Spaces and Spots

I feel like I haven't written for a while. And there are fun stuff to write about. lol.

I have my 2012 planner/calender all set. I'm glad I have it done that way I don't have to do it in the new year. I even wrote in what my Grobie Sister's addresses. That way I'd have them for easy access. I highlighted birthdays and anniversaries like I always do. I even penciled in some key events that I already know about. At the back I have a list of birthdays and anniversaries for my family. I put it on a shipping label in the very back cover of the planner. I think I'll do that from now on. It is very convenient.I like that I have to carry around two planners every December. It's funny. I'm glad they are different colors or else I would get really confused. lol.

I have been moving into the "new" bedroom the past week or so. It's all painted and ready. I moved furniture in with some help. Dad had said I can't put anything on the shelves for a couple of days so I haven't done that yet. I know I can now but I've been busy. The only things in there, besides the furniture, is the books on the tall bookshelf and my hanging up clothes. I plan on moving my drawer clothes in there tonight. (I did laundry yesterday and I need to fold them.) I have been sleeping on my bed but it isn't totally made. I put a blanket on top of the mattress which I sleep on top of. And I have my two comforters on top of that. I need to put the bed-skirt and correct sheets on the bed. It fun to have my saucer chair back. I like sitting in it and reading or being on the laptop. Although It does need some big pillow for back support. I guess I'll pull out my toss pillows from the garage when I go looking for the sheets. I might not have any stuff put away but I pretty much planned it all out on paper (random sketches) already. So it shouldn't take too long to put everything where it is going to belong. I am hoping that everything will have a spot and I will be able to keep this room clean. I feel like the other room had no room. lol. I post pictures soon.

Satine is still in the other room. I did find her a new heat pad. It is not what I was looking for but it still works great. It's probably better because it can hide completely underneath the tank because it is a small heat pad. While I was at the pet store, where the heat pad was bought, I saw something that I thought Satine would like. Since she is a python and likes to hang from stuff I got her some bamboo branches. I haven't put them in yet but I'm sure she'll like them.

The Saturday Song posts for December need to be created but I know what songs are going with what week, so that part is done. They are all Christmas songs but they are my favorite. I listed all my favorites and then picked five I really like. I might do a bonus post because I really want to do one song but it is instrumental.

I have been thinking I might make a quilt to go on my bed. It's just gonna be a light blanket sort of quilt that is bigger then a queen-size. I can use it for when I watch movies and stuff too. I want to make it with greens, teals, some white, and possibly a park purple for pizazz. I want it to bigger then a queen-size so that I looks good on my bed. I have to figure out the measurements still. I think a king-size would be too big. I really like the pattern (or lack of pattern) of this green quilt so I was thinking of doing something similar. But I also don't want binding (hard to explain that ... I'll have to show you) and I plan on tying the blanket with white yarn. It'll have a thin batting in the middle for warmth and stability.

I have been watching 'Stargate SG-1' still. I am on season five. Since I started working I have slowed down on watching them. I think I have four or five more episodes until the end of the season.

This weekend Kimberlee and I went to dinner and to see 'Breaking Dawn'. I thought the movie was really good. It follows the book really well which is great. They split the four book into two movies and I like where this first one left off. I think it;s perfect. I really liked the second half of the book so it;ll be interesting to see how they do that. The second part comes out in November, 2012. (I thought it came out in the spring but I guess I was wrong.)

Dad has been redoing the bathroom for a while now. He painted the room and redid the counter top already. And he ripped out the shower. I think they picked out tile because Dad is going to tile the shower on Wednesday. And then the shower glass guys have to come and install the door soon after that. So I think I get to have the bathroom back next week or the week after. Right now I am sharing the upstairs bathroom with Steven.

Saturday Songs: Thankful

Thankful
by Josh Groban

Some days we forget
To look around us
Some days we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for.


* * * * *

I really love this song. It's on Josh's Christmas CD called 'Noel'. I was so happy when he announced he was making a Christmas CD. With his voice I knew they could make gorgeous songs. And they did. I like how the songs are all traditional, classic holiday songs. All but this one that is. This song was written by David Foster, Carol Bayer Sager, and Richard Page. It was going to be used for a Thanksgiving special that David was going to do but it didn't work out. So Josh snagged this song and told David he wanted it on his Christmas CD. I love the lyrics to this song. Carol really did a great job with them. And of course David on piano always makes my day a little brighter. (I love when he plays on tracks.) And need I say anything about the vocals? I LOVE Josh Groban. So it's not really a surprise that I love his voice in this song. He really makes this song belong to him. I can't imagine anyone else singing this song.

