Cookies by Fame

We had enrichment last night and a woman in our ward showed us how to decorate cookies. Not just regular sugar cookies but the kind you get in cookie bouquets? Ever seen them? They're totally cute and incredibly expensive. After completing my token cookie, I completely understand the incredibly expensive part... and will probably stick with flowers. :)

Robs?

That's what the kids call me at school. Much nicer than what they call some of the others! :0) Anyway- when I hear "Robs?" with that question inflection in their voice, I know I'm in for some "smart" questions. Ready? Keep in mind... they're in jr high.
Is a donut a food?
Do I really have to bring my own pencil to class? Can't you just keep one for me?
Are we gonna cook? (well, this IS a foods class) So do we get to eat?
What time do we get out of class today? (same time you do every other day...) What time is that?
Can't I just text my mom and ask her? Really quick?
Do you have some paper I can borrow? I didn't think we needed to come to class prepared- I mean, seriously, Robs, its the first day.
Are we going to get graded on this? (yes- if you don't do well, you'll fail BOTH terms) Really? Why is it worth so much? That's pretty harsh.

And really- that was today... the first of 180 more. :0)
So to keep the mood light, here's one of my favorite stories from a previous year. The sevies were honoring the Great American Smoke Out. Their health teacher had them wearing smoking related diseases around their necks to show who had died of what. I was going around my advisory room asking each of the kids what had killed them. I got to one girl and she said "I died from an erotic anurysm." ???!!!!! I kind of choked and said "What? Tell me again." So she repeated that she had died from an erotic anurysm. lol I'm trying to keep it together as I'm walking over to her desk to see what she's really saying and wondering the entire time if SHE knows what she's died from. I get to where I can see her sign and find out she's died from an AEORTIC anurysm! hahaha So I said "Umm- I think they pronounce that AEORtic, not erotic, my dear." And she says "Oh. Ok! Thanks." Completely oblivious to what she was saying. Yep- still gives me the giggles.

Calvin Klein and Macy's

I've been back to school for a full week now... just had 7th graders today. :) They're always so cute on the first day of school. I get the rest of them on Monday. But that's not my point. Going back to school means that I get to go school shopping! Reminds me of going with mom only I don't have a list! hee hee
I decided to give Macy's another shot- after that lovely associate a few months ago. I headed to South Town since the other one was out of my way and I didn't want to risk that lady again! So I'm shopping around and find Calvin Klein jeans- like real ones! With the little loop on the back pocket and the label like when we were kids?! The kind that DIDN'T make the list since they were too expensive... anyway. There they were- and on the 40% off table! Yippee! Of course they fit perfectly- as all well made jeans should. I took them up to the register (is this sounding familiar?) and asked the associate if she could check the price for me. They rang up regular price. So instead of causing problems, I just said, ok thank you- I'll just go with the shirt (no matter how well they fit, I can't bring myself to pay full price for jeans- even Calvins). She asked why I didn't want the pants and so I just said they were on a table marked 40% off but if they weren't, that was ok. I didn't really need them.
To make a long story short, she checked the table, gave me the jeans on sale and apologized for having them in the wrong spot! yay! *sigh* School can start now. :)

Patchwork

Last summer I spent most of my time making quilts for Christmas/Birthday presents (sorry if you didn't get one...). Anyway, I had bunches of scraps left over and wanted to make myself a quilt out of the remnants! I had a couple days off from fruit this week so I finally got it done. I'm not the quilter such as Ang and I'm not quite the pro at rag quilts like my nieces and sisters are, but I think it turned out pretty cute! Patchworks are sometimes the best works of all!

Produce department Line 1! Produce!

I promise not to post pictures of my produce every time I harvest (i use that term lightly) something but these are the four things I planted this year. Zucchini, cucumbers, yellow pear tomatoes and a clementine tomato. Since all four plants have produced edible vegetables, I say that counts as a successful first harvest!
Tomorrow after church I plan on having BLT's on homemade bread with cukes soaked in vinegar, fried zucchini and homemade ice cream for dessert! Seriously, I am too much of a home ec teacher somedays! OH! And kool-aid in goblets. haha When I have more tomatoes, I'll have all of you over for dinner! Promise! :0)

Happy Anniversary mi parentals!

