SLACKER! And...Some Big News!

Wow, I never thought I would be this big of a slacker when it came to blogging. But really, what can I say. My life is boring. And I am not even going to post any pictures to spice this up. I guess I have been lazy in all aspects of my life lately, including picture taking.

I went to Las Vegas in March and I didn't take one single picture! How pathetic. I got to see Julia, who I haven't seen in........entirely too long. Like a year and a half maybe? That's just sad. I also spent some quality time with Glad, Marija, Carrie and my mom. Brent got my landscape design for my yard done and I submitted it to my association. It was even accepted! A true miracle! Anyway, mostly I just hung with friends in Las Vegas. I ended up staying two extra days because, well, that's how I roll. It was lots of fun! The weather was perfect! Except for the wind the first few days. But seriously, I was complaining about being hot while on my way to the airport (I think it was 75 there) and then I get home to dreary, rainy, cold weather! BOO!! I was happy to drive my car even though it was absolutely filthy. When I got home I was feeling a little sorry for myself. I mean, you should feel sorry for me, too. I had just spent a week in Las Vegas, I have awesome friends, a good job, a sweet place to live, etc. etc. It is so easy to take everything great in my life for granted and just worry about stupid things that aren't a big deal in the long run anyway. Wow, enough of that tangent. So anyway, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself by the time I arrived home. I got a week's worth of mail from my mail box and began sorting through it. I noticed that there was a letter from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (which I will forevermore refer to as UMass because that is entirely too much to type) Graduate School office of admissions. It was thin. Usually when you apply to school, a thin letter is not good news. But I am getting ahead of myself since I told almost nobody that I had applied to grad school again. After applying last year, telling everyone and their dog, and then not getting in, I decided to just keep it mostly to myself. Although I am eternally grateful that I didn't get into school last year, it is still a little humiliating to have to tell people that I was wait listed. Obviously their loss, but still. So, I applied in January to UMass Amherst. It is an online Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Apparently, a thin letter from UMass is good news because I was accepted! I'm so excited! My first class starts May 17. Obviously I will have to do real live clinicals here in Salt Lake, but I think the online thing is going to be awesome! Well, that's if I can figure out how to pay for it. I do know that grad school is expensive, especially if you are paying out of state tuition, but I am blown away by how much just my tuition is going to be this summer. I will have easily surpassed the total cost of my entire undergraduate degree within the first year. It's sickening, but it will be worth it......right?

Anyway, that's really all that's going on in my life. I am beyond anxious for nicer weather! I can't WAIT to get my yard done. Brent will hopefully be coming up in a few weeks to finish the retaining wall in my back yard and then (again, hopefully) I can get started on the fence. Which is going to cost more than my tuition this summer. Oh well. My dad will hopefully be here the second weekend in May to get the sprinkler system in. I'm hoping to do sod the same weekend. Perhaps I am a little too optimistic but I want to get it done while I have some guaranteed help here! Anyone out there reading this who wants to help..........I will even feed you lunch! :) That's a huge incentive to do several hours of backbreaking labor, I think. Regardless of what actually happens, my yard must be in by May 31st so I will be posting pictures of that, I'm sure. And knowing me, that will be the next time I update this thing! Thanks to anyone who hasn't given up on my blogging and is actually reading this. I love your comments! And I can't WAIT for Summer!!!

Holiday Wrap Up! (Just a Little Late.......)

Well, I officially suck at blogging. What can I say? So much to do, so little time! Christmas was great! I went to Cedar City and spent it with family, some of whom I don't get to see often at all. We had some seriously great food including the awesomest greasiest Christmas breakfast ever!! We had an awesome Christmas Eve dinner of bbq'd mutton steaks and my mom made the most fantastic prime rib roast for Christmas dinner. I think I probably gained 10 pounds or so. But it was definitely worth it!

Christmas Eve dinner!! Aunt Helen was there, too but I couldn't get everyone in the picture. My photography skills leave a bit to be desired...

Hicks and Sundi.

Aunt Cathy got a new iPod for Christmas!!

Hicks and his amazing (and cute) trick baby!!

Grandma Manda and Jack.

It was a rough morning for Uncle John....

Mom and Brent peeling potatoes for the BEST Christmas dinner ever!!!

I also had a little Christmas party/housewarming party a couple of weeks before Christmas. I have some great friends! We had a lot of fun, as usual.

Levi and Brekyn.

Eric, Mike, Allison and Erin. Definitely some of my favorite peeps!!

Bryce, Karsten, Tavian, Jayden, Jade, Ashlie.

Bryan and Amber.

