To Be Adored

Guess who was just picked for her very first blog award? Yes, you guessed it and it's no surprise since you, dear blog reader, are visiting my blog again--I may be your favorite blog as well--who doesn't love me? Anyway, Lara--who is a fabulous writer--who writes almost daily--who recently lost 30 pounds--who has more talents than any one person should have--awarded me this. She said something like my blog was her favorite in the entire universe and she pretty much lives to read my blog or something like that. Then, she gave four other people the same award. Huh? Well, she has to follow the rules of course, so she had to figure out four other people who are almost as fun to read as me.

Anyway, along with this award, I'm supposed to list five of my favorite things to love and bestow this honor on five bloggers that I love. I'm not going to get sentimental here and list the obvious choices like my family, the US of A or milkshakes. Those are givens. Here are some other faves:

1. My grandma's salads--she makes her own dressings without any measuring and they are to die for--mmm-mmm good!

2. American Idol--I love to watch them sing their hearts out and then see what Simon is going to say. We all know Paula's going to love it, Randy will say it's pitchy or he wasn't feelin' it, but Simon will be honest.

3. fresh squeezed orange juice--it's that time of year again. It's in the 70s here right now and we have citrus fresh from the tree. My husband squeezed me a whole pitcher of it last week and I was in heaven.

4. post exercise feeling--after I do a really tough exercise tape--and I do them five days a week--I feel awesome. I feel like...well..like I could live the rest of the day not eating junk food and watching the weight fall off me. Unfortunately, that feeling leaves me at about 3pm and then it's a battle with my will until about 8 pm when I give in and eat some Ben & Jerry's.

5. a warm bath--ahhhh, I love to run a really hot bath and read a good book and drink ice cold water. Sounds a bit contradictory. In fact it sounds a bit like the converse of what I used to do as a teenager: buy Dairy Queen and eat it outside with my winter coat on. Hmmm...

Now, for five of my favorite blogs (and I love you all, but I could only pick five):

1. The Haphazard Life: This incredibly witty and very hilarious writer and I actually became acquainted through another real life friend. The first time I decided to look at her blog, my husband was sitting by me and he took one look at the first entry we saw and said, "Wait! I know that guy! I TA'd with him at BYU!" (It was the blog writer's husband.) Yes, it turns out that we had actually met once upon a time at a BYU party. I really do love to read her entries. She is a smart writer who always makes me chuckle and think, "Dang! Why can't I be that funny when I write?"

2. ...and then some: I discovered this blog through reading a really hilarious comment posted on a friend's blog. This girl is so brutally honest about her life--all of her quirks and crazy incidents--and she's had more than her fair share. She makes me laugh outloud sometimes. Alas, she hasn't written since December because she's writing a book. I'd been telling her that she should for several months now, so I'll be expecting a portion of the earnings when that fat check comes to her door.

3. Prize for Posing: This girl actually discovered my blog before I discovered hers, but she is too funny as well. Her phrasing of situations and past conversations between herself and her kids always makes me smile. I do think she's too hard on herself imagewise though. Reading her blog you may get the impression she's a candidate for The Biggest Loser, but I've met her and I aspire to be as skinny as her. However, don't we women just need to have a friend who relates to our body image issues?

4. a day in the life............: I have never actually met this writer, but I feel like she's a close friend. She recently had her fifth, beautiful baby and she blogs mostly about her kids and her deep reflections on life. She has so much wisdom and is so good at phrasing those deep thoughts that I keep finding myself saying, "Amen-sista!"

5. The Zoo (The Zimmerman Family Blog): I won't bother with the link because it's private. I have only met Erika once or twice in real life, but she's the girl you're always jealous of--tall, eats and eats and eats and never excercises and is gorgeous, super stylish, brilliant. She's married to one of my great friends from BYU. What makes her blog one of my faves is her sass. Seriously, she is one of the sassiest writers I've ever read, but she pulls it off so well. Hilarious and clever and completely honest. We all need a sassy friend like her when someone makes us feel bad. You know, that friend that always has the comeback ready that we come up with about twenty minutes later? That's her.

So girls, enjoy your blog award. Post it with pride--you're awesome writers!

Eat Pray Love--My Initial Response

So, have you heard of this book--Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert? I just started it last night while Derek was sleeping. I should've read a lot more given that after I turned out the lights, I laid there for two hours and had really creative and productive thoughts that I can't really remember right now. In fact, this blog post was going to be humorous and clever and well, it'll probably be neither to be honest.

