I Know

I'm staying with my cousins for a few days while their parents are in Hawaii.

I know I'm getting old because it's 11:15 on a Friday night and I'm waiting up for my two cousins (senior and sophomore in high school) to get back from hanging with their friends. And I am really struggling to hold out. DEAD TIRED. I'm fantasizing about how nice it would have been to have gone to bed at 9:30 when my eleven-year old cousin Emma went to bed.

It's the same feeling I had a couple months ago when I was at the Gateway with my mom. She had some American Eagle credit left over from before Johnny left on his mission. I walked into the store with my mom. Scanned the room in an instant, and turned to my mom and said, "I'm old, aren't I?"

I keep thinking, "Maybe I should call their phones and see when they'll be back." Lame cousin! Lame cousin! Then I think, "That car sounded pretty nearby. I wonder if that was them getting dropped of."

How late to kids stay out? I forget.

Mom, I appreciate your many many years of sleep deprivation. Thank you.

My wife = my best friend!

Although Lindsey is my wife, she is actually much more than that. Perhaps you are wondering how she could be any more than a wife to me, because that in itself is a huge undertaking, so let me tell you why. Lindsey fulfills every role possible in my life to me, not because I am incapable or incompetent (although, when compared to her in some things, that isn't far form the truth), but because she loves me endlessly. She is my editor, my cook, my smile, my warmth, my laugh, my postman, my health consultant, my email adviser, my calendar, my reminder, my high-five, my crush, my lobster, my radio (she knows every song ever written by heart, if you want to see something amazing ask her to act the entire Music Man play out and she can do it, from beginning to end!), my Valentine's candy heart, my Easter Bunny and the list goes on. She satiates my intellectual needs, my curious questions, my profound ponderings and completes my thoughts. She would argue me on these points, but what I am saying is absolutely the truth. She would do anything for me anytime, anywhere. She would even follow me all over the world in chase of my dreams. Most of all, she is my best friend. I can't imagine my life without her, and to be honest, I am not sure how I even managed without her. Lindsey, you deserve a standing ovation from the world in my eyes! Thank you for being my best friend! Thank you for your endless love! I love you!!

Five Minutes

I dropped Scotty off for his hour and a half massage and walked over to Whole Foods to use their internet while I waited for him to finish. I was so excited for him... and a little envious. So I walked upstairs in Whole Foods, immediately greeted by the man at the little massage chair station with a happy sign saying "Free Massage." I ignored the words that were placed in between the two words because the sign actually said, "Free Five Minute Massage." Five minutes or not... free massage sounded pretty good. I've seen this little stand a million times but never thought twice about stopping. But the massage therapist made eye contact with me before I was even completely up the stairs and asked me if I wanted a free massage. I thought about what Scott was going to be doing for the next hour and a half, and I thought, "Yeah! I'd like a massage for five minutes." When it was over, I felt fantastic! Best five minutes of the day!

Tick Tock...

I had one of the happiest and rarest pleasures of my life this morning. It was really several pleasures in one!

I got to sleep in this morning until eight (I usually get up at 6 when Scott gets up for work. I have a problem sleeping in while Scott gets up for work. It's just not nice!)

I got to wake up next to Scott with the sun shining through our windows (we have the brightest bedroom!). This is especially nice for Scott since he never sees the sunlight!

And then I got to make my husband breakfast and listen to NPR while cleaning up the kitchen. It was so nice to have all this time in the morning to spend time together and get the house organized so the mess isn't waiting for me when I come home. I love having Scott home in the morning!

This morning I dropped Scotty off to take his long-awaited GMAT!!! I'm at work... just five short minutes from where he's testing... and I can't wait to see him! I know he's doing great! It's been an hour.... tick tock tick tock....

I got Scotty a gift card for a 1 1/2 hour massage today that he's going to go get today. I love getting Scott gifts... books... musical instruments... always things for him to DO. The problem is, though, that Scott always has too much to DO. So maybe by giving him gifts of things to DO I'm just making his list longer. I've noticed that it's hard for him to relax, because he's always thinking about the next thing on his list that he needs or wants to do. I love that about him! But he's been working so hard with the GMAT that I wanted to find a way to give him the gift of time, instead of adding things to do to his list. So I'm thrilled that Scott's going to go get a massage and spend an hour and a half thinking about... nothing! For a day that is usually not so bright, this Monday is shaping up to be a fantastic day!

Because I think I can relate a bit. Can you?

(Oh the joys of Pandora... and a husband's great discoveries!)

