Top Ten Reasons Hot is Good

Although I still maintain that there have been entirely too many MyFace posts lately regarding the weather, I do declare that a record breaking day of 102 or 103 gives me license to talk about it. But I refuse to whine. Also apparently I am a southern belle. I have decided that, generally, we miss out when we focus on how much weather sucks. If you live in Portland, I give you full license to whine. They got up to at least 108, I hear. That is way too high. And if you live in a place where that kind of temperature is something you don't blink at, yes, I am calling you crazy. I don't care if it's a "dry heat." You are crazy to live in that kind of weather ON PURPOSE. With that said, I am, for the most part, enjoying our freakish weather. Here's why:

1. You have the perfect excuse to eat lots and lots of popsicles.
2. That great feeling you get when you drink a glass of cool weather and all the cells in your body seem to thank you in unison.
3. You lose your appetite and desire to cook things, and as a result your calorie intake falls.
4. Two words: Frozen. Grapes.
5. Sandals are fun to wear.
6. Air conditioning feels really good when it's this hot.
7. Swimming pools. Not that I've been in one. But I hear they are nice.
8. Mosquitoes don't like the heat, so less bites when I visit my favorite day camp in the world.

Freakin' Awesome!

This article is linked to on the cnn website with the headline "Seattle Bakes in Freak Heat Wave." Wooh! We're officially freaks! Freaks who generally don't have air conditioning in their house. But I'll leave the whining for the MyFace status.

Have I Mentioned the Weather Lately?

It's just, if it's raining, you complain on MyFace. If it is hot, you complain on MyFace. If it doesn't rain in too long a period, you complain. If it snows, you complain. Can we think of something else to talk about? How about... books. What are you reading? And if not, why not? What's wrong with you?!

MyFace Faux Pas

I would just like to reiterate, if you post something like "My man is perfect, just stay positive and you will find your man" on my wall, I will defriend you. Especially if I did not say anything about being in despair (which I wouldn't, that's you projecting). After I post this video on your wall. And possibly drive to your house and kick you in the shin.

Drinky, drinky, you're a finky.

With such a catchy and meaningless title, how can you resist reading?

People say random things sometimes upon discovering I am Mormon, and/or that I went to BYU. My favorite, and the oddest reaction in my opinion, tends to be somewhat like the following:

"I hate Utah! They make you become members of the bars! And they won't sell you alcohol on Sunday." To which I respond somewhere along the lines of, "Mmm." 'Cause I kind of don't care if they can't get ahold of alcohol as easily as they would like. They could go hiking or something instead. There are lots of mountains, trails, and just dirt in general there.

Apparently recently that has (mostly) changed. Those who wish to imbibe no longer need to join a club to get a beer. It was interesting to me that at least one local who frequented a specific bar didn't like the change. He thought it might bring in strangers, thus increasing the chance of someone causing a ruckus. I'm not entirely sure why there was a law in place to require that people join a bar in order to patronize it. I'm sure it had something to do with the large percentage of Mormons in the state, since members of my religion do not drink alcohol, along with coffee and tea. I find it slightly amusing that MSNBC claims that the law was in place to "sheild Mormons from alcohol." If all they had to do was join the club (put their name in a registery and pay a small one-time--or possibly annual, I don't know--fee) I don't think that would have "shielded" anyone. I'm sure that the heavy taxes were put into place to try to convince people not to drink, so maybe that's the shield. Having spent four years in Utah Valley (where BYU is), which we affectionately called the BYU Bubble, I didn't meet many people who belonged to bars while I lived in Utah. I actually never heard about the law until I had left Utah. I don't think there were may bars near where I lived.

I know many people believe that it's only Mormons in Utah, but actually they only make up about 60% of the population. Yes, that is much higher than other states. But Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and California have quite a few members as well. Washington, for instance, has 257,710 as of the latest count (they report numbers yearly). Compared to Utah's 1,857,667 that is not very many, but it's not a teeny number. But I digress. If you want to see more statistics on Mormons, who number over 13.5 million worldwide, go here.

My first thought upon hearing this news is that it's funny how long out-moded laws stay in place. But then I noticed in the article that the law was only in place for 40 years. That means it was put in place in the late 60's, for those of you who don't want to think that hard. From what I can glean from the ever-reliable internet, prohibition prevented people from getting a drink at the beginning of last century. I'm assuming somewhere in the middle there were bars that didn't require membership, and they had to clamp down. But I could totally be making up history. The bottom line is, in the eyes of your average beer drinker, Utah became a little less wacky this month.

P.S. I have non-Mormon friends who read this blog, so watch your judginess in the comment section if it looks like it's trying to slip the leash.

I Am Beseeching You...

Stop making fun of the innocents!

