Go Team!

I went to the Jazz/Pacers game last night with some friends. We had good seats...lower bowl 15th row on the corner by the basket. It was a pretty pathetic showing (Jazz lost 60-84); it honestly looked like nobody was putting any energy into their effort, but we still managed to have a good time.

First up, dinner at Iggy's. I had never been there before, but I will go back. I had the Chicken Philly and it was delicious. The dipping sauce for the fries was especially good...kind of spicy/sweet.

Then we headed over to the Delta Center on the *free* bus...got there just in time for tip off. At half time we wandered up to the suite level where we managed to bum free drinks and meet up with some other friends. Then back to our seats for the entirely uneventful 2nd half.

Like I said, good seats, boring game, but a good time was had by all!

Weekend Stuff

It has been an extremely busy and productive Sunday morning. I have to admit that usually on Sundays I lounge around, watch movies, maybe read a book, finish up laundry, etc.; nothing very ambitious.

This morning however I made cookies (pumpkin spice), planted 2 amaryllis and 4 narcissus, cleaned the kitchen and *started* laundry. I don't think I've spent that much time in my kitchen since I moved here 3 years ago. I feel very accomplished right about now!

My folks have always taken us out to dinner for our birthday (and after marriage for the anniversary), but they have fallen seriously behind. So, they decided to set 2 dates to take groups of us to dinner. Last night, group 1 went to Brick Oven. It is my absolute favorite restaurant. A good time was had by all.

On our way home from dinner it started to snow. And snow. And snow. This is really our first snow of the season. YAY! and BOO! Everything looks so beautiful, and I'm really glad it happened on a Saturday (thereby avoiding the commuting nightmare), today it is cold and windy. A good day to stay inside, eat warm pumpkin spice cookies, and plant Christmas flowers, no?

Christmas *Music* is Here

Tonight I pulled out my Christmas CDs for the first time this year. I think you cannot have a proper Christmas album or concert with the following songs:

Still, Still, Still
Greensleeves
O Holy Night
Silent Night

If O Come, O Come Emmanuel is thrown in, I'll literally be transported to Heaven. I love! Christmas music.

A "Very Special" 5 Things

Thanksgiving Version:

1-I am so thankful that I have such wonderful people in my life, friends and family both. They are all so wonderful and I am extremely lucky to have them.

2-I am thankful for my home and the comfort and experience it has provided me for the last 3 years. Being a homeowner has taught me a lot of things about myself and my ability to take of pretty much anything that gets thrown my way....HOAs, flooding dishwashers, installation of ceiling fans, etc.

3-I am thankful for my job. Yes, there are definitely somedays I want a new one, and yes, there are somedays I want to beat some sense into the management, but overall, it is a great place to work. I also spent 6 months without work of any kind, and I know, first hand, how terrible that is.

4-I am grateful to be on the "downside" of my debt reduction plan. That's right, I am more than halfway to a debt-free life. That feels so good.

5-I am finally free and clear of TRB. I cannot tell you how empowering that feels.

Quote of the Day

"The thing that most haunted me that day, however, as I closed my notebook and put my coat on to go home, was not my ghostly image of Dracula, or the description of impalement, but the fact that these things had--apparently--actually occurred. If I listened too closely, I thought, I would hear the screams of the boys, of the "large family" dying together. For all his attention to my historical education, my father had neglected to tell me this: history's terrible moments were real. I understand now, decades later, that he could never have told me. Only history itself can convince you of such a truth. And once you've seen that truth--really seen it--you can't look away."

--Elizabeth Kostova, The Historian

Pitstop: Salt Lake City

I cannot believe that I work 3 blocks away from the Library and I didn't see the Amazing Race production or racers there. I drive passed it twice a day for goodness sake!

What was with Miss Latina Utah serving as the greeter? Was Rocky unable to do it? (Lord knows, he wouldn't miss a chance for free publicity for himself.)

And Weavers...I a.)believe you are always in the position where everybody dislikes you, you are just to dumb to realize it, and b.)Utah hates you, too.

50 Books Update

I’ve finished Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt and I have to say that while it started really slowly (good, but slow) it just got better and better. Meeting all the interesting “characters” and getting a feeling for the deep south makes me want to move myself right down to Savannah and , at the same time, makes me want to run as far away as possible.

Deep down I fantasize about living in the Deep South, in a small town with big porches, sweet tea, and where everybody knows everybody. I want to smell Jasmine and Magnolia and complain about the kudzu and local politicians while sitting on my front porch swing sipping a cocktail or lemonade. Realistically, I think I might go crazy in that environment, but I still dream about it often. John Berendt does an absolutely fabulous job of describing both the charm and the crazy of such small, southern towns. I loved it, and now, I must see the movie. 388 pages

Currently reading:

The Historian (and loving it, as well)

Next up:
The Egyptologist
Predator
Wicked


43/50 15372/15000