halloween

ok. so i am still alive. i have not seen any more of a Toyota around. i should tell you the reason i didn't call 9-1-1 to begin with. 9-1-1 on my cell phone takes forever to connect. i discovered this when Lisa & I were driving to Provo and were almost side-swiped by a reckless driver. we watched him almost take out two other cars, so i called 9-1-1 while Lisa kept driving and trying to stay out of his way. this is what i heard after it finally connected: "the number you are calling is an emergency number. do you know you are calling an emergency number. if you are not in an emergency, please hang up now. if this is an emergency, stay on the line. the number you are trying to call is an emergency number. do you know you are calling an emergency number..." it took about 2 minutes before I got through to a dispatcher. it took about a minute to connect to make the call. I didn't get the licence plate of the Toyota because I didn't think they were going to hunt me down. i also didn't want to hint to them that i was getting on my cell phone. dark car....dark outside...cell phone easy to see light up. i was also looking for a cop. they could have pulled me over and i could have explained to them the situation. and for the record i never believed it was anything racial. i just was scared that some insane people were going to find a way to kill me. so thanks Brooke for calling me mexican.
ok. on to Halloween. I got up early this morning to get myself ready for Halloween. i actually took time to do my hair in curls and put on make up. i am a 10 minute girl. if i can't be ready in 10 minutes or less, i just don't care what i look like. too bad for everyone else. it took me an hour this morning to shower, dress, dry my hair, put on make up, and do my hair. My costume was that of a diva. so i curled my hair and pulled it sort of up so the curls flowed down. i actually put on eye shadow, blush, lipstick, eyeliner, and mascara. Mona was kind enough to loan me some bling. actually, all of my accessories came from Mona. my doggie was on loan from a friend. anyway i got quite a few complements today at work. it was fun to see people do a double take as they knew they knew me, but were not quite sure at first why. i will post pictures after i take them after tonight's fun and games. i just thought i would do a quick update for now. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

frightmares

this week has been pretty boring. I did get to go to a corn maze on Thursday with Lisa's ward. It was alright. We only got sort of lost. We didn't want to stay too long there because we were going to go watch "the office" at Tyler's house. TVO is pretty much amazing. Anyway...Friday Lisa, Lisa, Emily, Teri, and I went to Frightmares. I don't really care for lagoon, but I do like frightmares. They had great costumes and makeup, but I never truly got scared. Perhaps it was because I didn't have a guy to protect me, so I had to just protect myself. Honestly though, it wasn't that scary. We all had a great time though. I think the funnest ride we went on was Wicked. I had never been on it before. Wow! It was sickening fun. After lagoon, we went to find a 7-11 for some hot chocolate. Our journey was successful. Yummy! I love the seasonal flavors they put in (pumpkin pie). MMMMM good! We got back to Ogden shortly after midnight and Lisa dropped us all off at our different parking spots. I had the scare of my life driving home from the Marriott (we decided to meet there since Lisa got off the latest). I was behind this Toyota 4 runner and it was going 20 in a 40. I couldn't get around them. The next thing I know, they are putting the back window down and the girl in the passenger seat starts yelling at me and making very threatening gestures. I may mention that they were in the left lane and should have moved over and put on their hazards since they refused to drive the speed limit. I gestured back a 4 and a 0 with my fingers and then found a window to get over. I took it. I sped up and they sped up. They weren't going to let me pass them. Finally I got past them. As I was passing them in the right lane, the girl in the passenger seat really started making gestures and yelling. I ignored them and kept driving. I got ahead of them and didn't think any more on it until I saw them following me. They had sped up and were now riding my butt. I sped up a little more (going 55 in a 40) hoping to pass a cop that I know was in the area since it was Friday night in Ogden on Washington boulevard. Just my luck...no cops. They were still following me, but I had some distance in front of them. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want them to follow me home. I didn't want to pull over and let them do something to me, and I didn't want to keep driving and let them run me off the road. I decided that I needed to do something. There are usually Weber county sheriffs hanging out on the deck in front of the WT fire station. I know all of them. They can help. I was now passing the street I usually take to get home. By the way, I live in Washington Terrace. I took the next street. It leads straight to the fire house. The speed limit in the terrace is 25. I was doing 40. I got in front of the fire station and saw no sheriffs. I stopped at the stop sign, and looked right. Yes! There was a sheriff, but he had someone pulled over. What was I supposed to do now. Pull in front of the person and say "help i am being followed?" I pulled into the fire station parking lot. The Toyota didn't come into the parking lot, but they pulled over onto the street by the fire station parking lot. The girl started making gestures again, but didn't get out of her car. I stayed in mine and turned off the ignition and my lights. we stayed this way for about 5 minutes or so. I started shaking and my heart was pounding. I don't work at the station anymore and don't know the door code to get in. What was I going to do? pound on the door until they opened up? I may mention that I didn't leave the station on the greatest terms with these guys. I saw the girl flick something out her window. I think it was a cigarette or a drug of some kind. Finally the Toyota drove off. I waited about 30 seconds and pulled out of the parking lot. I went the direction they went because I still didn't want them to follow me home. I also didn't want them to go around the block and see me leaving. I figured if I didn't see them, I should be okay. I got home and quickly turned off my lights and ignition. I started shaking even harder and began to think that if they drive around the area that they would find me and who knows what they would do to me or my roommate or my landlords or any of our cars or the house. I called Lisa. She got me to calm down enough to drive up to her house. I still was really shaken up. Lisa stayed on the phone with me until I got to her house. I stayed the night. I hope that these people don't come looking for me or anything. if you are reading this and have any suggestions of what i could do to protect my roommate, landlords, and me please let me know. I would greatly appreciate it. Or if you think that they aren't going to come around, let me know so I can take some comfort in it.

