Rule #11: Fruity candy canes are way better than mint ones

I had a new idea for the new year. Pictures of stuff we do every week. This will have a two-fold purpose. I will take more pictures and I will blog more often. Sometimes I may throw in old pictures just to mix things up.

So here's the wrap up from last week.

Saturday Dec 1st.

Adam went sailing and played video games with the guys. Laura read and went shopping and then watched this movie with some girlfriends:

Said movie I found throughly entertaining, but probably not in the way the movie makers intended. I will say though, that Jane Seymour's hair in this movie is A-may-zing. Seriously. There were times I worried her neck suffer might severe irreparable damage. I've never seen so much hair in one place.

The problem with this day of entertainment was simply that it didn't end soon enough. Why?

For one simple reason.

8AM CHURCH

We went to sleep far too late (though we did read the Sunday school lesson first) and yawned our way through the three hours.

And then we napped. Oh boy did we ever. I haven't had a proper Sunday nap for eons it seems like - pitfalls of the singles ward, church is always late it seems.

Anyway, I put a new Sunday evening activity into play this last week:

Yes that is me in the longest tube socks I have ever seen. (Those may not actually belong to me - debate rages) And my new chucks from Christmas. Yes I cut my head off from the picture. There's no need for anyone to see my hair post serious Sunday nap. The new activity would be Sunday afternoon walks which is why I am bundled up in all sorts of fabulousness. For now they are short and sweet on account of it being mighty chilly in these parts. Also we saw a cat that evening and I think Adam was afraid that if we stayed out too long I might go back and get it. I was sorely tempted.

Then it was Monday and all of a sudden the new year of work was upon us. Or some of us anyway. I did not have to work. Of which I was glad. I had ruined my sleep schedule over the break and some recovery time was in order. I ended up going to lunch with this handsome rascal however:

(That's Adam on his birthday with a sign we saw that pretty much sums up his approach to life the universe and everything)

And we ate barbecue.
Barbecue I've been craving for months mind you.

Adam tested out a termometer I had bought at Target that afternoon. (I really just put this up as picture evidence of the beard - makes a great contrast)

Tuesday arrived a lot faster than I had planned on (as such things do) and it was back to work. I put in my leave request, prompted by the purchase of certain plane tickets. Said purchase also prompted the check out of these, which I glanced at on Wednesday but did not start to seriously read on account of a gripping book club selection for the month (I have since finished said selection, no longer gripped.)

Wednesday I took a picture of my desk because apparently what I want to remember about this day is that I worked my tail off? I have no idea why I took said picture to be honest. I was probably proud of how tidy my desk was, though I know that to the untrained (realistically any) eye it probably looks like a disaster.

A little narration needed here I feel. The fairy is from my Mum who placed it atop the computer screen while she was here over the break. Prior to that she had rested regally in the wire mesh cup device that I still haven't found a real use for. The window in the background is supremely useful for days when you want to pretend none of it is happening. My office mate and I will often spend time staring out the window. The cup is for my hot drink in the mornings. And those pink post-it notes are almost literally covering the entire other half of my desk you can't see.

Thursday I went to the District of Columbia Superior Court. Many of our clients have to go and report to a Judge every year and Thursday was one of those days. The courthouse has a whole new entrance since the last time I was in it to be a bailiff for mock court. Quite pretty I think - makes for lots of light in the entrance area. I have to thank the security for the picture as I had clean forgotten that I was working on taking pictures until they pulled it out of my bag and held it hostage while I was at the hearing!

As for Friday? I can't for the life of me remember what we did. Not a clue. I will research and if anything is produced by said research include it in the next week's picture post.

Instead I will leave with a picture of the saddest thing that happened this week:

Adam took down the Christmas decorations which included these two Santa Claus'. The stocking was from my Mum and the other guy was from the day after Thanksgiving decoration blow out (we spent the majority of the day shopping for decorations) courtesy of our a wedding gift card for Pier 1. I would probably still have everything out if it were up to me to be honest. I hate to take everything down. Love to put it all up heartily dislike taking it down.

Rule #10:

There's this popping in my ear today.
Sort of reminiscent of the popping you do to your ears when you change elevation or pressure except it's happening every couple of seconds.
And it's making me crazy. Did I metnion that?
I am seriously craving hot chocolate. From Starbucks. With salted caramel and cream.
It's not even 1 yet and I am dreming about leaving work, but nothing hilarious has happened yet, so obviously I will have to stay.

Rule #9: Dancing like a maniac is totally worth the sore knees

I love my job. A lot. I get to do something for other people all day.
I do not enjoy reviews though. I have to do employee reviews in the next two months. As in I have to review them. Every bone in my body is pretty much terrified of that. I hate being a supervisor quite a bit. And then we have one of our funding agencies coming to review us. I'm not a huge fan of being at work on the weekends, and late at night to make sure everything is perfect. Especially when I'm pretty sure I'll forget something and that will be what they look at..... sigh.
Where's that line though? Between wanting to do a really good job and making yourself crazy? I'm getting to the point where I am ready to call it quits for my own sanity!
Anyway, on to the story for the day.

