January 31, 2012

A list of sorts

There is nothing in particular I want to write about today, but I still want to write. Why? Because it's the end of the month and to get four posts in in one month is pretty good for me. Also, I have nothing to do (well, that's a lie, I have about one hour's worth of things to do). Also, there are things that I'm doing (and not doing) in my life that I feel need attention.

  • I am not going to write a review of The Hunger Games as previously promised. If you haven't read it already you're an idiot. And if you have read it already--ohmygod did you hate the ending as much as I did?!?!?!?!?!? And are you going to the midnight showing of the movie???!?!?!?
  • I am no longer training for the half marathon. I know. Quitters suck. I was getting to the seven mile point and two things happened. One, I was extremely bored. Tommy stopped running with me and I couldn't do an hour and half alone so I could only do it on my parents' treadmill while watching Mad Men. Two, after those long runs I would be sore for the ENTIRE week. I never recovered. And then I would have to do it again. The way I see it, quitting was probably for the best. I HATE failing at something. And there was no way I was going to be able to run that thing alone. There was no sense in beating myself up about it. So the only logical thing to do was quit. Maybe next year...
  • On the wedding front: we've gotten the tux's--off-white dinner jackets by RL paired with black pants--for a steal. Let me tell you. A local company, Tuxedo Junction had a one week offer: for $70 you could get any tux in the store. We jumped on it. We didn't have to get the tux's right then, we just had to pay up front and we'll get them in August. Wheeeeee! 

This is kind of a stupid picture, but whatevs. Source

  • Also on the wedding front: we almost have a florist! I say almost because I'm pretty sure we're going to make the decision today. We've spoken to a couple of vendors, and both really understood my "vision" (hahahahahahaha my "vision" is not too fancy, no roses, no red, casual, wildflowers but absolutely NO rustic elements--mason jars, etc. This isn't Little House on the Prairie people). The one we picked is mostly based on price. They came in about $500 below the other, and had a better selection of flowers--not too shabby.
  • Last night I made this version of French Onion Soup. It was...ok. It was easy to make (albeit time consuming) and it tasted fine, it was just a bit vinegar-y to me. I like my FOS to be a bit more savory. But if you like vinegar and not a lot of hassle, this soup's for you!
  • I haven't walked to school at all this week because I suck. Sorry, earth.
And that's it! I guess for now. I really should do that bit o work I do have so I can just go home. Tommy's really sick, and I think I'm starting to get it. My nose is runny and itchy as hach ee double hocky sticks and my throat is getting a tickle. I downed some vitamin C but I've also been hanging with Tommy for about 65 of the last 72 hours....whoops!

January 24, 2012

A Fierce Green Fire

Last night Tommy and I went up to Park City to watch the world premier of A Fierce Green Fire at the Sundance Film Festival.



It was sooooooo fracking good! (geology joke there HA).

The movie was marketed as a documentary about the environmental movement. It spanned five "acts", each with a different theme like conservation, pollution, etc. It was kind of long, but it truly was amazing. I am an environmentalist. I'd love to save the planet, but since I didn't study it in school, I really don't know much about the history of the "movement". This film not only taught me a lot, but since it focused on individuals standing up for the planet, it really got me excited to do my part. The people this film focused on are heroes.

I'm not going to go into too much more of a review because I'm just not that good at that kind of thing, but you can watch all five acts yourself and learn more about the movie on this website.

What I will talk about a little bit are the reactions I had to it.

As I stated earlier, this documentary really inspired me to make a change. Now, I don't have the time (or the focus, let's get serious people) to start my own campaign, but one of the most important lessons this film taught me was that it takes an individual to start a movement, but it takes many people to make it happen.

The first thing I want to do is find one or two organizations that are crusading for the environment and help them out. There are a few I have in mind--350.org, the Sierra Club, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance--but I still want to research them, and others and really commit. Commit time, money and service. And since I put it on the internet, it must be true!