Saturday Songs: Here’s To The Heroes

Here’s To The Heroes
by The Ten Tenors

Here's to the heroes,
Those few who dare,
Heading for glory,
Living a prayer.

Here's to the heroes
Who change our lives.
Thanks to the heroes,
Freedom survives.

Here's to the heroes
Who never rest.
They are the chosen,
We are the blessed.

Here's to the heroes
Who aim so high.
Here's to the heroes
Who do or die.

Here's to the heroes
Who aim so high.
Here's to the heroes
Who do or die.
Here's to the heroes
Who do or die.

Here's to the heroes
Who do or die.


* * * * *

This whole CD (of the same name) is fabulous. I really like this song. It’s great! I have seen TTT twice in concert and they are so much fun to watch. They are ten Australian tenors who clearly enjoy what they do. I am partial to the original ten but throughout the years a few of them have moved on in their life and career. They come back and make guest appearances every once in a while. But the new guys in the group really can hold their own so the dynamic of the group doesn’t change that much. The music is always awesome.

I really love the music video for this song. It’s simple yet fun at the same time. And ten well dressed men in one video. You can't go wrong putting these guys in suits. They look awesome. :)

Frivolous Day

Okay so I haven't been blogging very regularly. I blame work. lol.

Today I had work off. I went and did some frivolous shopping while looking for a new heat pad for Satine. I went to Walmart and Target. I got three Christmas cds, a placemat, a starburst cocktail ring, some gum, a 2012 planner (it lime green!), and a heart pendant. I did not, however, find a heat pad without an automatic shut off. So I'll have to get that from Amazon like I did before. First I'll look at Walgreens and Rite Aid and see if they have any.

They make me happy. :)

Heart pendant and Starburst cocktail ring.

P.S. More about the placemat and ring to come later.

I also had an eye doctor appointment this afternoon. I have been needing to go get a check up for some time now. It's been three years since my last check up and new glasses. My perscription changed three points. Which isn't bad at all. But it really makes a difference. Maybe I'll ask for new lenses for Christmas. lol.

I have been cleaning my room a lot the last couple of days whenever I have time. Like really cleaning. I have turned into a pack-rat. lol. I am throwing away all of the magazines that I have collected minus the sample fragrances. lol. I like to keep those for random occasions. And they smell good. They make me happy. My favorite one so far is Beauty by Calvin Klein. I would buy a bottle but it expensive. lol. Maybe someday I'll get a tiny bottle. (Actually, they have a roller application "bottle" for $25. That's not bad. And I like that method. I have some Velocity perfume that does that.)

I have been trying to think of how I want my room to look in the new room. lol. (Yeah. That made a lot of sense.) I think I'm gonna have tons of fun putting all my stuff away in the new room. I get my own furniture back. Yay!! And compared to my closet now there is a lot more space in the new closet. I only need half the rod space. The top of the closet has more room for my storage (but still commonly used stuff) bins. Right now one of those bins is underneath my bed. I have too much stuff. lol. I have to figure out where I want my bookshelves in the new room. I think they are going to be separated and put on different walls. Which is sort of sad because they have always been, all three, together. lol. Oh well.

Tonight we went over to Joesph's house and watched a movie. They were watching 'The Mission'. Before we started it I thought it was familiar. But I knew I had not seen it before. Then I saw that Ennio Morricone did the music. That's why it's familiar to me. I have a version of "Gabriel's Oboe" that is done by Chris Botti. I love it. There are some great actors in that movie. Namely, Liam Neeson. He is so young in it. lol. I don't how I feel about that. I like him now. But he is still a wonderful actor in that movie. The movie itself is somewhat depressing. But it was still good.

Saturday Songs: End of May

End of May
by Michael Bublé

Golden haze, another morning feels like yesterday.
End of may. Now you're gone and there's still bills to pay.
And you know it doesn't help to make believe you're sitting next to me.
It doesn't help, to make believe that you are right behind me
Saying it's okay.