camping....

The weather was perfect this weekend. Everyone that was going to come camping decided not to come. They all had other things going on. So Lisa and I came up with plan b. We stayed in town Thursday night and hung out with Kurt and Tyler and watched "The Office" Of course I had to go to the Marriott and get my hot chocolate and tortilla strip soup. It was after that that Lisa & I went to Tyler's house. We stayed there and talked for a few hours. Then we went back to Lisa's and crashed. This is Tyler & Lisa. And this one is Kurt. Friday morning: Lisa woke up fairly early and took her car in to get an oil change & tire rotation. She was kind enough to let me sleep. When she got back, we ate breakfast and got ready for the day. Since we couldn't leave Ogden until after Lisa picked up her check at 10, we took our time getting ready. We actually didn't leave Ogden until about noon. Oh well...this is vacation and we were going to enjoy it! No rushing! We drove down to Provo and decided to see if we could check in early. (Since no one else came, we made an executive decision to not mess with a large tent.) Lisa gets discount rooms at Marriott hotels. We checked in and I have to say the beds in this room were so comfortable that Lisa & I almost decided to just sleep instead of hike. But "hike" we did. We drove to Bridal Veil Falls. I say "hike" because we both thought that it would be a hike. Bridal Veil Falls actually turned out to be more of a paved stroll walk by the falls. It was still really pretty. I love the fresh air and beauty of nature. This is Bridal Veil Falls "hike" While we were taking pictures, this couple came up and said "you guys look like you know what you are doing. will you take our picture?" Lisa of course took it. I told her she needs to start carrying business cards to hand out. She could have given them one and said, "here. when you get married, give me a call." We took a lot of pictures. Then our stomachs started growling. We went back to the hotel and got dressed up for dinner. Italian food was our pick. The front desk person suggested the restaurant Ottavios. I am sure that it is spelled wrong since I can't spell. Anyway, the food was fabulous! Lisa got pollo penne something and I got pollo pente cannelloni. It was a party in your mouth. The best part was that it was only a few blocks from the hotel, so we walked there and got to work off some dinner walking back. We went back to the hotel and fat dogged.

Then we decided we could eat again, and went downstairs to the restaurant in the hotel and got dessert. I got the raspberry cheesecake and Lisa got the milky way chocolate cake. Both were amazing good. We went back to our room and fat dogged a little more. The pool was still open for another hour, so we put our suits on and headed down. Hot tubs are so wonderful. Then we went to bed because we had to kinda wake up early Saturday in time to hike and get ready for Weber State football. Stewart Falls was the slected hike for Saturday. It is such a beautiful hike up to the falls and the falls are really pretty too. I was hoping we could have had a bit more time to enjoy all of it, but we had a great time nonetheless. There are so many marvelous things and colors in nature. We just have to remember to take the time and care for them and enjoy them.

too soon!

Does anyone else think this is too soon? I woke up today and this is what my car looked like. BLAH! too soon! Anyway... I guess winter is here. Hopefully it will melt this week and this coming weekend will be perfect weather. Lisa & I & some friends are supposed to go camping. I think if it is this cold and there is even more snow, we may have to find something else to do.

Yesterday was amazing. I got to sleep in. I went to the gym with Lisa, Lisa, and Stacia. We were planning on just running and then maybe doing some abs. Well, as it turns out Mike, our Body Jam instructor, was doing his video to actually become an instructor. We were asked if we wanted to do Body Jam and help with his video. Heck yes we do!...want to do body jam. The camera was pointed at Mike the whole time, so it made things better. What a great workout! After the gym, I went to Lisa's house and got ready for the day. Lisa had to take engagement pictures, but it was really raining hard. So, she asked me to come be her assistant and hold the umbrella. Lisa got some really cute pictures, even with the rain. By the time we finished, we were both freezing. I talked Lisa into hot chocolate from 7-11. That is my second favorite place to get hot chocolate...Starbucks is first. Then we went back to Lisa's. She had to get ready for a gala. I had to get ready for my date.