The second thing I want to do is live more green-ly. I am going to try to make more of an effort to walk to school and the grocery store, and buy local when possible, and buy American when there are no local options. The walking, I'm sure, makes sense to most of you, but the reason why I want to buy local is for a few reasons. The first is because the closer the source, the less energy it takes to get to the store. The second is because America has environmental regulations in place--though admittedly not great--while places like China definitely do not. Therefore, the goods I buy from this country were probably made with more environmentally friendly materials and practices. The third is less environmental, but still a good reason: I just want to help our economy and my fellow Utahards/Americans.

The third thing I want to do can't really happen until I have a real job that pays real money, but I want to have a garden and use renewable energy when we finally get a home.

Since this is a blog, and I resolved to write more, I'll try to keep yall updated on how this green project goes.

(and while we're talking about that sort of stuff, I'll try to write more about the food I'm cooking--I cooked so much last week!--and the books I'm reading, and the workouts I'm doing. Really, I'll try....)

January 17, 2012

I'm here, life is great.

To expand on that idea: I just had probably the best weekend in Torrey that I have had in a long time, if not ever. The best. Hands down. A few people from the department came down, and while I wished I could have invited everyone, I couldn't. And the people that came were just great. They helped out when things needed to get done, they were enthusiastic about the plans for the day, and the conversation never stopped.

The weather was fucking gorgeous. Yes. Fucking gorgeous. We were in tee shirts and pants most hikes (IN JANUARY!!!!) because the sun was out and the sky was blue.




The dogs were amazing. Bandit is always amazing. Jude, Pat's new dog, is just as amazing. And they got along so. well.


My parents made us great dinner and kept the wine flowing. It was just great. So great. I can't get over how great this weekend was.

And while today wasn't the most productive day of my life, I still got stuff done. And the sky is cloudless and I have an amazing view of the mountains.

And we're all going to a Jazz game tonight which is always a rowdy good time.

And it's supposed to dump  this week, which means we'll actually get some skiing in.

Life is soooooo great right now.

January 6, 2012

New Years Resolutions

Oh man, has it really been an entire year since I  wrote this?? Cray cray.

Last year I resolved to really and truly budget myself. It totally worked. Once I figured out a budget I was able to save enough to not work at all in the summer, and since I started making money again after the summer was over, I continued with the same budget, and I will definitely have plenty to play with next summer!

I also resolved to lose weight. Well, that's kind of funny. I totally did this too. And again, I've kept it off. Although recently I've been feeling a bit above normal, but I'm going to blame the holidays. What's funny about it is actually not that funny but really really annoying. I got weighed today at the doctor's office and I'm a robust uhm, well, let's just say that the scale at school is about five pounds off. FIVE WHOLE POUNDS. That's too many pounds in my opinion. So even though I've lost weight since last year, I'm really still kind of over weight sooooo.....

Finally I resolved to get a hobby. This is the one that didn't really work. Maybe exercising? I don't know. Luckily Tommy isn't sick of me yet. In fact he wants to spend the rest of his life with me! Mwhahahaahahahaha.

So onto this year's self promises.

  • Lose more weight. See above. I want to look smokin hot at the wedding. So after this marathon business I am going to tone up my arms and back (which, quite honestly they're not that bad so this shouldn't be too hard).
  • Write this ish at least once a week. I have really enjoyed this streak that I am on, so I'm going to try to make it last. It's fun looking back and seeing what I have done.
  • Cook more. This is a hard one. Tommy and I have such busy schedules, not to mention that they're not really schedules at all! We come home at different times depending on how busy one or both of us is. We sleep at different houses on a whim. It's hard to plan out meals. And sometimes after getting home at 7:30 or 8 after a full day of school PLUS a four mile run, all I want to do is drive through the local 24 hour Mexican and call it a night. But no more! I really love cooking. And I really love the results. I wish I could give myself a number (see second resolution), but I just know everything is too random right now, so I can't.

Well, I think I've wasted enough time for the day and I can finally email my boss and tell him I'm leaving! (he's at a retreat anyway...I'm not a bad employee! [It's winter vacation, I don't even have to be here {stop with the judgy eyes!!!!!}])