Starbuck's Santa

I was at the Starbuck's drive thru yesterday morning, ready to hand my debit card over to the cashier when he startled me.

"High 5," he said.

Ummm, OK.

"The lady in the car ahead of you wanted to wish you

a Merry Christmas and your order is on her!"

"What? Are you serious?"

"Yep ... enjoy your breakfast!" he said.

What a simple, thoughtful act of service and giving during this holiday season. I had a grin a mile wide, shaking my head in disbelief and glee all the way to work.

The best part? I'm officially inspired! Not only did that just brighten my day, but I now can't wait to do something similar.

I encourage each of you reading this to follow in Ms. Honda Pilot's generous footsteps and make someone's day with a small, simple act of kindness. And why not carry this into the New Year. Creatively wish someone a "Merry Monday" one of these days or "Happy Groundhog Day!"

The Power of Three ... Tagged

What are the last three things you purchased (aside from groceries)?

* Tile and scrapbook paper for craft projects

* Holiday scented candles

* Dinner at Bajio's

What are the last three songs you downloaded to your iPod?
* A remix of "Defying Gravity" from Wicked

* "Let it Rock" from Kevin Rudolf

* Newest Xtina Aguliera song

What are three of your favorite movies?
* Addams Family Values

* Army of Darkness

* My Big Fat Greek Wedding

What are three things you have not done yet?
* Skydiving

* Played in the Atlantic Ocean

* Gone snow skiing

What are three things you can't live without?
* iPod

* Propel water

* Curel lotion

What are your three favorite dishes?
* Lasagna

* Lobster

* Salad with everything on it

What are three of your favorite tv shows?
* Monk

* Gray's Anatomy

* The Office

What are three of your favorite desserts?

* Cheesecake

* Apple Crisp

* Costco White Cake with Vanilla Mousse Filling

What are the last three places you traveled to that are more than 100 miles away?
* St. George

* Seattle

* New Jersey

What are three things you'd buy if money weren't an issue?

* Dyson Vacuum

* iMac

* Acura TL

I now tag anyone who reads this. Share your top 3s.

In honor of the upcoming premiere!

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Winter Joy

My Winter Bliss has begun! 

Sipping on a Starbuck's Caramel Apple Cider

Trying on a new cozy sweater. 

I love this time of year! 

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.

Life on hyperdrive!

The last 3 weeks have been a complete blur! A hilarious, grin-inducing, heartbeat-skipping, exhausting, invigorating, reality check, I've-seen-the-light, bucking for a job promotion incredible blur! 

More posts to come soon! 

Let's go down to the OzDust Ballroom

I just got home from a quick work trip to Los Angeles. I went there to sell cookbooks for one of my authors. Before all the cooking demonstrations and book selling, however, I managed to plan a trip to Pantages Theatre to see Wicked. It was so incredible! 

I've always loved going to the theater and I've been so blessed to have many opportunities to watch amazing plays and musicals (Thank you Utah Shakespearean Festival!) It's always such a joy to sit and watch a whole new world unfold through stunning scenery, powerful music, award-worthy acting and impressive dancing. From classic, much-loved productions like "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera" to comical farces like "Servant of Two Masters" and "Complete Wrks of Wllm. Shkspr (Abridged)," to little known powerful plays like "Stones in His Pockets" ... I have logged many an evening at the theater and that's not even mentioning all the Shakespearean productions! 

And now I'm so excited to add "Wicked" to my continually growing theater list. Here's a trailer for the touring production I thought I'd share. Check out the musical's website here.

Some overdue credit

I must apologize for my neglect in giving my talented, brilliant and fabulous sister in law Juline the much-deserved, much-appreciated credit for being the mastermind behind hanging all those great photos and pieces of art in my wonderful home!

Thank you, Juline!

Your handiwork will be treasured for years to come!

OK ... am I out of the doghouse now?

Today's fairy tale

Once upon a time a talented, vivacious, yet oh-so-klutzy 30something woman took a bit of a fall. Balancing on clicky heels isn't always an easy thing, after all. Stepping off a curb, her favorite kitten heel decided to slip, and down on the concrete she went, spraining her ankle in the process. 

Wounded, but not broken this good-natured woman was quick to make fun of herself and her not-so-graceful spill. Sharing the story with a close friend, she was hoping to net a bit of sympathy ... fully knowing she would make this handsome guy laugh hysterically. And laugh he did ... first via email, then in person when the two met up one morning before work. 

After poking fun at her lack of grace, he offered a sweet farewell and trudged off to jump into his truck. Within a blink of an eye, (unfortunately while our fare damsel's back was turned) Sir Teases-a-Lot was lying in the road, Starbucks coffee spilled on the asphalt, a divot in the grass the apparent culprit! 