Longer days,
More time to sit and watch the pendulum sway.
In quiet rage I'm staring at this empty notebook page.
In times like these you feel like you are done with feeling,
You feel you want to stop the pain from healing
Because you feel like you're the only one
Who's ever felt this way.

Some days in a daze, there's brighter days.
Funny how the feeling never stays.
But I know I'll have to come to terms when I'm awake,
Thinking about you is the icing on the cake.
Makes me realize the fact you're gone for good, for goodness sake.

Golden haze, another morning feels like yesterday.
End of May, a year is gone and I still feel this way.
When we meet again I'll ask you how you're doing
And you'll say fine and ask me how I'm doing
And then I'll lie and I'll say ordinary.
It's just an ordinary day.

It's just an ordinary day.
It's just an ordinary day.


* * * * *

I think this is my new favorite song that Michael does. It has lovely lyrics. And I love, love, love the music. It seems like every time I listen to this song I listen to it several times. Once for the words and once for the music itself. The piano is so gorgeous! (With David Foster's lovely talent tickling the ivory keys I shouldn't be surprised but I always am. LOVE him!)

Busy, Busy Week

Well, the last post was Saturday so what have I been doing all week. Working. Working. And working. I'm glad I am but working all these hours is starting to get to me. I'm glad I have had a chance to relax a couple of times this week. I helps me stay sane. I can veg out watching 'NCIS' or 'Bones' or whatever. Monday and Tuesday were typical 10am-2pm days. Wednesday I was supposed to get off but I picked up a shift for a co-worker who couldn't work. That was 2-6pm. And then Thursday and Friday (today) there have been high school playoff games at Rice Eccles Stadium that we have been selling tickets for. It is a cash only ticket sales bonanza for three games yesterday and two major games today. It was crazy busy but tons of fun. I felt like I let my guard down and my co-workers got to know a little more about me in the process. lol. Tomorrow (Saturday) is a typical 10am-8ish pm home football game day. Working the phones in the morning. Working will call in the afternoon until half-time. I like working those games. It's simple and fun.

Tuesday Ammon, Kimberlee and I also went to see that new Three Musketeers movie. It was good. I liked the uniqueness of the story. It had elements that other musketeer movies don't have. But I still like the Disney version better. It was kind of funny that I couldn't remember the actor who plays Athos until halfway through the movie. It was bugging me so when I remembered it I yelled it out loud. It's okay because we were the only ones in the theatre. lol. How could I forget Matthew Mcfayden's name?! I LOVE him in the 'Pride and Prejudice' movie with Anne Hathaway. He is such a great actor. I think the beard was throwing me off. That and for some reason my brain kept thinking he was Christopher not Matthew. I knew it wasn't right though. lol.

Saturday Sings: The Best of Me

The Best of Me
by David Foster and Olivia Newton-John

So many years gone, still I remember
How did I ever let my heart believe
in one who never gave enough to me
And so many years gone, love that was so wrong
I can't forget the way it used to be
and how you changed the taste of love for me

You were my one more chance
I never thought I'd find
you were the one romance
I've always known in my mind
No one will ever touch me more
and I only hope that in return
I might have saved the best of me for you

And we'll have no ending if we can hold on
and I think I've come this far because of you
could be no other love but ours will do

You were my one more chance
I never thought I'd find
you were the one romance
I've always known in my mind
No one will ever touch me more
and I only hope that in return
I might have saved the best of me for you

No one will ever touch me more
and I only hope that in return
No matter how much we have to learn
I saved the best of me for you


* * * * *

David’s version is the original version of this song. I love David and Olivia’s version because David sings on that track in addition to playing the piano. He is such a great, smooth singer. David doesn’t think he is but I like his voice. David is an older gentleman and his voice does match his age but that is what makes it great. It has a true richness to it that I love. I always think that he should sing more often. I mean his voice is no Groban voice but I love it still. lol. But that being said, I have always hoped that one of his prodigies (ie, Josh Groban, Charice, Michael Bublé, Katherine McPhee etc.) would redo this song into their own style but no one had until Michael Bublé did it on his latest CD. It’s probably my favorite version now. Michael’s version is not a duet but it is sultry and so “Bublé” in delivery. When I first listen to CDs I like to be surprised as to what’s on the CD. Especially in Michael’s case since he remakes lots of classic songs. So as I was listening to the CD that this song is on I loved “The End of May” (which I’ll be doing a post on next week) and then the last song started and I fell in love with Michael all over again. :) He sings “The Best of Me” and I just love that song. I think I listened to this song two or three times that first day. It was great. lol.

