Good Advice

I love Conan O'Brien. I am sad at how things played out for him,
but I love how he handled it with class.
On his last show he made this statement.

All I ask is one thing and I am asking this particularly of young people that watch. Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism for the record, it's my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard,
and you're kind, I'm telling you,
amazing things will happen.
-Conan O'Brien

It's a good reminder for someone like me. It's so easy to criticize, so much harder to create. I often feel like I am trying to be the world's most under-qualified, self-anointed authority on all things that are none of my business. Keeping my mouth shut is often one of my new year's resolutions. This is a great reminder to speak sweetly, be more generous with praise and to "do" more and "talk" less. Starting.... now.

A Conversation about...

Hey Marianne, where ya going?

Huh? Oh, just Chicago.

Chicago? What did you do in Chicago?

My friends and I went to the American Doll store. Look. Here's Kirstie's doll, Kirsten! Isn't she so cute?

Seriously? You drove four hours to go to a doll store where you wont even buy dolls?

Um...

What else did you do?

Look at Ann! Doesn't she look so glamorous and urban? We were actually taking pictures to get the shady guy in the car across the street. We were worried he might break into our car...

You are changing the subject. What were you doing in Chicago?

Look! Ruth and Lexie came too! We had so much fun! We went to some shops downtown...

Right. A bunch of women with husbands in post-grad work went to Chicago to shop? I'm not buying it. You are all poor right now because of school.

Geesh. Be nice man.

Sorry, but seriously, what were you doing?

Look! On the drive home we saw a licence plate that said JazzyJ. Ann's daughter Jasmine is nicknamed Jazzy! Isn't that crazy?

No, it's not. And you are totally blowing me off.
And that's a really crappy picture.

I know. Sorry, but it's hard to take a picture in a moving car.

Marianne?

Well, see, we went to see this other friend. She made us wait in line...

Ok, so your friend made you stand in line? And?

And well, I didn't want to say anything, because she's kinda famous...
and I don't like to name drop....

Yes you do.

Yeah, I do. You're right, but still...

Uh huh. I think I see.

What's in the bags Marianne?

Huh?

Marianne?

I'm not supposed to blog about it.

Marianne?

I signed some paper and everything.

But I think you can ask me in person...

Ok. We were originally supposed to go today, but our taping time got changed. It would've been too early, so they accommodated us and we went yesterday instead. We left at around 6:45 am, arrived in plenty of time, got great seats and had a freaking blast. Afterwards we drove to the magnificent mile to go to Filene's Basement (We'd heard good stuff, it's basically a less-fun TJMaxx, but still- fun!) and then drove home, stopping for pasta on the way. We really did sign a paper saying we wouldn't blog about the taping. I don't think I'm breaking any rules here. Hmm, my husband is in law school, maybe I should run this by him first? Anyhow. Did I mention that we had sooo much freaking fun? It was an awesome day. I think I can say more after it airs, I will let you know when that is.

The only downside was that our sweet husbands had to stay home and tend 9 kids all day. I know, we do this everyday, but they are normally in school or work all day. They had to play musical chairs to attend their classes or meetings, but they all sacrificed something to enable us to go. Thanks guys! Sweet Eleanor had an ok day. This was the longest I've been away from her, I left when she was asleep, and came home when she was asleep. Only something as big as.... well, you know, could entice me away from her that long. It really was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Give me a call and I will fill you in on all the rest!

Tender Mercies

Remember Bednar's talk about Tender Mercies of the Lord? Well, maybe these are too trivial to count as tender mercies, but each of these small things has brightened my outlook about our move. I could also make a ginourmous list of things I am painfully missing about Provo, or the hideous spiders I keep seeing, but I am trying to look on the bright side. Just a small list. I will do more later.

1- Fireflies! Would you believe that in all of my travels I have never seen them? Well I hadn't. And now they are all over. They are so cool! Except they are rather ugly in the light of day, I think I killed a few not realizing what they were. Oh well.

2- Our sink has a sprayer attachment. I love those! (Our last place didn't.) (We've traded it for our dishwasher or disposal, but hey.)

3- Jack's Special Salsa. I found this the last month I was in Utah at Costco. It is my all time favorite store bought salsa. I was sad to even leave an inch of it in the jar when we left Provo. Well hooray, they sell it here too! And not at Costco- the nearest Costco is about an hour away.

4- I found a really cool radio station. They play stuff like Regina Spektor, Rilo Kiley and Interpol. The kinds of bands that never get played on the radio. And then they play a few Christian songs too. It's such a bizarre combination, but I really like it.

5- We just got our cable and internet hooked up.... and we have BRAVO! I love this channel! Top Chef! Project Runway! (Ok, I know that they've moved to Lifetime, but reruns. Hello.) Top Design, Rachel Zoe Project! And other such goodness. We also get like thirty music channels that actually play music videos. You know, like MTV and VH1 used to. So happy.

6- Have I mentioned how awesome our ward and neighbors are? Awesome.

7-It's bonus time at Clinique here. Just in time! I needed new foundation. I love free presents for buying something I would've bought anyway.

8- Joanne's and Michael's are less than three miles away. Happiness.

9- Lake Lansing. It is less than five miles from our house. It's this tiny beautiful lake that has a lovely park right next to it. And on Friday nights in the summer there are free concerts there. We went with our neighbors last Friday night. And there were Fireflies.

10- I can't think of a tenth thing, but I can't end on nine. Oh hey- we finally got a dresser and desk. I put up a wanted ad on Craigslist explaining that they would have to deliver as well, and voila! For eighty bucks we are set. I am stripping the dresser as we speak so I can paint it a cute color or something. And if you know me, you know that having a project like that makes my life.

So we are a bunch of happy campers. We miss our friends and family sooo much, but are doing ok. I'm just super glad that we live in the day and age of blogs, cell phones and Facebook.