On Wednesday I got to work at 8 and I couldn't see the computer screen properly. It felt like I was wearing the wrong prescription - that fuzzy out of focus feeling. By 8:15 I had flashing lights all around the outer ring of the vision in my right eye. A sure fire sign the dreaded migraine is on its way. 8 in the morning is a a record for early onset though. Just for the record.

So. My boss came in and saw me holding my head and asked what was wrong. I told her I had a migraine starting. She proceeded to do some research with a fellow migraine sufferer in the building. She came back with this advice: salt, sugar, caffeine, peppermint, Excedrin and sleep. Considering I had already downed 2000mg (yes 2000 I wasn't messing around) of acetaminophen I figured I should probably skip the Excedrin (plus it was out of reach considering I had left it at home - despite looking at it on the couch that morning and wondering if I should bring it..... personal fail) but my coworker passed me some crackers and my boss rustled up some cheesy cracker things (who knew they made those in pepper jack? I had no idea but I think that is most excellent) and I ate some of the chocolate that was sitting on my desk (Bliss chocolate naturally).
By 9:30 I was nauseated and in huge amounts of pain. This of course produced the usual teasing a nauseated newlywed is subject to. And a hilarious conversation wherein my roughly 40-year old coworker who is 5 months pregnant said "This is a gift of God (referring to her cute belly) and it took me a lot of bible study to learn that. I told them (at bible study) God already done gave me gifts - I got three of them." So then I was laughing and nauseated.
At least by this point the flashing had stopped - that part always makes me feel dizzy too. Truly horrendous. One of my coworkers said, and I quote "You need to not be around us." I assured her I wasn't contagious and she kindly told me she meant I needed to go somewhere quiet. That's quite the challenge when you think about where I work.
Within a coupe of minutes I had thought of somewhere to go. We have a multipurpose room on the 3rd floor that has large walk in closets. When I got migraines on the mission I used to lock myself in the closet - dark and quiet. I decided this would be the perfect hideout for a little nap so I didn't have to toss the towel in and go home.
So, I headed up to the gym, unlocked the closet and used the yoga mats, blankets and blocks to good use. Two hours later at noon I stumbled out of the closet with the edge of my migraine definitely gone, but still pretty fuzzy and sort of useless.
By 3 o'clock I still wasn't back on form. And here's where it gets good. (I've just realised this is a really long post for a relatively short punch line) We're in staff meeting and my two co-workers are talking about what they are about to present to their employees in smaller 'breakout groups' and I start to question them on what they are presenting and when they decided this? They proceed to tell me that we had just discussed this.
"What? Where was I?" To which they assure me I was there and had discussed it.
Then I said the best line of the day: "I feel like I just came out of the closet."
Just like that.

Rule #8 Most things are all in your head

I've become addicted to the task feature of outlook express. Did you know that it scores through things when you tell it you've done them? It's like making a list, but on the computer. I love to make lists and score things off so I can see that I've done them. Sometimes I will put things on the list that I know I've already done. That way I can score them off and have the satisfaction of scoring them off along with the visual evidence that I have done something. It's highly rewarding.

Rule #7: No Sleep 'Til Richmond.

So, on the East coast there's a massive exodus of YSA's to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for Memorial Day.

Two years ago we went to said Exodus (these weekend shenanigans are called Duck and people will say things like "Are you going to Duck?" from around January on. There's a town down there called Duck - just to clarify - so it's not that strange of a code name. Still, it is pretty strange)

Moving on.

I was a soon-to-be unemployed intern at the time and did a little fund-raising (thanks Craiglist) to go, on the insistence of my roommate, hereafter known as Peas.

(Peas is her nickname in real life y'all - her and I are "like peas and carrots")

So Peas, her future husband, Adam (who was not yet dating me at the time) and I rode down to the Outer Banks together listening to a special mix CD Peas had made.

Said CD contained a well known song by the Beastie Boys whose lyrics contain this line: "NO SLEEP 'til Brooklyn!"

I was trying to sleep on the car ride. A pretty crazy proposition since we were driving in a convertible.

When this song came on everyone in the car sang AT me "NO SLEEP TIL RICHMOND." Which was one of the many cities we were going to drive past.

Bear in mind that I'm from Scotland (that's my standard excuse for not knowing stuff) and don't be too surprised when I tell you that I had no idea that the real lyrics said Brooklyn until a couple of months ago.

Said realization came when I said to Adam (who was dating me by now) "Isn't it crazy that they were singing about Richmond, and we were driving there." That may not be an exact quote but this is pretty much an exact quote for what Adam replied: "HAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHa!"

My life is full of adventures much akin to this one.

Today is our two monthiversary (I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to make up words) and I am thankful for two things: that we all partook in the sleepless, beach bum weekend that is Duck and that the next year after driving with "No Sleep til Richmond!" Adam proposed to me there. On the beach at sunrise mind you.

One of very few things, in my mind, worth getting up at 5am for!

Rule #6: Sunsets are only half as good as sunrises.

Daylight Savings time. I love it! I can't wait for this weekend for that very reason.