Jonathon is such a sweetheart. I hadn't really decided exactly what we were going to do for our date. I did have planned "the haunted village," and I did know that I wanted to eat somewhere. Poor Jonathon was so patient while I questioned him on what kind of food he wanted and if a haunted house was alright...(some people will not do haunted houses) He was even kind enough to drive to my house and then we took my car to Salt Lake. I took him to P.F. Chang's. Jonathon had never eaten there before. Stupid me forgot that it was Saturday night. The wait was an hour and a half before we finally got a table. I should have made reservations. The food was fabulous! We ordered the egg drop soup, mongolian beef, and sweet & sour chicken. YUMMY! After dinner, we met up with Lisa, her cousin Preston, and his friend. We all went up to "the haunted village" It was fun. I think the scariest part of the whole thing was when Jonathon got caught in a 'spider web' and I was trying to help free him. The others had gone on ahead. Suddenly there was someone standing next to Jonathon. He jumped, and that made me jump. It was Lisa. She had her hood up and the lighting had given her face a ghostly glow. We both had thought it was one of the characters getting up in our faces to scare us. It was so funny. It was even funnier when Lisa finally understood why we had jumped. I swear sometimes my dear Lisa is completely blonde. (you know I love ya Lis!) and ok, I have my moments too....far more frequent than Lisa.

We were all freezing when we finished getting through the village. Hot chocolate sounded perfect. They usually have a hot chocolate table, but since they were closing for the night, we missed it. The snow started coming down. I had told Jonathon at the start that I don't like driving in snow and that if it started snowing, he would have to drive my car. He is wonderful. Lisa suggested 7-11 for hot chocolate. We found one and Preston was sweet enough to buy our hot chocolates. I think this had to do with the fact that I had called Preston gay. He has bling bling earrings and we were all teasing him about it. It was pretty funny. Anyway... Jonathon drove my car home and that was the end of my Saturday.

thursday traditions?

I think I will have to make a new Thursday tradition. This tradition will be to go get a hot chocolate from Starbucks every Thursday. Quite possibly too I think I will have to make it a soup day as well. Yesterday I went to the Marriott again. I ordered the hot chocolate and then stuck around and talked to Lisa until the restaurant opened. I ordered the corn chowder soup (it is also life changing...) but was given the tortilla strip soup. Oh well. I love them both. Kurt decided to join me and upon discovering I was given the wrong order, ordered me and himself corn chowder soup. It was fabulous! well I got done eating and Lisa was off work so I went home and got ready to go to the gym. I ran 3 miles while watching "the office." running is easier when you have something to distract you from what you are actually doing.... hmmm... anyway, Lisa & I also decided we were swimming after our run. We probably swam about a mile. Lisa did more laps than me, and I think she was actually at a mile and a half. I have discovered I am not a great swimmer. I only am maybe average. I have to laugh at the guys that ask what swim team Lis & I are on....our answer: none nor have we ever been. Then I have to laugh at all the guys at the Marriott that Lis works with. Yesterday I got asked quite a few times if I was her sister. It was hilarious to see their reactions when my answer was "no, but we basically are." I don't think many people really believed us that we are not blood related. Oh well.
On to today... Work was easy today. Our office was not the usual boiler room. It has been so hot as of late that we have to have a fan set on high constantly going. Today we did not have to turn the fan on. It was the perfect temperature. I could only work for 5 hours today. I got a fair amount done and I am beginning to really like Fridays. I was done with work and came home and got my laundry done before I usually get off work. WAHOO! Next weekend will be even better. I got Friday off and Lisa & I & some friends are going camping. I am so excited. And I won't miss that much work because I usually have 35+ hours before I come in on Fridays.
I am also really excited for tomorrow. I get to sleep in. Hopefully go to the gym. Get ready for a date. Hopefully go to The Haunted Village. and who knows what random thing I will end up doing. I do know that it is going to be cold, but I am excited to wear sweaters. It's sweater season! That's all I have for now. Until next time....

christmas is coming!!!