I've been contemplating a trend I'm seeing in the media lately. It's come on kind of gradually since I was a little kid. I think the thing that to me has been the signal that it's become the way a large amount of society thinks is this. Oh, and this.

Yes I have a sense of humor. I put it down... somewhere... and I really wish I could find it. Oh, there it... no, that's my employment. I should really pick that up some time soon.

I do understand the humor of the geeky guy who doesn't know how to talk to women. I find it painful to watch, but I get it, and I don't begrudge people their laughs. What's troubling me is this: where are the cool virgins? You don't see them in the TV shows. They are all awkward and lacking life experience. If Hollywood manages to create a cool one, at some point they succumb to the temptation and compromise their beliefs. Apparently being stalwart is not sexy. I'm here to tell you, there are lots of 40 year old virgins out there. People who, because of religious beliefs, and/or personal standards they hold to, choose not to have sex. I don't like that men who grow to be a certain age are invited on talk shows to be gawked at like an elephant with two trunks. You can have a whole life without sex. A successful, satisfying life. That doesn't mean that sex is bad, or that those people aren't interested in it, or don't wish they could have it. But there are things in life that are more important than sex, and their choice to not dive right into it does not make them freakish.

What I am witnessing in the mentalities of our youth is worrisome to me. Teenagers should not base their self esteem on how much sexual experience they have had. Neither should adults. And to see a 16 or 17 year old talk about the lack of inexperience of a peer or themselves as though it is crippling is maddening. Smart, strong, beautiful, successful teenagers with bright futures ahead of them are defining themselves by their experience in one area. They are allowing their partners to convince them that their love is defined by those experiences. And the kids who think like this grow into 20-somethings who seek after experiences in such a rash way they become scarred and sometimes truly emotionally crippled. Why do we perpetuate this belief? And why do we laugh at virgins? I say "we" because I'm sure I've shared a chuckle, so I'm totally not casting the first stone, so to speak. It's just, if you really step back from our culture and look at the beliefs around sex objectively, aren't they a little goofy?

Knives On the Other Hand...

Brought to you by the hard working folks at K's office.

Austen Eli Eli

I have some good news for you. BBC is making a new Emma, and I think it will be fabulous. Also JennaL tells me she thinks it will be four hours. Which is AWESOME. And if you don't think so we can't be friends anymore.

I feel the sudden urge to watch me some Eli Stone.

It's Letter Week!

Dear Pentagon,

I see here that you are contemplating banning smoking for all soldiers in uniform, and the sales of tobacco products on military bases. This is a very interesting proposal. I get the part where healthy soldiers are important. Also, the smelliness and phlegminess which are common characteristics of smokers are not hot, so really you are doing them a favor.

Just one little thing. I don't know if you have ever been around someone who just gave up smoking. I am hear to tell you, it makes them very crabby. Put them in a stressful situation and they REALLY get crabby when you won't let them smoke. So someone who is, say, in a combat situation, with a gun, having "nic fits" might be a little trigger happy. I'm just saying. And before you say you will happily supply them the meds to quit, vivid freaky dreams+combat zone+gun= also pretty scary.

I imagine that some would argue that smoking is banned in many workplaces, and it's all part of being professional. Totally agree. That whole All the President's Men, smoking in the newsroom era has passed, and we should respect each other's air space and try not to intentionally give each other cancer. But people have breaks at those jobs, see? They get to go outside and smoke. Only your soldiers still have their uniforms on during those breaks. See, crabby.

Knowing me like you do, Pentagon, you might be surprised that I would take the side of the smoker. But there's this thing called free will. I believe in it. I think sometimes we let people use it in this country. It's not so much that I don't agree with you that the whole military should stop smoking. That would be awesome. They would not only be healthier, they could spend their discretionary money on things that are really important. Like the equipment, music, and wardrobe to shoot a quality music video. My issue is that if you make them do it against their will, it's like you've become the military of some other country. And the soldiers might wonder what exactly they are fighting for in this new country that is so foreign to them. And then you might have to send them all to prison, where they can smoke in peace and choreograph a little jail yard boogie.

Just Between You and I

It seems like we are having these talks a lot lately, but I feel like you and I need to sit down and have another chat. I've been seeing the quizzes you've been taking on MyFace, and I'm a little concerned. This vampire guy that you speak of marrying...this Edward... is that really wise? I mean, yeah, he's a hundred years or so old, so he is not technically a minor, but he is in the body of a 17 year old, is he not? Yes, the actor who plays him in the movie is 23ish, but still. Have you noticed that you are 30ish or 40ish? And married? With children? Also that all of your friends of like age also seem to think he is their one true love? A little cradle-robberish. Also possibly polygamous. And do you really want someone to stand over you and watch you sleep all night? Should we change his name to Clay?

