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 That same day our car payment was withdrawn and since they transferred all of our funds to a new account, our old account when into default.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!!!!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The final home game. What a fun game to end the season with. Todd and I were kind of worried that BYU would still be struggling and only barely beat SDS. We were very happy to see how great they played. We went out with a bang, unabashed cheering and celebrating, cougar dogs galore, and of course, my cougar tail. While it has been a bit more challenging being a season ticket holder this year, it has still been a good time. sleeping in on the weekends is overrated. clean laundry is overrated. eating a diet other than hot dogs and soda is overrated.
After the game was over Todd refused to leave. He literally sat there and pouted until I promised sexual favors to get him to leave.
Farewell Lavell Edwards StadiumUntil Next YEAR!!
Friday, November 21, 2008
It's funny how an everyday image can evoke such tumultuous thought. The other day I went to set my change on the dresser and this very image caught my eye.
Our voting stickers.
Neither of us set them together like this. They just ended up that way. Initially, I thought how ironically this image represents Todd and I politically.
The yin and the yang to each other's politics.
To put it another way, Todd and I respectfully (at least usually) see absolutely nothing eye to eye when it comes to politics. With further stretch of the imagination, I see this image and representing the country's views at large.
This has been my first presidential election to actively take part in.
What an election to be a part of.
While it has been magical to witness history in the making, it has also been very challenging for me. What disconnect this election has brought about among Americans in general. I think this election specifically highlights the undeniable opposition the two parties have to one another. They have become scarily entrenched and immovable.
I fear for our county NOT because we have elected a rouge "socialist" leader who is going to ruin our country. I fear for this country because of the discrepancies between each other's views. I am sure I perhaps feel this more than some bc of my Utah-minority-political status, but still. It has shocked me to see the charge across voters. People have lost friends. People have lost family. People have lost faith...over the disagreements between the sides. I am dumbfounded and heartsick over this (I too have lost things).
I now find myself constantly going back to the philosophy that
one must doubt everything but doubt itself.
Truthfully, how can we, as voters, know that about half the country feels differently than oneself and still be so sure of our rightness?
I am happy with the outcome of the election. Still, I am now at this place where I have no clue what I believe in anymore. Half the world is thanking the Lord for delivering them out of bondage while the other half is praying to the Lord to protect them from the evilness that has just been unleashed. People are literally fearful of their lives here while others have just begun to feel peace that they have never felt before.
How can this be?
I guess I am saying in no linear form that I have a voting hangover. All the hype of the election, all the sensationalism and all the "I'm right your wrong" has left me with a bitter headache. I wonder if I should have even voted. It all seems very silly to me now. I was so impassioned by the election... and so sure of what i wanted. Now, I wonder if the whole election process is just a big fat waste of time. A rouge to let us Americans think we have things in control. An opportunity for us to puff out our chests and act as if we know, really know, how our country-perhaps the most complex macro organism in the world- should be ran.
Voter Disillusion
Sunday, November 16, 2008
November 7th, 2008. We were in SLC (shocker I know) for work meetings and the game. So...Scott and Shauna invited us to go to the hockey game with them AND it just happened to be the Breast Cancer Awareness game, "Pink in the Rink". I've always wanted to go to see the rink pink and see the players in pink jerseys. They auction off the jerseys after the game which I think it really cool. We also convinced our friends Jordan and Scott to come along which is always a good time. We won in a shoot-off which was pretty exciting.
Bruce the Bulldog
We have a new addition to our family. Brucie. He is a 7 month old English Bulldog. We adopted him three weeks ago from Todd's friend Jeremy. Jeremy bought the full bread (at the tune of $2200) but because he works a lot and because some of his roommates moved out, he decided it would be best for Brucie to go to another home. We had mentioned to Jeremy when we found out he got him that we love English Bulldogs and have always wanted one (at least since Rob & Big got Meaty) but could not afford one! So, Jeremy asked if we wanted to take him...for free! At first we said no (after all, we are living with my sister whose husband hates dogs), but when my family found out about it, they agreed to have partial custody of Bruce (Zach cares for him during the day) so that my sister and her husband would go for it. Luckily, Bruce had not been taken by someone else so when we went up for the BYU versus UNLV game, we ran up to Logan and picked him up! We have an open adoption with Jeremy-we send pictures frequently and Jeremy will come and visit when he can. The only stipulation of the adoption was that Bruce never wear BYU blue. Bruce bleeds Aggie blue. Bruce has been a pretty easy dog. He caught right on to potty training (which I guess he struggled with before), has learned to fetch, comes to his name, and has lost 11 lbs since we got him! He was a bit overweight because he wasn't getting out much. The only real issue we have had is that Bruce is still a puppy-just a giant puppy. We thought Ty would bug him to death bc Ty is a meth abuser and Bruce seems lazy. That is DEFINITELY not the case. Bruce is hyperactive! He won't leave Ty alone! Ty will be sleeping and Bruce will jump on him and bite him until he gets up and runs around with him. There is also some serious sibling rivalry. We didn't anticipate that in the least. For now, the solution has been having Brucie spend more time at my moms. My siblings absolutely love Bruce and give him to attention he needs. I know when we have more time, we can teach them to love each other and not constantly fight (it is playful fighting but it gets old).