I saw a hippie girl on 8th avenue
She barely looked at me for a second or two
and I suddenly realized I no longer looked much like a hippie
mmmmm

She had a long thin dress and rainbow clothes
not long ago I wore one of those
but now-a-days I guess I don't very much
like anything
mmmmm

I had a great pair of bell-bottoms
I had two
my friend borrowed one
and the other I outgrew
and now to the eye
I'm turning into another
non-descript guy

But I still travel light
and my hair is still long
and I still hate deodorant
and I still sing songs
but over the years I've noticed
I'm not dressing as colorfully and psychedelic as I used to

Cause I wore my tye-dyes
until they rotted to shreds
and I can no longer follow
The Grateful Dead
and it's gotten to the point where I don't even identify with most Phish fans anymore

And someday soon I know I'll cut my hair
and a week after that I know I won't even care
Is that what it all comes to
all along
everything that you feel
will one day feel wrong

I was talking to my friend Eric
just to see what he thunk
and he said
'Jeff, it's weird
but I no longer look like a punk'
I guess we don't need our clothes
for an identity crutch
and we looked at each other
and we didn't look like much
and we looked out at the world
like a movie theater
at all the hippies and the punks
and the skinheads and the skaters
and someday or other
maybe sooner or later
they'll come to the realization
that what's important is what you can carry on
in human conversation
and it's not what you wear on the outside
it's what you think and feel on the inside.






















(except the part about Phish fans, of course)

Just got back

from a wonderful evening concert featuring a skilled classical violinist (name on program... downstairs... too far... Cho Chiang Lian, I think) up at the Gardner Hall.

During the Stravinsky I was thrilled, excited, tapping along with my fingers as if I actually knew the fingering patterns myself.

All I could think about was going home after the concert and marching right to my violin and busting out an old de Beriot.

During the Brahams, I started to get sleepy. Sleepy during Brahams... very predictable. "I can beat this urge to curl up on Scotty's shoulder and 'rest my eyes' as my dad always says when he claims he's not actually sleeping." Nope. By the second movement my heavy eyes are to the point where opening them and exposing them to any light would give me a serious shock. I'm not sleeping, but I'm not tap-tapping with my fingers.

All I could think about was going home after the concert and marching right to my bed and busting out the deepest and longest slumber in my Lindsey history.

So of course now I'm blogging. And listening to Jeffery Lewis sing "I Saw a Hippie Girl on 8th Avenue." My, how the night has morphed.

went for a run.
now i'm hacking up a lung.
i'm ready for the sun.
winter running is no fun.

Chin Chin and Muck Muck

Our V Day weekend was fantastic.

How could it not be when it started out on Saturday with a little of this from my sister.

This is what sisters are for. For those of you who don't get along with your sisters and don't understand what sisters are for, I'll help you... this is it. This is what they're for. I'm so happy I have one who can appreciate these things and feels the need to call me THE INSTANT she discovers something truly this fantastic. "Two tickets to that thing you love... I'm on a horse."

Friday was an ordinary day with work and studying. Saturday started out pretty ordinary too with a lot of studying, laundry, grocery shopping, and getting everything clean so we could enjoy the weekend (I'm a Saturday morning cleaner). As the evening got closer, we started getting ready to go out for sushi and to the symphony (thanks to my wonderful parents who gave us the tickets). Scott was in heaven because he loves sushi. I was in heaven because I love Dvorchak. We had a great time.

After the symphony, we went home and celebrated Valentines Day the best way ever... by being together! Things have been so crazy lately that neither of us can remember the last time we were able to really spend time together. We're always together, you know, but we haven't been able to sit together and really spend time together lately without reading or studying or making lists. Scotty and I had a $20 limit for our gifts this year. I got Scott a harmonica, along with a book on how to play it and a capo for his guitar. I love hearing the lonesome sound of the harmonica in our apartment. It's so fun to watch him start putting songs together. It'll also be fun to take the harmonica on river trips and hikes and stuff. I'm so grateful Scott is so musical! Scott got me a couple beautiful rings and a bunch of songs on itunes from my favorite singer. And the romantic part of the evening was dancing to a Devendra song called "Chin Chin and Muck Muck (I do not endorse the lyrics, just the tune... as usually is the case with Devendra. The guy's a creep)." Man, I love this kid more and more every day. We spent the evening playing a bunch of our favorite songs on violin and guitar with martinelli's, chocolate covered strawberries, and delicious popcorn Hannay stove-top style.