David Foster and Olivia Newton-John's version


Michael Bublé's version

Long Day Today

Today was hectic at work. First off, I didn’t sleep very well last night so I was late getting to work. And then I was tired all day. Tonight there was a men’s basketball game and a soccer game at the same time so there was lots of scrambling to get all that set up. They are the first games of the season. I was on the phones so I wasn’t doing the running around but it still put me on edge a little with all the managers trying to figure everything out. Also our ticket system was/is being all messed up today and so the managers decided to change all of our permissions to manager rights so that it works for right now. The system people still have to figure it out. So now I still sell stuff like normal but I have some extra features which I was told to do nothing with. Just ignore those features. Luckily, I didn’t have many hard sells that required me to use any of the features that I don’t understand. It’s all like normal. Hopefully the system people figure it out soon so that we can go back to the old settings that us normal employees have.

Tonight I worked at the men’s basketball game. I worked the will call window. It was like the football will call for the most part. This time we had season basketball tickets in will call as well. And the basketball will call is at the Huntsman Center where the basketball court is. At around 4:30pm or 5pm we shut down the stadium ticket office and all went down to the Huntsman Center. I walked over and I actually beat the train. I would have taken the train but right before I left the office there was a train going that direction so I knew the next train wouldn’t be for a while. I knew I could walk there faster. I did. lol. I think I prefer to work football will call over basketball will call. It got a little crazy with so many people. lol. After the game I just caught the train at the South Campus stop which is right next to the Huntsman Center.

I plan on going to bed shortly after getting home. Hopefully I am not so tired tomorrow as I felt today. I work all day tomorrow too. I’m scheduled to work from 10am-8:30pm, same as today. There is a women’s basketball game that I am working tomorrow night.

Next week’s work schedule is crazy too. The beginning of the week isn’t too bad. But Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I work from 10am-8pm.

I don’t know my schedule for the next week after that yet. I’ll know that on Monday. I did ask for Saturday morning, the 19th, off. There is a Relief Society Stake Service Project that I’d like to go to. There is a football game that night but my supervisor said that shouldn’t be a problem to get the morning off. I’ll just come in at noon or 1pm.

Stuff I was Doing

Today was nice. I went on a walk on this cold, blustery morning with Lauren. When I got back I hopped in the shower and got ready for the day. At 12:30pm Ammon came over and while we were waiting for our third person she sent us a text and said she couldn't make it. So Ammon and I decided to go to a movie anyways. I convinced him that we should see 'Dolphin Tale'. I had heard about it and seen commercials. I knew it was gonna be good. But Ammon had never heard about it. But he trusted me and I think he really enjoyed the movie. If you ever get the chance to see it,do. It's fabulous. Afterwards we went to Arby's to get something to eat. When I got home I through in some B.T. music (specifically, his 'These Hopeful Machines' cd) and started working on some things on the computer. I got a few of them done but I still have more that I need to do. But I got the most important thing done first. I don't have to worry about it not being on time now. Mom got me some nail polish remover at the store, because I asked her to and we don't have any. And tonight while Dad and I were watching 'Person of Interest' I took off my fingernail polish. I thought about painting them too but decided I can paint them later. I have a few broken nails that are bugging me so I didn't feel like trying to paint them. I have a really long day of work tomorrow and Saturday so I'm heading off to bed a little early tonight.

It's Been A While

I haven't written here for a while, have I? Sorry. I bet you're dying to know what's going on in my head. lol. And I have a lot of thoughts today. This will be a long post, so bear with me.

As I did mention the other day, I have been working on redesigning all of my blogs. I haven't done much because I have been distracted. Tomorrow I don't have work so I do plan on working on some of the ideas I have. You probably won't see any changes for a while though.

I have also been working on finalizing this month's Saturday Sing posts. I have one and I know what they are all going to be but I need a few more videos. I'm definitely doing that tomorrow. Also with Saturday Song posts, I have decided on my December songs. I just need to gather those videos too and I can be all done through the end of the year. I did want to ask people if you like these posts every week. I like making so I'll probably keep doing them next year. But I want to know your thoughts, so leave a comment.