Yep- those are my parents! Back in the day! Dad still has the same smile... Mom still has the same hair. :) jk mom What would we do without the boufont? I think all of us have had a turn brushing it out and most of the grandkids have, too! I was at grandma's today and saw your space ship hairdryer in the garage and wondered how in the world you were making it without it! I have to tell you- I've grown my own set of gray wings :)
My parents have been married for.... 40 years +, I believe. They've been wonderful examples of husband and wife, mom and dad, friends to each other and friends to us kids, parents and grandparents. They've made sacrifices beyond what most parents do, I think. And some I'm pretty sure I know nothing about. My dad worked extra jobs so mom could stay home with us. And when she went to work, dad picked up the slack around the house. They've always been there to encourage and support, reprimand and discipline, guide and listen. I'm so very grateful.
I remember one of their anniversaries I got the crazy notion in my head to make them dinner. I asked if I could leave church early. Keep in mind this was MY recollection of the said events and I don't even remember how old I was, but I know we have a picture of it. Anyway, I went home and was going to make baked potatoes. We had recently got a microwave and in a microwave, potatoes only take 7 minutes to cook. Well, I thought that would be the same in the oven... its not! But I had the table set and lovely place settings and hard potatoes. And my parents look delighted in the picture! That's what parents are all about hahaha....
Anyway- love you papa and madre!

Memories

1. Leave a comment on my blog of a memory we have had together no matter how long you have known me. Please leave as much detail as possible. Help me remember our memory together!
2. Post this on your blog and see how many people have memories of you, kinda fun too see what people have to say!!!

To my NON-blogging friends...

Here's a little known fact for you: (ahem, Dani, Nicole, Jenn, the Kris's and others) you CAN leave a comment on blogs without being a blogger! You click on the comment part and you can leave an anonymous comment but sign your name. Some blogs are set up where you can't unless the blogger recognizes you but you could try! I only mention this since some of you have said you wanted to comment... no pressure to blog or anything but they're kinda fun! From the one who was so vehemently against them! (yes... that's a 10 point word)

Completed! Check, check!

I have finally finshed 2 gigantic tasks that have been on my list for days.
1. John Adams- as mentioned in a previous post, I was almost done! I can now say I'm finished! With the whole thing! I think it only took me longer to read President Hinckley's biography. But it was wonderful and I've got to be honest... I cried when Abigail died. Such heartache!
2. After days of failure and multiple attempts to download, I have completed adding the Book of Mormon to my ipod. lol I'm sure some of you are laughing about this, but seriously- I downloaded the entire thing 3 times only to have Itunes tell me it wasn't there. THEN I downloaded each book- TWICE- to be told the same problem. So I have finally downloaded a THIRD time each individual book, opening each individual chapter and adding it to my playlist individually---- yes, all 200 and sixty something books. Who knew Satan knew about Itunes?

Yep- useless information!

So I stole this site from my friend Holly. You can find out what song was number 1 on the day you were born... somehow it fits that Superstition by Stevie Wonder was a biggie on January 27.

http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/SelectMonth.htm

Tagged by Angie

11 Fun Facts About Me...
I'm guessing this is how this works- I'm still a "newborn" (lol) to the world of blogging so I'm new to the tagging thing... Ang did her's about her kids and since I don't have any.... I'll do me!
1. I'm so proud of my garden that I take pictures of it and put it on my blog and compare it to movies.
2. I enjoy selling fruit at the local fruit stands and find the new knowledge incredibly fascinating!
3. I could people watch all day and be completely satisfied with how I spent my day.
4. I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself craving fish and ate crabcakes at the Cheesecake Factory. I hate fish.
5. My guilty pleasures include Johnny Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls, watching the Hills and Dancing with the Stars.
6. I think koolaid and popcorn are the perfect treat year round.
7. I believe most beverages should be consumed from some form of goblet... everything tastes better out of something elegant.
8. I collect dishes- like serving dishes. People go on vacation and bring back t-shirts? I bring back serving bowls.
9. Some of my best friends were once upon a time students.
10. Journey and Kate Vogel are my "angry" music.
11. I have the drive to the cabin from the base of the mountain to the front door perfectly timed to the soundtrack from the Man From Snowy River.
I tag Emi, Beej (should she ever get around to it), Sherrie, Holly and Shannon.

memo to you..