Sunday morning was consisted of a delicious breakfast of oven-french toast... that was so sweet that we both could barely handle it! Neither of us sugar people, and this was a little much. After church we spent the evening at my parents' house celebrating Nick's birthday and Valentines Day. My parents were so nice sending us home with flowers, chocolates, and of course delicious leftovers. They take good care of us. It was so fun to watch some of the Olympics too. What could be a more romantic V Day than mocking the outfits of male figure skaters?

Thanks to the fancy counter at the bottom of our blog, I found out that Scott and I have been married one year... one month... one week... and one day! Wow. What's that anniversary? Copper? Should I give Scott a penny?

Four!

I guess V Day weekend means engagements! Congrats to my four fabulous friends and their new fiances!

Sarajane and Richie! He took her skydiving to propose! Both these friends went to East (Soj and I are ward buddies). They've been together for a long time! I can't wait for their wedding!


Natalie and Josh! I've haven't met Josh yet, but Stucki is THE COOLEST person! A river guide friend from day one. I can't wait for their wedding either!


Heidi and John. Heidi was one of my favorite hall-mates from freshman year. I haven't met John, but he's a lucky guy. Heidi will keep him laughing all the time.


Cameron and Suzanne! I don't know Suzanne, and I haven't actually seen Cameron in about a year (high school friend), but I've always thought the world of him. Suzanne's a lucky girl and I'm excited for them!


Congrats to all the February Engagements! I love seeing my friends so happy!

In other news, Scotty and I had a wonderful V Day ourselves. I'll have to catch up on all that a bit later. Time to head to work!

Thinking about Vee hee Day hay.

I associate every holiday with Charlie Brown and Snoopy. The Great Pumpkin... the Christmas Story.... Happiness is finding a pencil.

You know, Scott was Charlie Brown in "You're a Good Many Charlie Brown" as a kid.

On to my announcement.

I've had unusually good luck with V-day. Consider:

Last year, V-day 2009, Scott and I had a romantic V-day complete with Slumdog Millionaire and Cinegrill... with my parents. :) He he he...

V-day 2008 An old boyfriend and I broke up about a week before. My roommate Janelle had also broken up with her boyfriend a week before. We had one of those classic girl V-day evenings with all our friends... PF Changs and the episode of Friends where Rachel, Pheobe, and Monica have a boyfriend bonfire for their V-day celebration and end up spending the night with the cute firefighters (The one with the Candy Hearts).

I was thrilled when Lindsey, one of my greatest friends, came home to my apartment that night after getting engaged! I knew from her boyfriend that it was coming, and I tried to prepare for her with my camera, fondue, and martinellis in fancy glasses. She came in the door looking engaged and gorgeous, and I was there in my sweats and my black spider fleece with pancake batter caked onto the front (I think it still is, two years later)... a excellent visual contrast of our current relationship statuses.

V-Day 2007 This is a favorite. I was a little overwhelmed this semester in school guy-wise. I had come into my apartment complex and ward mid-year after a semester in London, and I was going out a few times a week. With the additional expense of six months in London, I bet if I check out the finances from that semester back, I probably broke even for the year because I didn't pay for a single meal that semester back. I was having a lot of fun getting to know people, and dating is a fun way to do that, but I wasn't interested in getting serious with anyone or finding "the one." I was just dating to date. There were a couple guys who kept persisting, even though I had told them that I wasn't going to be getting serious with anyone, which means I wasn't going to be kissing anyone, which means if they wanted to keep taking me out, I'd say yes, but I'd also be going out with other guys as well. I wanted to be upfront about that so they knew.

There was a guy named Phil who I would have dinner with every Tuesday night. It wasn't supposed to be a standard date or anything. We just had a class together on Tuesday nights, and he had about a thousand Costa Vida free meal coupons. I don't know how he had that many. So every Tuesday after class he, his buddy Johnny, and I would go to Costa Vida. Once we invited our professor and he met us there and gave us each a dollar towards our meal (which was free, so we each made a buck that night.)

So V-day fell on a Tuesday during this fine 2007 year, so in class, the week before V-day, I suggested we call our dinner off so everyone could tend to their V-day plans. None of us actually had V-day plans, so we all figured we'd have dinner together anyways. That Tuesday I showed up for class and Johnny wasn't there. Hmm... What about dinner? Oh, he's meeting us after class, says Phil. Good. I didn't want to be suckered into a V-day date with a guy I liked hanging out with, but had no interest in dating. After class we walked to Phil's apt like we always do, and his roommate Johnny's not there. He's meeting us at the restaurant. Okay (doubtful). We start driving and go straight past Costa Vida. Oh, Johnny suggested we go somewhere different since its a holiday. Okay (I see right through you, kid). We end up at some restaurant, nicer than a Costa Vida, surrounded by V-day-loving-couples on all corners. Oh, and Phil had reservations. How thorough. "For two?" the hostess confirms. Phil looks at me awkwardly, unable to pin this on Johnny anymore.