ok, ok, really Christmas is still a while away, but today I had to make sure that all the Christmas items we will have on sale are in our system. Christmas will be arriving on Wednesday...tomorrow and available to purchase Thursday morning. BLAH! What happened to Halloween and Thanksgiving? They don't exist do they?! Yes there are a lot of really cute items coming in for Christmas, but honestly do they have to put it out so soon? I have not even begun to think about what I am getting anyone for Christmas. I have not even begun to think that there will soon be snow and I will have to start driving to work again. I wonder when it was that Christmas became such a huge retail nightmare. There is so much pressure to get Christmas out now. By the time Christmas finally comes, we are all so sick of it that we loose the true meaning. I can't remember the last time I was truly excited for Christmas and felt the magic behind it. What kind of a world has this become? I want to cry that we can't even remember Thanksgiving. What an amazing holiday it is. We get to remember all the wonderful blessings we have and pig out and sleep and be with loved ones. Anyway... I think I will veto Christmas until after I remember and celebrate Thanksgiving!

a week later...

so a lot has happened this past week. I haven't written because I have been out doing things... mostly the gym with Lisa. ok, let me sum up; Tuesday...my boss was back at work. hooray. she was mad because the other people in the office didn't listen to me. but that is usual, unfortunately. they don't like me because I have authority over them and I am the newest to the department. whatever. she told them to get over it. work went alright. I was excited to be done with work because IRON MAN came out on DVD. I bought it at Circuit City. Wahoo! then I came home and watched it. Lisa was then available so we went to the gym. I then had to get to bed because Wednesday is the day I have to be at work at 3am. and that was Tuesday.
Wednesday... Work was crazy. I felt like I had lead in my pants. Time was flying, but I was not moving fast enough to get everything done. I still got it all done, but it was a long day. I went home and took a nap. Then Lisa, the other Lisa, and I went to BODY JAM in Layton. It was awesome. I was drenched in sweat by the time it got done. We decided the night was still fairly young and since we are all poor, we came back to my house and made smoothies from frozen fruit. They were yummy! and that was Wednesday.
Thursday. another crazy day at work. once again I felt like I could not move fast enough. My boss was gone...she had to take her husband to the doctor. there were so many price changes, and I couldn't go help hang them. I had to print and sort them. I was getting so frustrated with my co-workers. They were seriously not doing anything! When I left, an hour after I was supposed to, there were still 4 stacks of tags that needed to be hung. My boss texted me and asked how today went. I told her and she said she would talk to the others. It was ridiculous that with 4 people working, we could not get the tags hung. I was so mad when I left work that Lisa said I should get a hot chocolate...from the Starbucks she works at. It was much needed, so I went and because the Starbucks is also in the Marriott, I also treated myself to Tortilla Strip Soup. Then Lisa and I went to the gym. Kurt invited us to go see a movie at 9. So, Lisa and I went with Kurt and some other people to see "House Bunny." I have to say, I didn't care for it and will try to never see it again. My boss said I should sleep in tomorrow morning (Friday). so I went home and went to bed.
Friday: I slept in. Just an hour. but it was still nice. Worked for 6 hours. came home. did my laundry. fell asleep.
Saturday... was awesome. My phone ringing at 10 am woke me up. Lisa, "where are you?" Me, "my bed." Lisa, "get your butt up and get over here." me, "k. see ya in a bit."
So I went to Lisa's house and had breakfast while listening/watching conference. It was fabulous! between sessions, Lis and I went to Sears so Lis could get some new shoes. We found some really cute ones that will be comfortable for her to work in. then we drove quickly back to her house and watched the second session of Conference. Then I went home and got ready for Girls' Night. the other Lisa, Tiffany, and I went to the Marriott and ate. Kurt joined us. (he also runs the Marriott) He made an executive decision and decided to come to the movies with us. we went to "Eagle Eye" It is really intense and I really liked it. I am sure I will own it when it is out on DVD. After the movie, I sadly had to take Tiffany home. :( She had a rough week and needed sleep. But Lisa, Lisa, Mary, and I went to Lisa's and pampered ourselves. Mary is a Mary Kay lady now, so we got to do facials, and pedicures. It was wonderful! We put on a chick flick, and I was quickly asleep. oops. at least they didn't put my bra in the freezer.
SUNDAY! was great. we woke up to the delicious smells of waffles and peaches. Lisa cooked waffles for us with a delicious peach/raspberry sauce and whipped topping. we ate and watched conference. All of us in our pj's. I actually stayed in my pj's all day... but I didn't leave Lisa's house until after midnight last night/this morning. ok scratch that...we went to Lisa's grandpa's house for the afternoon session and Lis and I also went for a walk between sessions. Conference was fabulous. I really like that we can listen/watch from the comfort of our homes. Sunday evening/night was great too. I hung out with Lisa and her parents. I think I will probably start calling them 'momma & daddy arrington' because I have been up there so much. it is tradition for their family to get together on Sunday. so I got to hang with most of Lisa's family. I love her nephews and nieces. They are so cute. After they all left, Lisa and I stayed up and watch "Iron Man" and that was my week...a week later. i promise to post more.