So, after coming home for Christmas, I went to get my oil changed. I ended up coming home with a new car. I'd say I got a little more than I bargained for, huh? This was the last picture I took of my car. Obviously not a great picture but there was some guy from the dealership about to get in and drive off in it. Kind of a sad moment. Anyone who even sort of knows me knows how much I LOVED that car. I thought I would never get rid of it!!
And this is the new ride! Not a great picture, but I was in a hurry to get back to the dealership so I could get the snow tires off my old car. And ever since this day my car has been filthy thanks to all the snow and salt! So, yes, this is the same thing I had before. But I have always wanted a black Charger with black interior. And now I have one! LOVE it! This one also has remote start. Not an option that I would have at all picked out but now that I have it, I don't think I can live without it! It's so awesome in the winter time! I have had the windows tinted but I want to get new wheels. I liked the wheels on my first Charger better. Not sure if I am going to go with chrome or black on this one?

New Year's was a lot of fun!! Lots of my peeps got together for a party at Jared and Alisa's house! Always fun with these guys!!

John and H Town (aka best insurance broker EVER!!!)

Our host and hostess for the big bash!! Jared and Alisa!

Me and Alisa.

Me and Amber. My face looks totally swollen in this picture. No, I did not just have my wisdom teeth removed.

The girls!!

So, I guess that was my holiday season in a nutshell. I am finally done putting my entire house together! And by done I mean that I am going to be totally changing it tomorrow. Really. The thought kind of makes me sick, but it must be done. My dad is coming down (he was unable to make it for turkey day!) and he is bringing me a new desk, bookshelf, bed for the spare room, shelves for the basement, lawn equipment, surround sound, etc. etc.... He started driving big rigs in September and has had most of his stuff in storage. I figured it's better for him to put it in my basement which is practically empty than to waste money on a storage unit every month. And of course I get to loot through it all and use what I want! Yeah! I'm excited! Other than the mess that is sure to result. Oh well. I am also excited to see my dad!! I haven't seen him since last August. I am cooking a belated Christmas dinner tomorrow since he didn't get one out on the road. I only hope mine turns out as good as my mom's did! I have begun planning projects for springtime as well. I have to have my front yard in by May 31st and a fence around my back yard by July. I would like to have a bigger patio and a concrete pad poured on the east side of my house before the fence gets put in.........the list of projects is endless, as every homeowner knows. I can't WAIT to have a yard again!!! I'm sure I will have my work cut out for me. Hopefully it isn't another two months before I make a post again, but I am not making any promises. Hope everyone had a great January! It will be Spring before we know it!!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like.....

Well, Christmas. Cute little questionnaire I stole from Amera and Christina.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? Hmmm....surprisingly, I don't really know. Stuff for the house is always good! A Bose speaker for my iPod (not happening, I'm sure). A bookshelf (also not happening). A blu ray player. A Dyson (another one that isn't happening). Gift cards to Home Depot and such.

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? Anything from Amaria. She always makes cute pictures and drawings and she has also made me a really cute picture frame, although it wasn't for Christmas.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I just wish I could hand make something and it would actually turn out like I picture it in my head....

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? I got a blow up tent one year that I thought was the coolest. I also got a Cabbage Patch Kid every year from my parents.

5. What items are on your kid's wish lists this year? Well, since I don't have any kids....Amaria wants a zhu zhu hamster (who doesn't??) a Barbie Motor home and various Littlest Pet Shop things.

6. What is your favorite holiday food? I like the traditional stuff...turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie (and roll) etc. etc. etc.....

7. What will you be hand crafting for the holidays? I'm sorry to say, probably not a darn thing.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? Probably A Christmas Story. I also like Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys.

9. Favorite holiday song? O Holy Night.

10. Favorite holiday pastime? Shopping! I just love buying things for others! I always get carried away and spend way too much!

So, I am done with everything in the house but my office! I finally got my couch and love seat from the storage unit in Las Vegas! I even splurged and bought myself the TV to go in the niche above the fireplace. And it's a perfect fit! I don't know how I watched anything but HD. What a difference! I'm excited for Christmas this year, although I don't even know what my plans are. I don't have a lot on my list (mostly big things that I'm sure I'll buy myself later). I just love this time of year! I love the snow, I love the music, I love the lights, I love the gifts! Today was the first real storm of the season (out here in EM at least) and I got to use my new snow blower! Slick as a whistle! I cleared my driveway, my neighbor's driveway and the sidewalks in less than 20 minutes. I should have made that purchase years ago! I also got to use my snow tires on the way to work this morning. Too bad it took me 1.5 hours to get there! But I felt safe the whole way there. And I guess that's what's important. So, nothing else to report. At the rate I'm going, I probably won't make another post before Christmas so everyone have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! And a Happy New Year of course! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!!

