I don't know about anyone else but I was tired of the old and tired, family exclusive, dry(in all senses), and expensive First Night. I planned this year to stay in, with friends and be bored. Then I heard about Eve: WOW what a change this is going to bring to DSLC with it's amazing line up of events for ALL(young, old, Republican, Democrat, saint and sinner alike!) Events are inside and out and there truly is something for everyone(including little Ms Cleo who may be attending the animal activities at the Gateway) Check out the schedule and maps at their oh so glossy and easy to use website From an art treasure hunt, to fireworks, to outdoor concerts to kids crafts all with free parking, dining discounts, and free transportation on the 31st this is the most bang for your $15 there is going to be on the big night and the 2 days before! I'll be there every day! I live in the middle of everything! All of the events are a short, free Trax ride away!
You may remember last year's post about my desire to secure a holiday tradition that would both honor our beliefs and also the traditions of our ancestors(if not read here ) This year I found the box and the blanket--the box will sit under our tree as decoration during the holiday and then come out on Christmas Eve. This year we will write in our journals, snuggle in the blanket, and in the morning, make festive shaped pancakes(a new tradition this year)
Since Salt Lake's Liquor laws have been significantly relaxed it has been a lot more fun(and a lot more safe) to have a great time in our capital city. Gone are the days when 21 year old kids were driving from bar to bar(because of the 2 per block limit) and also gone are the days of the cover charge--especially if you are dressed up as Santa! Every year 300+ people crowd the bars of DSL dressed as Santa, moving from Bar to Bar, singing and generally making trouble. We were in that group for the first time this year--We had a great time with old and new friends alike!
I have been kind of a slacker since we got home! Our trip to Japan was truly a once in a lifetime experience! Since we have been home it has been a flurry of events, shopping, decorating, and sending cards and packages.
This year we will be writing in our Journals and, as promised I am making our cd filled with "Christmas music" from both Doug and I's families.
Still working on the Box and Blanket but those will come with time.
Also, I managed to fill in every year since we have been married with ornaments so now we have 2003-2009 covered! It is such a fun tradition to have a family ornament--thanks MOM for teaching me the importance of that! Now our tree is full of memories from each year!
The Holidays are my FAVORITE time of year and this year has been no exception! I love the hustle and bustle, tons of family gatherings, reflecting on the year with pics, videos etc and cuddling up because it is COLD outside(now I just need to convince Doug that we need a fireplace :))
Well I could start at the part where Doug is ETERNALLY BONDED to his computer....no that isn't very interesting. Or I could start at how awesome my b'day was but that is a little outdated....
AH YES this will do: WE ARE LEAVING FOR JAPAN in 4 DAYS!!!!
We are headed out early early Saturday Morning and will return on the 19th. Just in time for Happy Thanksgiving! While we are away I will leave you with these little gems--if I get a sec I will also post some travel pics along the way. OOO if you want to check out one of the places we will be staying(complete with communal bath--look here to read all about Ryokans(traditional Japanese Lodging) here Otherwise that's all til next time!
If you guessed that Doug was a Mormon Missionary for Halloween then you would be WRONG! We went as a couple from the 50's(inspired by the GREAT show Madman which all of our friends simultaneously pressured us to watch--glad they did!)
I have been a Palm Pre user and Sprint convert for several months now(recovering from a very long term one sided and abusive relationship with Verizon) Let me tell you this little phone is the first time I have fallen head over heals for a device. Ways it makes my life better: 1. it has an awesome camera--so less in my purse(or suitcase as some of you know it) 2. more than one app running at a time? FINALLY a phone that understands my manic multitasking! 3. Streams NPR live--wait maybe this should move to #1 since I am officially an all day listener(I just can't help it that Doug Fabrizio is so damn HOT--you too Teri Gross) 4. can you say virtual post it's? 5. full keypad--need I say more 6. Syncs with my life--After I got the Pre I stopped using my paper planner--let me tell you, this was a BIG DEAL people--guess old dogs can learn new tricks afterall(assuming you get a treat like the Palm Pre :))
Reasons to dump your carrier and join Sprint: 1. Customer Care--REALLY? Do Verizon and AT&T think they can fool us with the name? I actually got to the point when I was with Verizon of not being able to speak to them because I would automatically ask to cancel my account. Doug took over(because generally he is much more calm) about 2 calls in he suddenly started searching for a new carrier. 2. All cell phones are free? This happened to be a little bonus that happened about a month after I joined. Seriously? Awesome! 3. Since everyone I know if on Verizon and now all cell phones are free Sprint took the time to call and inform us we were WAY under on our minutes and that we could save about $50 per month if we went down in minutes we pay for. I almost asked the representative to marry me right there. It is hard to find a company to trust these days--the good ones are all taken(or out of business, or being put out of business by Walmart) 4. My monthly fee covers everything. GPS data, text--no nickel and dimeing--is this for real? I am a little traumatized still by Verizon and their schemes but I am learning to trust again and making so much progress!
OH and Dear iphone users: DO NOT write to me about your phone--been there, done that, I've told you: no religious wars on my blog, well, unless I say so! (ps I am sure you are just redirecting your anger at me away from Apple, since you now have to pay A TON of money to upgrade--yea that would make me bitter too--get it? bitter apple?)
One more thing about the Pre and Palm: their attention to the open source community is rather refreshing. Anyone who has been through the Apple mess that is making apps for them can attest: open source is SO much more enriching and lets you keep your hair and your blood pressure where they belong.