Enter our heroine ... KARMA! 

*********************************************************************************

I'm STILL laughing at how perfectly timed Karma can be! Luckily he wasn't too wounded ... His pride? Quite possibly. 

Think, think, think...

For some, great ideas are found in the boardroom. Others have sudden epiphanies. Still others hash out their discoveries over hours, days or even weeks. 

Well, my ideas  are usually uncovered in ... the bathroom! OK, let me explain. I tend to sort out my thoughts, come up with ideas or work out problems while in the porcelain-filled room. Usually it's while shampooing my hair, but I'm not ashamed to admit I do some of my best thinking while sitting on the commode. 

I'm going to call it Bathroom Brilliance!

Online Home Tour

It's feeling more and more like HOME!

Here's a quick photo tour of my new abode.

Home Sweet Home

The artwork hasn't been hung yet. The weeds aren't all pulled. Not all my furniture is put together. The boxes still aren't aren't all unpacked. 

Even though I still have a ton of work left to do on my wonderful new home, I'm ready to party! 

So it's housewarming time!!

Saturday, July 26 at 5 p.m.

I guess I still have a week to do some more cleaning and decorating ... and luckily two of those days off work! 

If you're thinking you might be in the neighborhood next week,  give me a shout and I'll give you directions to my new pad. 

Zoo Zoo Zoobalee Zoo

Here's a TON of photos from a recent trip to Hogle Zoo. It is so amazing having Jeff, Juline, Adi and Kohen living so close! And my camera sure doesn't slow down whenever I'm around these adorable kids!

Loves her Hello Kitty shades

Hanging with our long-necked friends

Look at that chubby boy!

So beautiful

The next show on "Must-See TV"?

I've always thought most of the quirky, unbelievable, odd, hilarious, humiliating, ridiculous, painful, bizarre and even heart-breaking moments of my life would make a PERFECT sitcom ... Some situation that would be a classic Ross story from "Friends" or even an Elaine tale from "Seinfeld" (no ... I do NOT dance like her, thank heavens!)

Here is a quick rundown of some classics in Jenn's life:
* The Peppermint Head doll. Ok, this is a lengthy story that is worth a whole post, but the quick version is this was a "Doll" adorned in starlight mints that a so-called boyfriend (I use that term VERY loosely) gave me for Valentine's Day. HORRIFYING!
* Being run over (nearly knocked down) by a car while walking through the parking lot at work. And ... it was a hit and run!
* Having my home and car broken into a total of 3 times ... all within 1 year. The cell phone being the victim all 3 times.
* Fainting a couple of times while working on stories for the newspaper.
* 3-inch-long cockroach crawling through my hair while I slept.
* Falling down the stairs (falling is a common occurrence in my life) and not only seriously bruising my fanny, but actually causing a deformity.
* Being attacked by a cat in the middle of the night.
* Exploding television sets.
And the list could go on and on and on...

I was recently reminded of a CLASSIC moment in the dating realm of my life...

Online dating has never been that big of a deal for me. Maybe I’m a little too trusting. Maybe I’m a tad naïve. Maybe I’m overly hopeful. At any rate, I have had many a date where we “met” online.

The most memorable, and actually one of my first, online dates was with a guy we’ll call “Jackson”. After emailing back and forth, texting and talking on the phone for several weeks, we decided to meet up for lunch.

My dad, who thinks himself quite the clever comedian and prank-instigator, mentioned how humorous it would be to spook this blind date.

“Ask him if he has experience with wheelchairs,” he said with a devious grin. “And then tell him you’re going to need help getting from your car to the restaurant.” Knowing full well teasing this unsuspecting guy and making him think I’m wheelchair-bound would not be nice, I of course kept Dad’s idea to myself.

D-day arrived and I met Jackson at the restaurant and everything went smoothly. Conversation was quite comfortable. In fact, it felt so comfortable I decided to relate my dad’s prankster idea, laughing near-hysterically as I told the story.

“Actually,” Jackson began … “my daughter is in a wheelchair.”

Oh My GOSH! I was so embarrassed, mortified, floored and shocked!

Needless to say, Dad doesn’t get involved in the “planning” of my online or blind dates anymore.

Posting Promise...

I hereby promise to post more regularly on this blog!
I hereby also promise to visit and comment on my friends' blogs more regularly as well!

OK, that said ... here's a taste of what is in store for the next few days!
* Author Signing Starvation
* Zoo-tastic
* Making a "Spectacle" of myself
* And whatever other photos, observances, stories, embarassing moments or other blog fodder I can come up with.