On the plus side, I am happy to report that my sweet teenagers who have friended me are generally not crushing on him as much as you. Or counting down to the movie. Or making slightly uncomfortable lustful comments about him. Or posting pictures from their Twilight parties. Because they didn't have one. So more for you, yes? I do know a ten-year-old that would love to come to your party for the next one, though.

Phew. I've held that in for so long. It's good we had this talk. I feel much better. Now if you will excuse me I have a Lord of the Rings Quiz to take now. Have you met my husband, Strider?

Valuable Social Values Discussions Sparked by Trashy TV

Since it's summertime and almost every show is on break for the summer, I keep getting sucked into really worthwhile TV time. Like that silly "reality" show about couples who have been hemming and hawing over whether to tie the knot. I've avoiding this show, because these kinds of shows drive me more than a little bit nuts. The producers obviously manipulate certain situations to amp up the drama by setting up certain conversations and confrontations that would not have happened otherwise, and would not normally have happened on camera. By playing up these situations, they are toying with deep, personal emotions for the entertainment of the masses. Possibly national television is not the place to address sensitive, painful, personal family issues. And yes, I feel this way about certain episodes of Dr. Phil, too, but at least he's a trained professional and trying to educate the masses about mental, emotional and social issues in addition to entertaining them.


Anywho, I confess, I'm currently filling my brains with mental cotton candy and deep fried snickers bars. Pretty soon I will have an obese brain. But here's how they sucked me in: the hurtle standing between them progressing in their relationship is the groom's "Mama". She has this cute little nickname for the bride-to-be... "the white devil." In the teaser at the beginning, they show her saying things like "I would rather see (dude) marry in his race (his race being African-American)," and "I can't support something that I know in my heart isn't right," and "I just hope that in the end he makes the right decision (the right decision being not marrying his girlfriend of 10 years because of her race)." Seriously, Mama? I cannot find the words to respond to those statements.

So I had to watch to see if Mama wins. The couple seems very sweet. They have nothing but kind words, and they seem twitterpated even after ten years together. They appear to be in a very loving relationship. They asked the groom what annoyed him most about the bride, and he said the worst thing he could think of was the fact that she always looks at the nutritional facts on foods and counts calories (yeah I hate when people do that *cough*K*cough*). Both of them seem pretty hurt by his family's inability to accept the bride due to her race. He seems to be fairly close to his family, and shows concern for not damaging that relationship, and that is lovely. But I say it's time to cut the apron string. When you are a grown man, you can listen to your Mama, and respect your Mama, but Mama shouldn't tell you who to marry.


I loved the scene where the groom told his parents they were thinking of getting married and mamma's response is "You didn't give me much time, did you." They've been dating for TEN YEARS. Although I suppose what she really meant was that he did not have a long enough engagement for her to talk him out of it. The groom asked Mama what her problem with his bride was, and she said her problem was essentially "the way that she presented herself when she first came." She tells the camera that this means "she doesn't know how to cook, she doesn't know how to clean. He did everything. And I had a problem with that." She also told the camera that"In the Carolinas, racism is very much alive.... (Inter-racial marriage is) really not acceptable in the south." I have never been to the South, but I've heard this before. I don't doubt that there are still issues with racism in that part of the country. In fact, even if I have not observed any blatant and open racism in Seattle firsthand in years, I don't doubt that it is alive and thriving here. There are stupid people everywhere. But, at this point in history, are these feelings a reason to avoid a marriage that could thrive and succeed? Should the fact that people disapprove stop you from doing something if you know it's not wrong?


Of course, there was a showdown where the bride and groom go meet with Mama to seek peace before the big day. Mama tells pretty much a bold-faced lie when she says "I don't have no hatred in my heart for you, I just don't like your ways." In words that I'm sure would have had feminists everywhere howling, if there were in fact people besides me watching this show, Mama said that she will accept the bride if she will take the time to cook and learn to be a 'proper' wife. She goes on to say that not enough women know how to cook and take care of things for their husbands, and that's why so many women have such a hard time keeping their men. Wow. I have not met an actual person like that. Not to that degree. You see them on TV and in books, but she was dead serious. Cooking and cleaning to contribute to the household is nice, but it's a two-way street, I say. From there Momma went on to call her a liar (she never really would specify what she was lying about), and a tattle-tail (probably for telling the groom that Mama called her a White Devil). The "discussion" culminated in the bride telling Mama she heard her call her "snowflake" and "the white devil." When Momma heard the words white devil, she looked at her and said, "well you are." And then told the bride to stop crying when her eyes welled up. Dra-ma.


As an aside, let me just tell you, the hoochy girl hitting on him at their combined bachelor/bachelorette party boggled my mind. I'm thinking that particular party might not have been the appropriate time to tell him she wanted to toast with him to their own relationship instead of making a toast to him and his wife. And then to tell him he should marry someone "more tan" as she batted her fake eyelashes at him.