I posted a lot tonight so make sure you scroll through all of it! if you want lol

John Adams The Man, The Myth, The Legend lol (thank you kenneth)

I've finally gotten through my summer reading pile and am finishing my last 100 pages of this book.
Wow. I figured having Claudia Wright and Lori Gardner as AP history teachers in high school would have saved me some misconceptions about who was who in American history, but I was sadly mistaken. lol And as I mentioned, I still have 100 pages to go, but as I was reading in the car on my way home from Vegas today (see post below), I was so ....astounded? Maybe that's the word- anyway, I had so many thoughts about what I had read! Who knew John Adams was the brain child behind so much of American history and formation of the U.S.? Who knew he got thrown under the bus so many times by the likes of Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton? (i'm pretty upset with Hamilton right now, so I hope he does some redeeming in the next 100 pages of history or he's off my list of people to admire). I also did not realize he spend so much time overseas during those formative years and people thought him off his rocker all the time! But in reading so much of history, I am amazed at how it all came together. I am amazed at how the hand of the Lord was playing such a part in making the impossible come to pass and how inspired those men HAD to be in the face of all that was going on. With that story about many of them and the St. George temple (I think that's the right one...), it doesn't surprise me at all. In fact, it seems entirely appropriate. :)

Breaking Dawn- my thoughts

I will warn you right now! If you haven't read the book, I'll probably spoil it for you! So if you're still reading it, you'll probably want to stop reading this! Did you stop yet? Just checking. :) Alright, here goes- my thoughts on ... I have to say- I was disappointed. I'm not saying I didn't like it- but I thought it lacked the intensity of the other 3 books. I thought everything was just a little too perfect for how she had set up the entire series. Let's be honest- we KNEW Bella would get pregnant- especially after the foreshadowing in the opening about the attack with Victoria and the newborns. And we also knew Bella would be transformed as well. So I can't really fault her for that. In some aspects, I even suspected that Jacob would imprint who he did. However, after everything she's written about the Volturi being some of the most violent and unfair rulers their type have seen, you really expect me to buy into the fact that they WALKED AWAY WITHOUT A FIGHT?! That they suddenly saw reason because Alice conveniently found another half breed and they were worried they'd lose a fight because Bella was a shield and they had a few shape shifters on their side this time? NO WAY! That contradicts everything she's set up the Volturi leaders to be! And don't even get me started on Charlie being ok with "need to know basis." You're really wanting me to think that Charlie- her father who isn't a fan of Edward to begin with- is now calmly accepting of the fact that she's stunning, has a child and friends with someone he believes to be a werewolf? *sigh* Alright- enough. Obviously I've got some issues with the final book. Good thing I realize a few things- #1 its a book. #2 its a book about vampires. #3 i'm probably in the minority and that's ok! still just a book about vampires!

Vegas... baby :)

So I have an acquaintance named Tanya who was married in Vegas this weekend. She's quite good friends with my friend, Maryanne. Maryanne's sister, Rachael, is how I got into the fruit selling business. So that is how I know Rachael. I know Maryanne and Tanya through another friend, Aimee. You got all that? Anyway, Aimee, Maryanne, Rachael and I took a road trip to see Tanya get married. It was full of all the roadtrip fun like bathroom breaks, nice gas station attendants that think Vegas is too small for all of us, slowing the cruise when passing officers, bathroom breaks, stories of previous Vegas trips, oneliners that you really only understand if you were there and..... more bathroom breaks.
We stayed at the Marriott- Residence Inn, as Marriott is where all these people, sans myself and Rach work. Killer rates. We were right off the strip. Great access to In and Out Burger and Jack in the Box. We stopped in St. George for some TJ Maxx shopping- never a let down there. We spend time in the pool. We went to Barnes and Noble at midnight to pick up our Breaking Dawn copies (see another post for my comments...). We walked the strip and melted in the heat. Oh ya- and somewhere in all that, Tanya did get married!

Here we are waiting for our Cheesecake Factory table at Caesar's.... my "favorite" casino? Can you HAVE a favorite casino when you're not a gambler of any sort?

Maryanne is on the right, Rach in the middle and me on the end in both pictures.
And then here we are... actually AT the wedding chapel waiting for the nuptials to begin... why not do a littel light reading?
We had a great time! Good company, good entertainment- Definitely worth my time lol.