The weekend we got Bruce, I stayed home from the game to watch the crazy muts at the cabin. My friend Kay came and got us and took us to Kamas to play with her three dogs and one they were dog sitting. My was that an adventure. We took them up the Uintas and let them go wild. I was pretty impressed with Bruce's ability to keep up-minus getting his fat butt stuck in the cattle guard. Jenn drove up a little later and we had a great time chillaxin on the porch and watching the crazy dogs play. Thanks to the BAD anties (Jenn and Kay) we learned that Bruce loves beer-but that's a whole other story. Bruce really is a heart attack waiting to happen-good thing he's on a fitness regime.
We love you Brucie
Some of Brucie's Quirks...
- He has killer farts-getting hotboxed in the car is not cool.
- He is so protective. Anytime anyone gets near me or Todd-he goes nuts
- He loves his back rubbed-he fully moans
- He only likes sleeping on hard surfaces-with his legs and arms stretched straight out.
- He is suprisingly agile. He can jump on to the side tables that are pretty high.
- He cannot drink! He sucks water in and then spills is all over the place
- He snores
- He's never not panting
- His bottom fangs jutt out over his upper lip-so cute.
- His eyes get red when he's tired
We love you BrucieSaturday, November 15, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
October 30th to November 3rd. Well, I'm just now getting to posting about our fantastic trip to Denver and Fort Collins Colorado!!! [4 billion hour work weeks will do that to you] I think i can speak for both of us when I say that we had so much dang fun! We were both sad to leave and I have now added Denver to my list of places to live before I die. Here's some highlights (or just an overload of pictures) ~The Road Trip~
The Roadtrip was half the fun. On the drive there Todd remarked that we could have gotten plane tickets for almost as cheap. I got all sorts of butt hurt because part of the purpose behind the trip was to have a road trip-Todd has always wanted to take one. The entire drive was absolutely beautiful. We were surprised at how drastic the landscape can change in just a few miles. For part of the drive, one side of the freeway was Moab-like (neutral tones and hills) while the other side was what you picture Colorado to look like-beautiful pines and Aspens. The Aspens had not yet lost their leaves...leaving vibrant yellows for miles! The drive turns moutainesque quickly and is followed by the Colorado River. The 9+ hours seemed like nothing with such a beautiful backdrop. We stayed in Grand Junction the first night and headed to Denver the following morning. p.s. props to Expedia...our hotel was amazing for the cost!
Eagle-the infamous location of Koby Bryant's indiscretions (Todd insisted on taking a picture...odd)
The Beautiful (and upety) Vail, Colorado
The road literally blasts through mountain sides. Obviously causing the need for many tunnels. Todd holding his breath through a long one!
The road literally blasts through mountain sides. Obviously causing the need for many tunnels. Todd holding his breath through a long one!
Me navigating...SCARY!!!
We made it!
We made it!
~ Downtown Denver~
Checking into the motel was definitely an experience! We followed the mapquest directions which may have been shorter but certainly not safer! It literally had us driving right through Compton (hehe okay not really but still). We were pretty worried when we finally got there. Surprisingly, our room was very nice (again, props to Expeida) and close to one of the freeways so it made getting downtown very easy. We went straight there after we checked in and spent the evening shopping and enjoying the Denver night life. We ate at this swanky little grill in LoDo (Lower downtown) and basically had a great time enjoying the stores, street performers (like the guitar player dressed as Where's Waldo) and the street artists (i.e. paintings completely made with spray paint). On our way to the car we passed The Cheesecake Factory... we of course had to stop and get desert. Oh, to my delight, I found the most beautiful find-their 30th Anniversary Cheesecake! Chocolate and cheesecake...so delish.
That night we also tried to go to an awesome Haunted House for Halloween...but the line was over a block long! Instead we opted to eat treats at the hotel!
~Denver Museum of Art~
Checking into the motel was definitely an experience! We followed the mapquest directions which may have been shorter but certainly not safer! It literally had us driving right through Compton (hehe okay not really but still). We were pretty worried when we finally got there. Surprisingly, our room was very nice (again, props to Expeida) and close to one of the freeways so it made getting downtown very easy. We went straight there after we checked in and spent the evening shopping and enjoying the Denver night life. We ate at this swanky little grill in LoDo (Lower downtown) and basically had a great time enjoying the stores, street performers (like the guitar player dressed as Where's Waldo) and the street artists (i.e. paintings completely made with spray paint). On our way to the car we passed The Cheesecake Factory... we of course had to stop and get desert. Oh, to my delight, I found the most beautiful find-their 30th Anniversary Cheesecake! Chocolate and cheesecake...so delish.