I have been working a lot of long shifts the past couple of days. It's nice to be working. This weekend and next weekend everyone has some all day shifts. November is super busy. We have the end of football season and the beginning of basketball. Also there is the minor sports here that are also going on this month. Like I said, it's nice to be working but at the same time I miss sleep. I make sure that I sleep in on my days off. It's never late but I don't set my alarm and I let my body wake up on it's own.

On that note, going on walks with Lauren every week has been a hit-and-miss sort of routine now. But as it is turning colder here in Utah we haven't been going very often anyways. I do miss exercising on a regular schedule so I might start some sort of indoor activity. The thing is I never know my schedule until the week before. I have thought about asking for a day off, say Mondays, and then I have a set day that I never work that I can have to do personal stuff on. But I haven't asked yet. I'm still thinking if I really want to do that.

My email account has not been cleared out for a really, really long time. Until today. I finally went through and deleted all the emails that I absolutely do not need. I also unsubscribed to a few of the emails I get regularly that I don't need anymore. I'm sure there are a few I missed so I'll get those as they come in. But now I feel like I can use that email account again. I won't lose any emails in my digital pile of papers.

This year I pretty much failed to read Shakespeare. So I gave up for this year and I've been reading a couple of other books just to pass the time. Next year I will read all of the plays. Since I did read the Shakespeare biography this year I will not read it next year. But I will reread the two plays I did read. I still plan on writing out my reviews for the plays as I read them. So look for those next year. I think this year with the biography taking months to read I just put to much pressure on myself to read them all.

Halloween was fun. I did make a costume but I really didn't care for it overall. So yeah. It was a "Raining Cats and Dogs" sort of theme outfit but, like, I said, I didn't really like it. I should have just been a pumpkin like I originally thought of doing. We have a few pumpkin costumes in the ceder chest that Mom made several years ago. I really should have just picked something we already had. Oh well. Lesson learned. If I don't absolutely love don't make it. lol.

My brother, Chad, gave me a book to read about emotional intelligence last week. I was finishing a novel at that time so I didn't look at it until today. It seems like a very interesting book. It teaches about self-awareness strategies, self-management strategies, social awareness strategies, and relationship management strategies. I look forward to read it and working on those. I let you know what I learn. lol.

My friend sent me an email several months ago asking me to send her some photos for a project she's working on and I haven't done that yet. She said there was no rush but now I'm starting to feel bad that I haven't done anything with that yet. So perhaps I'll look through my photos tomorrow and see if I can get those sent to her soon. I did send her an email back last week telling her I had not forgotten about it. lol.

Brian, my youngest brother, left for his mission today. Well, he went to the MTC today so he isn't in Wisconsin for a couple more weeks. He packed his room and everything too. Dad and Mom took the day off of work to take him to Provo. I don't know if Dad was planning on packing up Brian's furniture today of not. I guess I'll find out when I get home.

Have I told you what the plans are for Brian's room? I don't think so. My room and Brian's room are getting repainted and the holes patched. We're packing all of Brian's things anyways since he'll be gone for two years. And then it get patched and painted. I'm not sure what colors the rooms are going to be. I think Mom just wants them to be some sort of white. Anyways, after Brian's room is painted we are getting my furniture out of the garage and moving me into that bedroom. I am soooo excited to sleep in my own queen-size, low to the ground bed again. And I'll have more floor space. Hopefully I want feel so crowded in that room verses the room I am in now. After I'm all moved into that room my current room is going to be painted as well. And I believe that Eric's furniture will stay in there so that he can be in that room when he gets home from his mission. I do plan to purge my stuff of all the random papers and magazines that I don't need as I move over to the other room. I am going to try and keep my room clean and organized. I have to figure out where my furniture is going to go in the new room. Maybe I'll draw up a version of the room in SketchUp so that I can play around with where I want everything to go. But the main thing is I am really excited to get my own bed back. I'll be able to sleep without any back pain in the mornings and I'll be able to sit on my bed and reach the floor at the same time. lol.

I told you this was a long post. lol. Congrats if you read it all. I give a virtual pat on the back.