Monday, November 24, 2008

99 Life Experiences

For my 99th post here are 99 things to experience in a lifetime. I bolded the things I have done!

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (I've lost count!)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo (On my mission to some elderly people who I hope don't remember)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Been in the Southern Hemisphere
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch -or craft? painting furniture, jewelry
15. Seen the Taj Mahal
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (3 times!)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Learned to surf
23. Given a stranger a hug
24. Built a snow fort (Slept in it, too!)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Done a real triathlon
28. Seen the Alps
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset -both from the same beach on Oahu!
31. Hit a home run -but I rocked at base soccer in Elementary School)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language (No, but I've learned to speak 4 fluently in my lifetime!)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied -this changes...it all depends on my outlook.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a real movie or TV show
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - not a super profitable or professional one, but way fun! Eek to Chic
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies -but I've bought my fair share!
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (But I've tried...they don't like my blood)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (my china kitty from Copenhagen)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (Yuck! What's the big deal?)
72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square
74. Eaten a meal that cost more than $100
75. Learn to type faster than 70 WPM
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone -that's a good thing, right?
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem (Oooh, this is my dream!
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Nast!)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one (my great-grandma)
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (see 26) Missy!!
97. Been involved in a law suit (No, but Ben sued AT&T for a thousand dollars and won!)
98. done a doughnut in your car in the snow
99. Been stung by a bee

Thank you, Leslie, whom I stole this from. I changed a couple.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Twilight Anticipation Ended

I went to see midnight showing of Twilight with a group of friends...and the anticipation of the event was not quite the reality of the event.



Anticipation...
I expected some serious crazies in line, dressed up as vampires, hysterically hyperventilating at the thought of Edward on a gigantic movie screen, maybe some Bella-like melodramatic teenagers staring at the group of moms I was with, wondering what was wrong with us.

Reality...
Not even one good person to people watch in line! Most of the crowd were 17 year old teenage girls with a couple of boys, unhappy husbands and old ladies in the mix.

Anticipation...
That I would be really scared of the "bad" vampires and/or vampire scenes and that there could be a movie-goer or two dressed as one of the creepy creatures. (Okay, yes, irrational fear of vampires..I know!)

Reality...
The scariest part of the whole thing was a preview for some insanely freaky horror show about a lost twin...the Unborn? I couldn't even look at the screen. The whole audience was screaming and covering their eyes.
Oh, and me, pretending to be a vampire:




Anticipation...
We'd get bored or tired waiting for three hours for the movie to start.

Reality...
I had so much fun with my mommy posse and YW and no kids, and chatted the hours away!


Anticipation...
Cheesy romantic vampire story featuring melodramatic teenagers falling irrevocably in eternally deep love in a matter of days against impossible and unbelievable odds.

Reality...
Cheesy romantic vampire story featuring melodramatic teenagers falling irrevocably in eternally deep love in a matter of days against impossible and unbelievable odds.
I also found it rather funny!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Backburner Bacon in the Oven Blog

This is one of those posts I put on the back burner for a rainy day. Well, it's not really raining, but I can't think of anything to blog about. So here it is...how to make bacon in the oven. These directions are usually on the package of bacon you buy at the store, but I never tried it until a little while ago. I was happy with the results.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Place strips of bacon in single layer on a cookie sheet with raised edges.
Cook bacon for about 10-12 minutes for cooked bacon or 18-20 minutes for crisp bacon. No turning necessary.
Drain on paper towels.

The beauty of this method is that it makes less mess, I can cook it all at once, I don't have to vigilantly watch the bacon cooking to make sure it doesn't burn, I don't end up reeking like bacon, and I never get burned when the oil "spits."


Try it next time you make bacon.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Prop 8 passed!

I'm sure by now you've heard that Prop 8 passed, that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California." I feel like we have reason to celebrate! We have worked so hard here in Orange County to make this happen and I feel that all of our efforts paid off, especially since it was so close. 52% to 48%! It's a victory, for now, and I'll take it.

I want to share some things for posterity, things that I learned by supporting Prop 8.

My faith in a modern-day prophet has been strengthened. It was my belief in the prophet that initially began my support of prop 8. I struggled at first to come to terms with hurting people who are gay who cannot be happy unless they marry, mostly because I know and love 3 men who are close to me who struggle with same-sex attraction. I imagine how much I am hurting others, and those I love in particular, by standing up for something I believe might hurt my children and will eventually hurt society. It was hard for me to justify simply by reasoning it out, even taking into account all the legal ramifications. It was my faith in the prophet that helped me know that this was the right thing to do.

I was strengthened by stepping out of my comfort zone. I have never been this involved in politics and I'm not really gung-ho about getting into any political discussions with anyone. Over the last months, I learned that I can do scary things like calling or knocking on a stranger's to ask them how they are voting, to wave a sign on a street corner and listen to the angry shouts of those who oppose my views, go to voters' homes to ask them to please vote. In fact, it makes me stronger!


Our country is awesome! I am so grateful to live in a country where my vote matters, where we can worship as we please, express our opinions and fight for our rights!

I am part of an amazing community. I was awed by the incredible efforts of my friends and fellow church members during this campaign. People have rallied together and have given countless hours to fight for this cause. One example: we made 9,000 phone calls on Election Day to get voters out! I felt part of something important, and because we worked together, supported one another, we found strength in each other and I believe we have grown closer as a community of saints.

Children are smart, faithful and courageous. I had to explain to my kids why we had a Prop 8 sign in our yard, a bumper sticker on our car, why we went to rallies and made calls and worst of all, why there were people who opposed Prop 8. They not only understood clearly, but accepted it immediately and had the instant desire to help out. They cried when I told them they had to be 16 to wave signs. One of them snuck out of the house to wave our yard sign at neighbors passing by while shouting, "YES on 8."

Satan is the master of deception. He works slowly and carefully to forfeit and eventually destroy what is most sacred. Marriage. Family. The divine roles of men and women. The right of children to be raised with love by the two people who created them. He is hard at work!

The Lord's purposes will be accomplished. I know that no matter the outcome, it was the Lord's will to have us stand and fight for traditional marriage and the family. No matter how hard Satan works, the Lord will win eventually. I know that!