Awkward date. Awkward night. Awkward couple getting engaged at the table next to us. Awkward dinner. Tiny portions. Weird sauces. Drives me home. Nice guy. Thanks, but no thanks, Phil. I just think it would have been a more successful attempt had he just asked me out instead of tricked me into a date. That was also the end of our Costa Vida nights. In fact, I kind of put a hold on Costa Vida altogether. A year later it gave my cousin Kyle, my roommate Janelle, and me terrible food poisoning. It took a lot to let pork barbacoa back into my life.

As soon as a got home that night. There were roses waiting at the door. "To Lindsey" and some sort of V-day note that was vague, including no personal references that would indicate that it was intended for me. And we didn't know if it was intended for me, because my roommate's name was Lindsey too! We laughed about it all night. The next day I got a phone call from a very nice fellow asking if I got the flowers he left for me. He showed up later that night to bring me some cookies he baked me. He showed up just as I was hanging out with a boy who had stopped by to confirm our date for that weekend. This wasn't a V-day where I was somebody-less... there were just a few too many somebodies in the mix. For the record, most of these boys ended up being my very good friends down at school and laughed with me about it all later.

V-day 2006. A great one. Really. It was a great one. I got to spend the night with a very good friend eating Wisconsin mac-n-cheese, snowshoeing and eating chocolate fondue from a camping stove. It was just a few days before he left for his mission, and it was a perfect way to spend some time saying a real "goodbye for now." Still one of my closest friends today.

But as I went home that night, sad that I'd be sending him off so soon, I found this delightful little email note reminding me that my prospects were good, and that someone new would sweep me off my feet shortly.

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:33:43 -0700
From: ----------------
To: binz86@hotmail.com
Subject: From Hans (You Know, Trevor's Friend)

Dear Lindsey,
I think you are a very lovely girl. The purpose of Saturday's date was to make you feel so, but I forgot to say it. My bad. I repent me that I did not do it.
Happy St. Valentine's Day,
Hans
P.S. Looking you up was a bit of a trick, so I hope this works..."

Oh, Hans Shmutz. Seriously one of most enjoyable dates of my life. And while setting me up with him on that triple date (with my good friends and hall-mates Laura and Rachel) was designed to make me the butt of some joke, I had one of the MOST ENJOYABLE dates of my life. It wasn't a joke at all. That's another story for another day.

While we didn't ever have a follow up date... I always think of him when I see the card game "BANG!" or hear the word "Stinker!" (or more specifically the phrase, "You little stinker!"). And good news, our association remains: he just found me on Facebook last week. :)

Oh my V-Day success!
I'm actually serious though. I've had serious V-day success. I've never understood the self-induced sadness that single people partake of on V-day. Sure, eat chocolate. But not because you're alone. Eat it cause you want to! I'm happy that, while I've never had that earth-shattering Rod Stewart singing "Isn't it Romatic," pearls, La Caille (I'm so unfamiliar with this restaurant I don't know how it's spelled. Is it La Calle? The street?) kind of evening on V-day, I've always been blessed to spend the day with people I love. My family and best friends from some of the greatest years of my life. I'm a lucky girl!

This V-day 2010 will be no different. It's wonderful to know that for the rest our my life, I will be spending V-day with the one person I love most in the world! What could be a better V-day gift than that? I'm so grateful for Scott. It's so nice to married to the love of my life because I never think anymore about what I'm planning on doing, just how grateful I am for who I'm doing it with. I love doing everything with Scott! And I don't plan on ever getting sick of him, either. Although I may need to by him some ear-plugs for our 2nd anniversary next year. I look forward to years and years of V-days, even with kids and casual nights. Nothing big and fancy.

We fought the urge to take advantage of Presidents Day to go climbing or some other adventure, and we're spending our V-day weekend here at home... studying! We'll have an awesome V-day together at home and then Sunday dinner with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, nephews, and niece. Happy Valentines Day!

Oh... and I'm celebrating this year with Pygme Marmosets for all! What could be better. Check out my last post if you've missed this announcement.

Gift of Gifts

For Valentines Day, I'm going to get everyone one of these.

Excited? I'm not sure whether I'll mail them or arrange a massive pick-up so you can develop a special bond with the one you will take. Either way, be thinking of names for your new household friend.