I've been asking Adam since the beginning of October when it was going to happen.

Of course, with 3 o'clock church, it won't make a huge difference. But still - it's much appreciated.

Rule #5: Aliens and Vampires do not mix well.

Cupcakes with little sprinkles on.
Most excellent.
People who think up treats like this: gross but cool.

Rule #4: November always comes too quickly

I am quite liking this November. I have had mixed luck with such things in the past.

Today I went walking in the neighborhood around work. It's quaint and historic.

Quaint and historic makes for terrible sidewalks for wheelchairs. Nevertheless we sallied forth, my friend and I to look at the porch decorations left over from Halloween. And I chattered to my friend since she doesn't do any of that. And we rolled over leaves and she laughed at the sounds and I was grateful for a world that offers so many things to enjoy. Even if my friend can't kick the leaves herself or tell me if she likes them - there was still something for her to enjoy.

And I thought about how I like November because it's the month of Thanksgiving and I'd like to document that.

Document daily thankfulness.

So today I am thankful for a multi-sensory world. And how glorious it really is.

Rule #3: Never trust a pirate with a..... actually, just don't trust any pirates.

Today is Thursday though when I awoke this morning I would have sworn up and down that it was Friday.

Sadly disappointed.

That's continued all day too. Usually one can get hold of these things, turn your brain around and make it accept the reality of a Thursday (a much maligned day if you ask me, it isn't really all that bad - it'd have much more of a chance if it weren't sitting next to such an entirely fabulous day). Today I did not manage to wrap my brain around anything.

All in all though, it was an excellent day.

And this is why.

I went to work, and spent all day dressed as Joan of Arc. (I had a sword and everything, courtesy of Adam)

Because I work at a job where such things are not only allowed but are in fact encouraged.

My boss spent half the day as Dora the Explorer.

Another boss spent half the day as the Queen of Hearts.

I had a pumpkin, a beach bum, a princess, and the Fonz for coworkers today.

I love my job.

I work here : Happy Place

Rule #2: Blue isn't actually the color that describes sadness, green is.

Hooray! I got Laura to post. This is just the beginning. Soon I will have to withhold things like chocolate and toast from her to get her to write, but write she will. Random stuff will follow. Musings on food, life, and food. Oh I said that twice. Well, I apparently am supposed to be cuddling someone now. Until next time.

Rule #1: Nobody Likes to Be Big Spoon

It's Sunday afternoon and darling husband says I can't have any cuddles until I write a post.
Cuddles are a major source of motivation for me because I am poorly.

Can you believe that my husband is using cuddles against a poorly wife?

It's quite shocking. Gasp inducing if you will.

Despite the shocking nature of this denial of cuddles, I am motivated. Apparently it's working.

So here goes.

I suppose we could start at the beginning.

We got married!

Except that's not really the beginning at all.

One time we got engaged.

But that's not really where we should begin I think.

We should really start here:

And here:

A random combination perhaps, but true nevertheless.

Adam and I met at institute.

Because of his shoes.

Maybe we shouldn't even start there, but even further back.

Here?

That's probably too far. (And yes, that really is me)

This makes more sense:

What are we even doing in Virginia?

Well, I will tell.

Because I am sure you are just dying to know. (Well, I'm going to tell you what I was doing here at least)

I was working (I always want to end that with the phrase "as a waitress in a cocktail bar") full time at a mediation center in Ogden, UT.

And when I say working what I really mean is: I was running it single handed.

In the meantime I was teaching at Weber State University, plying the unsuspecting public with a highly addictive substance and taking classes for a degree in my first love.

History.

Sigh of happiness.

Not to worry about the highly addictive substance, I wasn't endangering any innocents. I was just working here:

My contract (it was an Americorp job) at the mediation center was almost up. And my professor called one day and said:

"Would you like to go to DC?"

and I said

"Why yes, I would."

And that's how I ended up in Virginia. Living in a 6x10 room that I found on the lds listserve out here and doing an internship in Arlington. (The town, not the cemetery)

And then I fell in love.

But not with Adam yet.

Just Virginia.

So I went back to Utah for the Christmas break.

And then I came back to VA for another internship.

Because I loved the trees (the Scottish girl in me just loves and misses her trees).

And my roommates.

And the City of Washington D.C. All the living history here is amazing.

And it's beautiful too.

But back to the story.

Adam, Institute, and those shoes.

I went to Institute on Thursday Sept 4th, 2008.

It was my first week in the DC area. And my new roommate's boyfriend took me.

Afterward I saw this guy. With some awesome shoes on. Made of burlap. Seriously.

I love shoes.

And I love to give compliments.

So I combined both and told the tall guy with the good shoes that I liked those shoes. A lot.

In response to said compliment I received a slightly puzzled look and a half-hearted "thanks."

Adam thought I was sort of nuts. I don't know why but he says no one had ever commented on the shoes. Which I think is crazy. They are pretty marvelous if you ask me.

So, for weeks after that, while I was learning who everyone in the ward was and what their names were Adam was "the kid with the shoes."

And that's the beginning.