I really appreciate a well crafted phrase--don't we all? You know, a quote that just says exactly what you want to say or makes you chuckle? Her book is full of those. Yes, chock full of those as well as thoughts that come across as sidenotes and you KNOW I love sidenotes. I think I pretty much only think in terms of sidenotes--I'm what you would term a detail person.

Let me share a couple of my favorite phrases:

"God never slams a door in your face without opening a box of Girl Scout cookies (or however the old adage goes)."

"But why must everything always have a practical application? I'd been such a diligent soldier for years--working, producing, never missing a deadline, taking care of my loved ones, my gums and my credit record, voting, etc. Is this lifetime supposed to be only about duty?"

I'm probably really making you all think how totally lame this book is, but if you like a novel where it feels like your best friend just called you up and is telling you the latest, this is such a great book for you. Now, remember I'm like 50 pages into this thing which isn't much--but can't those 50 pages make or break a book for you sometimes? Although I do think that I'm a bit of an overeager optimist when it comes to books. I'll hear friends discuss a book I loved and hear them confess how it started out slow and I'll be thinking, "What? Are you crazy? What did you expect the author to do kill someone in the first 50 pages?"

A new book--a GOOD, new book--almost as exciting as chocolate, but better in some ways because you don't have to exercise it off later.

My Remodel

So, that bathroom that I started in July? I finally finished it this week! I had finished most of it before Thanksgiving, but I had to wait for my hubby to do the new light fixture--which ended up being a huge headache of course (and you don't even see it in the picture)--I don't think that God has remodeling in my future. I think I'm supposed to be working more on remodeling myself and leave my house alone.

Now, for the great reveal! (Imagine me running through a picture of the old bathroom.)

For those who like my color choice--and you know you all do--it's Benjamin Moore's Soft Fern and Rosemary Sprig. And even funnier, the toilet even looks whiter--as though it's been made over too!

And, this is the beautiful cross-stitch that my dad made for me for my birthday last year. I just got it framed and it looks absolutely gorgeous in our bathroom.

Benjamin Button--my life thoughts

My husband took me to the movies last weekend. As you can guess from the title, we saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. For those of you literary types, you can easily access this very short book on the internet free of charge--but the movie doesn't follow the book in the least.
I really like movies that make me think about my own mortality. In Benjamin's case, he was going through life backwards--physically that is. Though I certainly can't relate to that--except for those darn gray hairs that have popped up in the last couple years and seem to be multiplying rather quickly. I'm much too young to have gray hair right? (I seem to sidetrack much too often when I write...)
Some of the ideas in the movie really hit home to me though. The idea that there are some people who you know for such a short time, but have such a profound impact on your life. I can remember my first piano teacher and her wiry hair. She really inspired me to love the piano--not enough to practice regularly, but still. Sadly, she moved away after a year and my second teacher simply frustrated me and I quit. Both women, though involved in my life only briefly, had major impact.
I recently signed up on Facebook--as most of you know who are now my "friends." I have been seeing photos and getting caught up with several people who I knew only through middle school through high school graduation. Though that seems like a rather lengthy period of time--in the grand scheme of things, it really isn't. I've already been married longer than I knew those people I graduated with.
Since having three children, I have really struggled and still do struggle with finding some sort of a balance with my children, my husband, my faith and even myself. There are so many good things I would like to do with my family and for myself, but I'm having a hard time finding any time. It feels a lot like my expectations for the Christmas holiday only strung out for who knows how long...
The movie helped to remind me that my children are only this tiny age for such a short time. Too soon I'm sure they won't value my opinion over their friends. Too soon they won't want to show me all of their school projects. Too soon they won't say cute, funny little things. My house will be dirty forever, but my kids won't be tiny that long. These valuable relationships that we treasure, we have them on this earth for such a short time, but our impact on each other can be incredibly profound--both for good and bad.
This life really is such a short journey. There are so many good options and opportunities. I hope that I am picking the right ones. I hope that I'm utilizing this brief time for all it's worth.

Chase Freedom Credit Card--the freedom receive poor customer service

Well, I finally got my mail from the post office who had somehow missed the end date. I immediately went through all of the mail and read the remaining Christmas cards/letters and then the bills (ugh!). One such bill was from one of my credit card companies--Chase Freedom.

This is that credit card that used to have commercials where they'd yell, "Freedom!" and show people prancing about on the beach or engaging in other fun and costly pursuits. Yes, you're free to go do all of those things--buy now, pay later, blah, blah, blah.

Well, I've had this credit card for over a year now. I got one because my brother in law and his wife had one and they really liked getting the cash back. I liked that idea too. I have a Sony credit card that rewards me with points, but I thought it would be advantageous to start getting cash back instead.

