Japanese Flashback

Right after all my September travels, I had the chance to host my friend Naoko from Japan! She was in Utah for about 2 weeks and I was lucky enough to be one of her stops on her visit. It was so much fun to spend time visiting and catching up. I just wish it had been longer and that I didn't have to spend my days at work instead of hanging out with her!

While she was here, she, my roomie Angie and I took a trip to SLC to tour the Beehive House in the hopes of seeing a particular Sister Missionary. Vivian was one of the many great friends I met while I was in Tokyo, so it was so wonderful for both Naoko and I to see Vivian. It was a great reunion!

Afterward we decided to grab a bite to eat at the Lion House. So tasty. 

Workin' my way through Wyoming!

In September I managed to travel to Wyoming twice for a couple of trade shows. While we did spend pretty some busy, and some not-so-busy days, in Wyoming, we did manage to have some fun! 

The first trip was to Jackson Hole. I haven't been there for years, but this town sure does hold some great memories for me! Lots of trips down the Snake River! 

Kelly and I had to get a few photos at some of the popular tourist locales. 

Kelly and I couldn't resist getting our photo under one of the the Antler Arches.

On our way home we traveled through Bear Lake. So incredibly beautiful! I forgot just how BLUE that lake is! 

After Jackson Hole, Jill and I traveled up through Yellowstone and then spend 5 days in Cody, Wyoming. It was my first visit to the cute, kinda sleepy town ... or so I thought. 

When I mentioned to my parents that I'd be traveling to Cody for the first time, they both, in completely eerie unison, said ... "Oh, you've been there!"  Ummm, what? 

Turns out, I was conceived in Cody, Wyoming. Ahhh ... now it all comes together! So that's why they almost named me Cody. 

Cute Jill. This was her first trip to Yellowstone ... We should have spent more time! Sorry Jill!

The case of the missing flowers

EDITOR'S NOTE: I wrote and posted this entry on Oct. 9 and, after reading it, realized I sounded pretty pathetic. But ... after some thought I've decided to re-post it. It was a pretty crazy story ... fitting for my crazy life! hehe And since this blog is about my life ... let the "crazies" be documented. 

I turned the ripe old age of 35 over the weekend! I know, I know, I know ... I don't look a day over 29. Thank you! You are too kind ... and so very right!

Having recently started dating a great guy a few weeks ago, I was excited for a possible delivery (ok, so a little birdie told me I would likely receive something) of a floral arrangement or gift of sorts to my office the Friday before the big birthday. Obvioulsy I was over-the-moon giddy that I was going to receive flowers for my big day. 35, afterall, is a pretty big landmark birthday! 

As the end of my day at work drew near, I began to realize there wasn't going to be a delivery in my future. Even though I was disappointed, I figured some sort of eventual surprise from this great guy would find me somehow.

Spending the weekend in St. George with friends, I was apart from my crush but received an early morning birthday wish with a question about when I was coming home. Ahh, I thought, he's planning something for my return.

Well, sadly he sent me a message the next day telling me he actually did send me flowers and chocolates to my office on Friday! What an incredible guy!! But ... where did they go? Why didn't I get them?

Apparently there is a "Jennifer" out there enjoying the aroma and beauty of MY flowers while munching on MY chocolates!

So, to that Wannabe Jennifer: I hope you are allergic to flowers and breakout from eating all that chocolate! 

Calling all phone book companies

YellowPages. Local Book. Dex. Verizon. 

When will the phone book parade stop??

I'm so incredibly sick of finding a new, hefty volume sitting in the driveway. In fact on Saturday I actually received TWO different phone books within about 20 minutes of each other. 

What a completely ridiculous waste of paper! And where in the world am I suppose to store all 12 phone books I've received in the last 3 weeks? 

Now, if only there some way one could look up phone numbers digitally? 

Oh Wait! There is ... Dexonline and Yellowpages.com and trusty 411 (even if you do have to pay for it). And ... I almost forgot ... 1-800-FREE411

I am sure hoping the parade has stopped! Although I'm sure the "festivities" will begin again in a short 6 months. Maybe I can find a way to take my house off the parade route! 

A new holiday I can't wait to celebrate!

Happy, er I mean UNhappy, National Grouch Day!

I was reading a blog, actually dedicated to all things chocolate, and the blogger announced that Oct. 15 is National Grouch Day! And of course, her remedy is to medicate with chocolate -- Brilliant!

So, to celebrate ... before indulging in some warm, gooey chocolate ... here are my GROUCHES for the day!
* I have a sinus headache.
* My face continues to breakout (no, I'm not going to blame chocolate!).
* I haven't received nearly enough text messages lately.
* I keep missing phone calls with my best friend in Seattle.
* Payday isn't for another week.
* My roomie is thinking of moving out.
* My sprained ankle from nearly 3 months ago still aches!

What are your GROUCHES? How are you going to celebrate? We all should mark our calendars for this time next year and really have a great Grouchy Day!

Oscar would be proud!

Blog worthy?

As a huge fan of Seinfield, I loved the episode where Elaine judges her dates for their "Sponge-Worthiness"... is this man worth the precious, nearly extinct form of contraception? As I recall, very very few men were ever deemed "Sponge Worthy."

No, this isn't a post about contraception! Rather, a quandary as to what in my life is actually Blog Worthy. What minutia of my life is worthy of a comical, tragic or even heart-felt blog post? There are little things that strike me a humorous every day, but are they worth jotting down for blogosphere readers? Does anyone even really care? Does anyone even read this blog? Hmmmm, now maybe that is the real question here.

Do people really care about my dating dramas ... and believe me there are a lot (Which boy I'm dating now? Old boyfriends and their excessive baggage -- no way that is EVER going to fit in the "overhead bin" of my life! Which online date had which disease, brain injury or other ailment?) Do people really care about what movies/plays/concerts I recently bought tickets to? Do people really want to hear me gush on about my adorable niece and nephew?

Maybe it's simply a time for a revival of this blog. A renewed love for posting is in the near future, so stay tuned for more humor, photos, and quirky observations.