So there you have it-me, declaring my unabashed love for the Pre. Time to go back to eating that lemon poppy seed cake my sis made for me for my b'day--Thanks Les!
Another piece that we have been fortunate to be fostering. John Sproul's work was immediately intriguing to me because of the haunting nature of his subjects and the vibrant use of color--a strange and beautiful combination that made me want to see more, and more. This piece has garnered universal dislike from all of our guests but for some reason, it calms me. The comments have been mostly of intregue followed up universally with "what are they doing" many see athletes, some see slavery, others have commented on the strong same sex vibe of the piece. Me? I see common man and how we are all more the same than we are different--a lesson, sometimes the only lesson we should all learn over and over.
So far in my life I have managed to escape with a few, harmless, yet ferocious vices. They are, in no particular order: ice cream, bad tv and craigslist.
I have managed to avoid the oh so common: "I must have a cup a day of coffee in order to feel normal" -thing- but yesterday, while in Smiths something happened that I can only describe as genetics combined with a great sale.
My family, who's only real common worship of an identifiable belief can be summed up in: boating, coffee and Budlight, are COFFEE PEOPLE. Not: "espresso, must have the best beans, froofy " types either. Real, black, gritty down to earth Coffee People. And other than the a fore mentioned items, we are one of the most diverse of any family I know--and I like it that way.
All of my childhood memories are tied to coffee, the smell in the morning at our house, the sound of any one of my uncles at Flaming Gorge noisily rummaging through camping gear to make a fresh pot to share, and even every Christmas morning bargaining with my parents to get out of bed in the wee hours by offering to make coffee if they would finally get up(usually at 3 or 4 am).
So it may be interesting to note that Doug and I have so far resisted getting our very own coffee maker to make our home complete. Long story short: I never felt the need to add yet another vice to my life and actually like to stop through the drive through at the local coffee shops for the occasional treat.
Yesterday though--yesterday when a very basic model was on sale for under 20 and some, coffee drinking, family tradition gene took over-- I caved.
So welcome to the family Mr Coffee! Here's to many good years and to low cal options after the initial newness wears off when I start gaining "coffee weight"
When I was invited to join in on the first Foster Art Program I was at once salivating. The list of artists was even more intriguing, and once the first meeting came along I already had my list in my head.
We ended up fostering several artists: The first, and the spotlight today is Thomas Aaron We have known Tom for a few years as a friend and have always admired his work. When we went to pick out our piece to foster we knew immedietly which one we wanted. When we realized that it would not fit in the Fit(a first for us--sad day) Tom told us just to carry it home--I was incredibly doubtful(plus I was in heals) but without many other options we picked it up and started the 2 block journey home.
We hung it and now have been enjoying for about a week. This piece speaks to me on so many levels: it's design aesthetic, color, complexity and size all make for a perfect statement for what we have deemed to be our "feature wall" Thanks Tom!
Those of you that know and love me(ok put up with me is more like it but I digress)
Those of you--you know who you are: well you know that I LOVE and embrace technology and allow it to run my life. This fetish and dare I say obsession is often fueled by my tech geek superman husband who feeds it and fans the flame and sometimes roasts marshmallows and makes smores over it...again I digress....
What my internet bot filled life has been missing(and mourning) is a way to make a shopping list from a recipe and then save it--all online, all accessible from the mobile device of my liking(nope not going there--no religious wars on this blog--well, not today anyway)
I have been searching and searching, and begging Doug to build, and searching, and obsessing and searching for the right tool(sans monthly subscription, downloadable version, ugly site--you see where this is going right?) I want my web 2.0, pretty, free, do everything I want, read my mind, blow my mind type of site that I am so accustom.
Today: I found it--or at least the Beta version of it--in Kitchen Monki
It is everything and more that I would want(it even links to facebook if you so desire) Try it--I will be for the next 5.2 minutes and believe me: if it fails the test you will hear that too--otherwise I will be happily integrating my somewhat meager recipe collection and making list after list--just for list sake--
Come one come all! Most Fridays you can find us at our house, complete with the latest boxed wine(try to reserve judgment for both the wine and the boxed :)) some dear friends, and some great discussion/video game playing/ fun---It is the highlight of the week and we hope you can join us!
Friday nights- 7ish(heavy emphasis on the ish)
our house
D&M
On the subject of wine...the mayor of our great city is accepting comment on the new liquor laws that are being proposed-- leave your comment and mark on Utah's crazy liquor laws here: and soon!(comments only accepted until Sept 25th 2009!)
This summer has been quite a fun and action packed one! Whereas last summer we were out of the country, this year we stayed close to home--and boy a lot has happened!
We got a new "nephew" Hennessy(Henny or Henny Penny for short) You may notice in the background Cleo is waiting to eat him--He is the sweetest, most cuddly, WIMPY little puppy you will ever meet! I am so happy to have another doggie in our family(Cleo, however, the jury is still out on her thoughts beyond-- "get that little ankle biter away from me or I will eat him")
Further proof that Les is ready to be a Dog owner(she is getting angry right now--I can tell) ..................................................................................... In other sibling news: Tom and Les bought a house! I'll let them share the details and pics but this Realtor sis was so happy to be able to help(and happy it worked out so well!) They stayed with us for a few days while their hardwood floors were installed-- when this was taken they said "DON"T post this on facebook" Promise kept! ..................................................................................... Doug's Grandma & Grandpa Hawkins celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary(complete with a party that was so fun!) ..................................................................................... Last but not least we took an AMAZING trip with the Bench Family to Alaska! Thanks Mom & Dad!