So the whole thing with this show is they have them walk down the aisle and meet each other there, and they literally decide at the alter if they will go through with it. I'm just going to say it one more time. Drama. I know by looking at them that the bride is ready, but the groom is very conflicted, because he loves his bride and he loves his Mama. At least Mama had the decency to dress up for the wedding. And come. And Daddy is apparently a minister and is conducting the ceremony. But the groom has a look on his face like he's going to jilt her. That would be bad. He's not looking her in the eye, and his "words" he prepared were short, like he was having a hard time getting them out. But when they asked the magic question, he said "I do." Phew. See? Riveting. And now you don't have to feel like you missed it. Plus you have some important discussion points. See, it's almost like a book club.

1. If people disapprove of your actions because of their racist beliefs, should it stop you from doing something if you know it's right and will make you happy?
2. Should Mama get a say in who you marry?
3. Are you a hooch if you hit on a man at his engagement/bachelor party?
4. Are reality shows evil? Why does Holliberry watch them when she knows they are trashy?
5. Is there a point to checking the calories on your favorite treat? Especially at restaurants? Doesn't that take some of the fun out of going out to eat? And why do people think that it's more healthy for you if it's wrapped in a tortilla. It totally isn't. K told me so when she looked at the blasted calorie counts at Red Robin. Also it doesn't taste good.
6. Have I had a hard time keeping (read finding) a man because I don't cook and clean enough? I bake things. and I just cleaned my room just today. Okay, it still needs a good vacuuming, but it's not too trashy in here. You can walk and everything.

Discuss.

She's Every Woman

My roommate is soooo strong.

Really I don't think there is any room for argument.

That One Weekend I Went Outside

In this season of TV drought, it's difficult for a TV junkie like me with no job to fill the time. Yeah, there's the job search thing but sometimes I like to do fun things too.

This week is an especially sucky TV week. I'm not pointing any fingers, but I will say, PEOPLE, they would not cover certain events and people so much if you would stop watching it, clicking on it, and buying it. Make the madness stop! This is ridiculous. But I refuse to give it any blog time. Instead, I have been:

1. Hiking up a mountain, nearly fainting, and then stumbling back down. To the left, you see the beginnings of the path that inclined upwards and which I nearly tumbled down (K would have been the airbag in that crash). Turns out you are supposed to eat a breakfast with protein or something before you go on hikes on an 80-ish degree day with humidity. Who knew? At least at the top while I ate my almonds and chugged my water, I could enjoy the wonderful view of Mt. Rainier. For you Washingtonians, did you know there were hiking paths at Green River Community College? Like real ones, with switchbacks and mile posts and dirt and hills that make out-of-shape girls pass out? Totally does. I was very impressed.

Moving on, the next thing I did with my weekend was NOT spend time with Alice, the Mad Hatter, and their Tea Party crew. I sat around and felt sad because they weren't coming. Luckily, I didn't do that all weekend. I went on a wee road trip to visit one of my oldest friends Reeses and company (get it, Reeses, that was a subtle dig about your age).

We watched the fireworks Saturday night from the inner coast of the Peninsula of Washington. We could kinda see Tacoma, Seattle, and Edmonds all at one time. How cool is that? Couldn't really tell where all the Islands were, but they were there. It all looked like one land mass to me. Also, I could see a teeeeny tiny space needle. It was right next to Mt. Rainier, and so teeny I didn't notice it when I took my ten millionth Mt. Rainier picture, because apparently I love Mt. Rainier almost as much as Youtube. See it? No? Your inattention to detail is killing me. It's right....

There on the left... Duh. We saw lots of dead crabs when we walked the beach right by the house that day. Also a dead fish head. So of course Reeses had to sing the Fish Heads song. I know, you wish you were there, huh? We watched the veeeeery far away fireworks over Lake Union. They were teeny and cute and we could hear the booms from the distance, and we were the only ones on the beach.

Good News Minute!

In Relief Society at church, we have a Good News minute every Sunday, where the girls can all pipe up and share happy things in their lives. Some people go what some opine is waaaaay overboard and share things like "I had a good day at work," while we also experience our fair share of "I'm engaged!" We are, after all, a singles branch.

My good news for the day, which I'm fairly certain I will not share on Sunday, is that Chris and Mariska renewed their contracts.

It would not be the same without them. They saw me through a very miserable bout of the flu a few years ago, and we have been tight ever since.



Turns out that they don't like to share, so it was really hard to find one on youtube to embed. Sillies.

Also, what higher endorsement can it receive:

Reasons I Love Dizzle #1

I love Dizzle because she showed me this site. It is a site full of what one of my favorite bloggers would call Food Porn. The best and only kind I find acceptable.



Now I am hungry. I need to bake something. And eat it.