I've had no problems until last night. Let me clarify this by saying, I've never contacted Chase Freedom credit card company before last night either. I always pay my balance in full (except for one month where I left a small balance which I paid off the next month) and I ALWAYS PAY ON TIME.

I noticed, while I was going through all of my mail, that the due date for this credit card was that very day. Realizing that even if I did my usual online bill pay option, it still would not post to the account until tomorrow at the earliest. Trying to a dutiful and responsible card holder, I contacted Chase to explain my vacation and mail hold problems and ask their advice on how to best pay the bill.

The first woman I talked to, whose name I can't pronounce and who probably lives in India given her extremely difficult accent, read me the lines that I'm sure popped up on her screen that told me that she would take my payment over the phone for a charge of $14.99. What? $14.99? Are you kidding me? This whole transaction won't cost the credit card company more than some pennies and I've NEVER been late on a payment EVER. I asked her if she could give me a waiver on the fee for processing given my perfect payment history. No, she couldn't. Okay, well, I wanted to talk to her supervisor then.

She was happy to transfer me to her supervisor--who did speak English perfectly. I again explained my situation and asked him if he could waive the fee. He informed me that he could not. I asked him why he couldn't (providing to him my perfect payment history) and he informed me that I knew when my credit card payment was due and I could've made plans while I was on vacation to pay it off. I told him that I didn't know the amount I owed because I didn't receive the invoice before I left. He didn't care. He said I could've easily found out and made other arrangements. I also reminded him that my due date was that very day that we were talking. Technically I wasn't late at all. BUT, since the payment wouldn't post until the 8th, it still cost me a fee.

****Sidenote--do any of you know off the top of your head when each and every one of your various bills are due each month 'cause I certainly don't. I should've said that to Mr. Accounts Supervisor.

I again stated that if I had received the invoice before I left town, I would've paid it, and the mail had not delivered to me as I had requested once I received the invoice, which was just a couple of hours ago, I was trying to get it paid.

Once again Mr. Accounts Supervisor was uncooperative. I requested to talk with his supervisor.

That is when he told me that he didn't have a supervisor--he was the accounts manager. To which I replied "You don't have a supervisor? Are you telling me that you run Chase Bank?" Well, no, he didn't run Chase Bank, but he didn't have a supervisor. I insisted again that he must have a supervisor to which he finally conceeded that his supervisor had gone home for the day. I then requested a voicemail, so I could leave a message about Mr. Accounts Manager. He said there was no voicemail, but he would leave a message for his supervisor to return my call within 24 hours. I told him that would be great.

I then told him that I would never refer his card to anyone else ever again. He then started to sound like a robot and asked me if I'd like to make a payment. To which I responded, "Yes, do I have any choice?" He then asked me how much I'd like to pay; I told him and then he started to chime in about the $14.99 fee associated with this. I cut him off and scathingly stated, "I KNOW HOW MUCH THE FEE IS." As if I had somehow forgotten the fee cost. Was that not the reason I called him in the first place?

I got his name after that and asked him if I was done. He replied that I was and then I hung up on him. Aaaaah, I wish that hanging up provided more satisfaction. You know, like the telephone would reach out and smack him across the face or something. I was a little angered by the whole situation in case you couldn't tell.

*** I also wanted to say that I once had a late payment problem with a previous credit card that I owned. I was in Spain and my mom was making the payments for me. I guess she forgot to pay one month on time and realized it a bit later. She called the credit card company up and explained the situation and they immediately forgave the late fee. As you can see, I have received no such kind service here.

After Christmas--Dealing with the Chaos

Christmas you came and went so quickly! Thank you for allowing us to fly to Seattle without being rerouted or stuck on a snowy mountain pass. Thank you for the 24 family members all snuggled (perhaps too closely?) in one house. I also want to compliment you on the gorgeous scenery you provided--tree branches coated in ice and snow and snowflakes bigger than I ever remember seeing before.

However, I want to request that you do me a few favors next year...Could you please help me to unpack when I return? I'm still trying to do laundry and find places for our new treasures. Could you help me to remember to turn to the side for the family photo? Not only did I just have a baby, but all of my in-laws are as big around as one of my thighs--we don't need photo documentation of this. Could you also provide my kids with super immune systems so that they could come home without colds? And, lastly, I'd appreciate it if you could get the US Postal service to deliver my mail that they saved.

I would post some pics of this glorious vacation, but I don't have any to share. I'm waiting for copies from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. I didn't bring my camera and they take a lot better photos than me anyway.

However, I can post, for your enjoyment--video of the littlest Pete with his smiles and giggles which have recently become more frequent. Aren't babies wonderful?