Hawaii

Key characters in the following story. From left to right:

Rob (a fabulous Rob, but one that is actually irrelevant to our story), Scotty, Me, Rob (the Rob of whom I speak), Kelley

Last night Scott was making his Sunday night call to his family, and he thought about giving his buddy Robbie a call to see how he was doing, having heard he had just had an interview with the fire department in SB.

Scott dials Robbie’s number…

Robbie: “Scott! Where are you?”
Scott: “I’m right outside your window, watching you.”
Robbie: “No you're not. I’m outside!”
Kelly in the background: “If you were watching us, you’d see my big rock!”
Scott: “WHAT? Your big ROCK? Robbie, did you just propose!!!”
Robbie: “Yeah! Like ten minutes ago!”

Lindsey and Scott: Common sounds of freaking out.

(conversation above may or may not be word-for-word accurate)

And then we hung up, so as to not rob them of their moment. But after checking out this blog, I see someone else robbed them of their moment before we did.

We are SO SO SO SO happy! Scott couldn’t stop talking about it until we went to bed. Looks like we’ll be headed to the LA temple or San Diego in July! Unless, of course... they want to get married in Hawaii!

Either you are ignorant or seem so, craftily.

Took me to 2006. Penny Bird

There is something truly disillusioning about pushing a button and nothing happening. It is the frustration of my life.

They don’t dance around the class.
They aren’t charismatic.
They don’t talk about the Simpsons.

It's True...

Snowboarders spend a ridiculous amount of time sitting down on the slopes.


And I can finally say that for a fact.

I've seen it.

Last weekend we had a bunch of friends from Santa Barbara staying with us. We had a blast having everyone under one roof. It was busy, chaotic, and crazy… my favorite things! A bunch of us went up to Snowbird the next day. I found myself being the only skier with five snowboarding dudes and one snowboarding dudette. It was definitely a new experience for me to be the only skier with a bunch of guys. I've never been the minority before (ski-wise). The stereotype is true… they sit down way too much. We'd ski part of a run, and congregate together for a second to make sure everyone was with us. That's normal. But they'd all sit down each time we'd congregate, so it took twice as long to get going again! Scott tells me it's because it's really hard to stay standing on a snowboard. I don't know. I kept thinking, “Why are you sitting! We’re going to go DOWN the mountain… and then we’re going to go back UP the mountain…. And then we’re going to go back DOWN again! That’s why we paid a bundle to be here!” (When you word it that way, the whole sport seems kind of pointless, doesn't it?) But I had a great time. It was a beautiful sunny day. Just shy of spring skiing. I could have kept going well past closing.

In fairness to my boarding friends, however, I'll give you this. I could not snowboard. If I snowboarded every day from now until the day I die, I might pick it up. But I can't get my body to agree with the idea of facing sideways instead of forward. I can waterski better than I wakeboard. When Scott was teaching me to surf, I kept getting up with my feet parallel to each other, facing forward. He kept saying to me, "You're such a skier! Stop facing forward." I can't do it. So congrats for standing sideways. Now can we practice having our little pow-wows in the chairlift?

I love the snow. So glad that groundhog saw his shadow.

HOPING...

...for pictures from Andy and Jen from the big sleepover last weekend. I can't wait to see them. I wish we had taken some of everyone staying over at our house... I didn't know we could fit that many people in our little place! I'm excited to see the pictures at Snowbird and Park City. Hopefully now that they're back and situated in CA they'll get a chance to update the blog they gave up on! Or maybe just email us pictures.

...for pictures from Jon and Annie! We took a couple pictures with Matt, Loral, and Celeste at their place before they took off for Boston. Annie... if you're reading this... email me those pictures, friend! I can't wait to talk to Annie about her adventures in Boston. I'm so jealous; she's going to culinary school while Jon finishes up some schooling before med school in CA. We miss having you guys around! You definitely can host a party better than we can! We're just glad we'll have you back for another three months in between Boston and CA!

I'm happy I know this is true...

...because thanks to the decisions of my sister and Nick (and my own parents, too), I know that I get to be with these guys forever! Lucky me!!!








Sarajane looks so much like Ben!




The Family: A Proclamation to the World

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

The doing and the getting it done.

February means homework... it means being done with my classes.
February means studying... it means Scott acing the GMAT.
February means applications... it means Scott applying for Carnegie Melon.
February means writing... it means having a lot of fun at Utah Business Magazine!
February means catching up... it means doing all the things I said I'd do in January.
February means looking forward... it means looking forward to a March where our schedules seem miraculously clear(er).