of giving. of kindness. of true love... this Christmas Season.
...and i promise to have a tich more humility
Saturday, December 6, 2008
We went to Christmas in the Canyons at Tuacahn last night. Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, Peter Breinholt, and Sam Payne all come together and play Christmas and Seasonal songs. When we went to Thriller, I read about it and remarked that it would be fun to go (after all, we are Peter B groupies [seen him 3 times in 3 years]) and surprise! Todd's ever perfect-self suprised me with tickets. Although it was minus two billion, I had such a wonderful time. The truth is, I haven't felt much like celebrating this year... been kinda on the pity party parade, but this concert definitely put me on the upward Christmas-cheer spiral. Sitting in that beautiful canyon listening to acoustic guitars was quite the idyllic experience. I very much appreciate the raw talent and sound these performers put out. Thanks to my better half for a much needed night out on the town. After the concert, we went to Spoon Me for some fro yo (yes i just said fro yo). Hooray, St. George finally got a Spoon Me. The frozen yogurt and fruit topping is so very divine.
We had a great Idahoan Thanksgiving. We spent four days with the Gambles crew mostly stuffing our faces and enjoying each other's company. The food deserves a shout of of its own. We haven't see the fam in almost six months so it was really great to catch up and enjoy a lazy holiday. I don't think i got dressed before noon everyday...no Black Friday for me! Highlights included: watching Todd play in the first annual Swan Lake Turkey Bowl, attending The Festival of Lights Parade in Preston (can I say brrrr) and enjoying a concert from none other than the Bar J Wranglers! I've always wanted to see them in Jackson so we were excited to go. Can't beat that for a holiday.
I think Ty enjoyed the football game more than anyone...
Festival of Lights
Bar J Wranglers
...And a really cool Bronco's fan
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
We're still at odds with the Universe. A week ago Friday I went out to the car to leave for work and this is what I found. I instantly knew what happened. Someone threw this giant bolder through our window to steal my purse. I had left it behind my seat. My suspicions were confirmed when I saw that the purse was gone and that the car doors were still locked; the thief just grabbed the purse and ran. What a nightmare.
My mind instantly went through all the possible scenarios and what the theft now had his hands on.... three credit cards (one with a $10,000 limit), my debit card, MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, a card with my checking account # written on it, checks to our checking account AND our money market account, a $50 gift card to Pier One, my student ID's, insurance info, my IPOD, and the list goes on and on.
I obviously canceled my appointments for the day. Todd and I spent the ENTIRE day cleaning up the mess some evil person caused for us. My first move was to check my accounts online and cancel all of our cards...what an ordeal. Nothing had been used yet. This was a good sign but also troubling--did they just throw away the purse after they found no cash, or, did they sell my info to the identity theft?! After the police report we called the insurance company-where we learned we would have to pay the $200.00 to replace our window as our deductible is $500.00. We then called around to schedule the repair. Of course this happened on Friday and the window had to be special ordered and would not be in until Monday...it was a cardboard box window for the weekend and can I just say, Brrrr.
After all that fun we went straight to the bank-where is spent nearly three hours. We learned that because there were checks in my purse, we could not simply cancel the cards, we literally had to close out all of our accounts and start over. We have two money market accounts, a savings account and a checking account that had to be closed and restarted. This means all checks that are outstanding and debits that are outstanding have to be redirected. It also means that any direct deposits and automatic withdrawals have to be changed. That same day our car payment was withdrawn and since they transferred all of our funds to a new account, our old account when into default. Like I said, what a nightmare. I also had to get a flag on my credit in case that someone does try to steal my identity.
Since I have told people what happened, I have gotten varying responses. Some women say "oh I leave my purse in the car all the time" while others have said "why in the world did you leave your purse in the car in the first place?!" I used to leave my purse in the car when we lived in the hood of SLC. I guess I'm stupidly trusting and now I have been warned. The ironic thing is that lately I have been better-I usually bring my purse in. That night when I parked the car i had my hands full with my work bag and other stuff and just spaced it. The funny thing is that my sister had her purse in her car too--and Todd's truck was unlocked! I guess I just got lucky..or unlucky.
So let this be a warning to you all. Little old Cedar City--in our quiet little neighboorhood is not even safe. The thief even stole the rock from a flower garden right by our front door! Based on neighbor's reports-it happened at midnight. So, don't leave your purse in the car, don't think all bad things happen in the wee hours of the night, and don't EVER leave your SS card in your wallet. Another tip I heard is that you should copy everything in your wallet so you know what #'s to call to cancel cards. I would also recommend only keeping one credit or debit card in your wallet at one time-why have more than one? Also, just leave the checks at home unless you know you have to write one--they really are the scariest bc a smart thief could just wait for the dust to settle and slowly write checks. Since my experience people have told me all sorts of horrible stories. The officer said he expects to see more bc of the economy. It could happen to you too!
And to my thief.... I want to be sympathetic to your situation. You're probably an addict or someone struggling for money. Still, I am not sympathetic. I freaking hate you. You cost me an important day of work and more money and effort than you probably know. Now, I will never be able to apply for a stupid credit card at a store and get "instantly approved". I have to demonstrate my identity everytime I have to use my credit now bc you tried to steal it. You didn't steal from some wealthy person who deserved it. You stole from someone who lives in their sister's basement! Someone who was already having a rough week. Someone who already feels like the world hates them. I say this with all the rage inside me. I hate you. Oh, and I want my Fing IPOD back!!!!
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