U2 360

Yes I know this concert was several weeks ago. I can't believe how busy I have been!! I have either been gone or had people in town since the second weekend after I moved into my house. So every minute I have free I am either trying to catch up on sleep or get my house organized. I have a never ending to do list!! My mom and Brent came to town Halloween weekend. We got all sorts of chores done! Brent put in my garage door opener (HUGE pain in the rear!!) installed the rest of my blinds, hung pictures, fixed my lamp etc. etc. etc.......I am having Thanksgiving at my new house this year! I'm totally excited! But kind of freaking out! I have my kitchen, living room and spare bathroom done. I have set a goal to finish my bedroom/bathroom/closet today. Which still leaves the office and spare bedroom. My dad is bringing me all sorts of fun treats when he comes down at Thanksgiving, including a queen size bed for my spare bedroom. So the pressure is on to get that room cleared out in time! I have a feeling I will just end up piling everything out of the way so that I can fit the bed in. Whatever. I have the rest of my life to get things organized, right??

So, on to the concert! U2 always puts on a good show! Our seats were not as good as I had hoped, but it was still awesome! There was also a drunk guy getting entirely too close but Marija put her anger to good use and he got thrown out! Yah! U2 is touring again next spring/summer. They have yet to announce a date in Salt Lake but I have heard rumors. Of course I will be going! I suspect that I will be on my own this time because I think I am going to spring for the expensive seats which are over $200. I know that is an exorbitant amount but U2 is my all time favorite band and I may not have many more chances to see them live! On to the pictures!!

Forget the Black Eyed Peas!!! We want U2!!!

"The Claw"

Bono.

Marija and Daniel. And his peanuts which handily doubled as a weapon against obnoxious drunk guy.

Best. Band. EVER.

During Sunday Bloody Sunday.

"One."

During my all time favorite song...."With or Without You." Absolutely amazing.

Moved!

It has been quite some time since I posted! Well, I have been a little bit busy with other things, as I'm sure you can imagine! First of all, I think everyone thought I was exaggerating when I said I had been sleeping on a cot since May (not counting the time I was in Las Vegas). So I took some photos just so everyone could see how much fun it was! I even took a picture of it folded up so that it is clear that, yes, it really was a cot. Excuse the poor quality, I had the camera on the wrong setting. I just figured that out, literally like one minute ago. Duh.

Please excuse the mess...it was moving day. So in any case, I went from that to this........
Oh how I missed my bed!! It has been fantastic to sleep in it again after over a year! I have been sleeping quite well! You can also see that I am not exaggerating when I say that my bed weighs hundreds of pounds. It's no wonder nobody wants to help me move any more!

And everyone has been asking for pictures of my house with furniture in it, so here you go! I am a little ashamed to be posting a picture of such a mess, but we have all moved before and know how it is, right? Right now I am done with the kitchen, and hoping to finish up the living room today. Then on to my bedroom (the bathroom is the biggest chore there)! and then to the extra bedrooms. Only problem is that I cannot find the screws to my spare bed or to the legs for my desk. I guess that is what happens when things have been packed for over a year! I'm sure I put them in a "safe" place somewhere and I'll run across them....eventually. The move went really well, especially considering that most of the people I was counting on ended up not being able to help! Thank heavens for the Linnell family and Mike, who seem to be the ones there helping me every time I move! My cousin also showed and her husband came and hung my blinds the next day, so kudos to them, too! Things are coming along slowly but surely. I have been working (gotta pay the mortgage now!) so I'm sure it will still be a while before I get everything put away. Not to mention that I am headed to Las Vegas for the U2 concert on Thursday! I can't believe it is finally time for that concert! I have been waiting for that longer than for my house! I don't want to leave the fun of having a new house, but I know the concert is going to be awesome!! So, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just having fun getting settled! Hopefully Iwill be ready for a housewarming party soon so I can show everything off! :)

FINISHED!! Part 2.

My house is all the way done now!! I wondered if I would ever get to say those words! It just needs to be cleaned!I am so happy with the way it all turned out! I think all the colors look great together! I think these last two weeks before I acutally get to move are going to be killer! But what do you do, right? My final walk through is scheduled for this Friday. Can't wait!! I just ordered the blinds for my bedroom, bathroom and living room today and I got my garage door opener. Things are moving along! Now if these next two weeks will just go quickly.......

FINISHED!!

At least the outside is! As you can see, there are still stickers on the windows so it obviously still needs to be cleaned on the inside. But, the outside is DONE!! I am so excited! And happy with how it turned out! I was out there on Tuesday and the door was painted a somewhat hideous red/brick color that I did not like at all! Not to mention I picked a dark blue color. Anyway, my builder realized the mistake before I even brought it to their attention and apparently it is already fixed. The inside is done also except for the carpet. Obviously the carpet is a big deal, but really only a one day job. So....looking like we are right on track for the walk through next Friday! I can't believe I am a week away!! I'm going to head out on Saturday and hope to see my carpet. But trying not to get my hopes up too much! Definitely an exciting couple of weeks coming up!!!!