That night we also tried to go to an awesome Haunted House for Halloween...but the line was over a block long! Instead we opted to eat treats at the hotel!~Denver Museum of Art~
Since the trip was so very XY chromosome, I bartered for a half day trip to the Denver Museum. To our suprise--we went on the one day a month that admission is free!!! The museum had great pieces-even the building structure is art. I really wanted to go bc they were featuring an exhibit by an artist I find highly interesting, Daniel Richter, A Major Survey. His art is highly political, provocative, and urban. Below are a few pieces that I adore. I was very surprised at the size of each peice-nearly the length of the entire wall. I had a great time. Todd was a good sport.
~Colorado State versus BYU~
All I can say is my was this an experience. I have never been to an away game. I have also never been so insulted by drunk college students. I have also never been to a game where alcohol is permitted. Let me explain...Due to the structure of the stadium, we had to park where all the college students were tailgating. ALL we did was walk to the stadium-AND BOY DID WE GET CRAP!! The booing-that was doable-the chanting of "dirty Mormons" and "premarital sex" was a little much. Oh, and on the way back a guy kept kicking beer cans at me. All I can say is thank the Lord we won! The game was the most intense game I have seen since last year's BYU-Utah game. We were both spent when it was over. My trembling hand signified that I am no longer just a bystander-I am a superfan. I was seriously so pissed when they were loosing. The score has now effected me emotionally.
All I can say is my was this an experience. I have never been to an away game. I have also never been so insulted by drunk college students. I have also never been to a game where alcohol is permitted. Let me explain...Due to the structure of the stadium, we had to park where all the college students were tailgating. ALL we did was walk to the stadium-AND BOY DID WE GET CRAP!! The booing-that was doable-the chanting of "dirty Mormons" and "premarital sex" was a little much. Oh, and on the way back a guy kept kicking beer cans at me. All I can say is thank the Lord we won! The game was the most intense game I have seen since last year's BYU-Utah game. We were both spent when it was over. My trembling hand signified that I am no longer just a bystander-I am a superfan. I was seriously so pissed when they were loosing. The score has now effected me emotionally.
I have been lost to the dark side.
The game was a good time and we learned something valuable about CSU fans--and CSU fans drowned in beer
An awesome fan we sat by. I shit you not nothing we was wearing was made before I was born. She was all decked out..."Y" earings, stonewashed jeans, Cougars hat and sweater-it was sweet.
We also went out that evening to the Shops at Northridge
We also went out that evening to the Shops at Northridge
It only took us 3 times driving my this factory to figure out why we always thought of Ty when we passed it...it smells like serious dog food!
~Denver Broncos Game~
The game was soo much fun. Neither of us had been to an NFL game so that in itself made it pretty fun. The stadium itself was pretty impressive. Everything went perfect-it only took 15 mins to get to the game, we got good parking (at the tune of $30 big ones), we found our seats with no problem, and had plenty of time to explore the giant stadium. Todd got a new hat that has the old school emblem. We also got to wave hi to our friend Jeremy who was also at the game. Unfortunately they didn't win but at least we got to see a good, close game. We were also sitting next to Miami fans who were obnoxious as hell! It's a good thing nobody got in a fight bc there were A LOT of drunk people there. I learned a lot about alcohol this trip...haha. There were also some pretty cool/hardcore fans. Including the grown man in a full on uniform. Pads and all. He even wore a decked out hard hat- it was awesome. I decided I like pro games bc they move a lot faster. Downs go a lot quicker which I think make the game more entertaining.
"McCain is a Raiders Fan"
My view the entire game... 
Farewell Denver, until next time...
The game was soo much fun. Neither of us had been to an NFL game so that in itself made it pretty fun. The stadium itself was pretty impressive. Everything went perfect-it only took 15 mins to get to the game, we got good parking (at the tune of $30 big ones), we found our seats with no problem, and had plenty of time to explore the giant stadium. Todd got a new hat that has the old school emblem. We also got to wave hi to our friend Jeremy who was also at the game. Unfortunately they didn't win but at least we got to see a good, close game. We were also sitting next to Miami fans who were obnoxious as hell! It's a good thing nobody got in a fight bc there were A LOT of drunk people there. I learned a lot about alcohol this trip...haha. There were also some pretty cool/hardcore fans. Including the grown man in a full on uniform. Pads and all. He even wore a decked out hard hat- it was awesome. I decided I like pro games bc they move a lot faster. Downs go a lot quicker which I think make the game more entertaining.
We had a gay old time. Hope to go again someday. Go Broncos! Cutler you freakin suck.
"McCain is a Raiders Fan" 
My view the entire game...Farewell Denver, until next time...
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