Construction Is Everywhere

I don't know what it is but I am hitting every red light, every construction zone, every congested part of the city. It is getting on my last nerve. A simple five minute drive is turning into much longer. You would think since I don't have a job I'm not in a hurry to get anywhere. Wrong. In fact, it seems like I'm in even more of a hurry. I want to get where I'm going and then go back home to my nice cool apartment with wireless internet and thus continue to blissfully search for a job. However, if I hit one more patch of construction and have to wait through three green lights just to get through . . . well, let's be honest. I'll sit through it and complain about the wait, just like everyone else.

Update . . . I'm Amazing

Just kidding. After my supremely dramatic blog post last week announcing that I'd been laid off, I thought I should give you people out there in blogger land a quick update about the status of Mission: Find Me A Job, Darn It! Anyway, it's been interesting. On the day that I got laid off I started getting contacted by places I'd submitted my resume to. One place in particular interviewed me for a PR Manager-position and although I did not get the job, I did get a job with the consulting firm doing some contract freelance writing work. It's not a ton of hours, but here's hoping that it transcends into something a little more permanent. I would love to be this guy's go-to gal whenever he needs some writing done. I'll admit, I totally bluffed my way into making him think that I could write articles on technical stuff with ease and aptitude. Not sure if I was lying or if this is just how business works? I'm freaking out over here that I'll screw up! But here goes. As I said before, I am not a risk taker. But I've spent a lot of time trying to evaluate what I want in this life . . . especially professionally speaking. I know I want to keep writing, whatever that consists of. So I'm going to do my best to follow that path. I paid my tithing yesterday and it was kind of difficult (don't hate me for my lack of faith) to hand over that check. It was pretty scary paying your tithing not knowing when you'll get paid again! However, I'm glad for the experience. Sometimes it's nice to be tested and just grit your teeth and bear it, and hopefully show the Lord that you have the faith to see your trials through. I don't know if that makes sense. Thanks to all of you for your good wishes and thoughts! I really appreciate it and am so grateful to have you as my friends and family.

My Partners in Crime

I talk so much about Mindy and Kaylin--just so you can put a face with the name!

Starring Mindy

What do you get when a little Asian woman is roller blading around your apartment complex and you try to snap a picture? Mindy "pretending" to pose so it doesn't look too obvious . . . except the pictures of Mindy are better than the picture I got of the little Asian woman!

A Little Gift

Kaylin must have been feeling bad for me so she left me a little gift.

Silver Lining

It's been a wet and soggy winter, spring, and now summer. Very few people are happy about this and I must admit, I've been one of the chief complainers. Although I must admit that I've never seen the mountains quite this green in all my time in Utah (about ten years . . . can you believe that?!). I think they're stunning.

If ever there was a time for a silver lining, today is the day. I didn't really want to write anything about this, I was hoping that things would work themselves out and I could report Ta Da! New job! Instead, my report is that today I was laid off.

This isn't actually a surprise. I've been expecting this for a couple of months and I've been spending every waking hour looking for a new job. But I'll admit, it hurt when I was called into the meeting that signified the end of the road. I felt it. And I know it's business and if it had been my decision I probably would have made some similar changes but still, it was personal. I felt insulted. I felt like I had been wronged. I probably have been wronged . . . but that's a whole can of worms I'd rather not discuss.

Here is what I can say--I believe in miracles and I believe in the sanctifying grace of the Savior. As I've waited for the end to come (that sounds so cryptic . . . sorry) I've prayed, fasted, attended the temple, and paid my tithing. For me, paying my tithing was especially key. I knew that I had to give my 10% before I gave anything to myself. I've learned so much about giving of myself to the Lord and acting in faith. If any of you know me well you know one of my greatest weaknesses is the tendency to rely solely on myself. It's gotten me in a considerable heap of trouble in the past and this time I was determined that I would rely on the Lord. I would let Him guide me through this challenge.

Right now, I'm not sure what the solution is. Who knows? Maybe it's time that I start writing that book I've thought so long about. I'm not much of a risk taker, but maybe it's time I start taking risks and really put myself out there! I don't really know. But not knowing what the future entails . . . oh, man, it drives me crazy! Of course, I've been living with that big question mark for years. I should be used to it by now.

Anyway, here's to the silver lining. To the green that emerges after months of rain. But here's hoping that the rain doesn't last too long. :)

Rodeo!

This weekend we headed out to the Tooele Rodeo. So many people gave us strange looks when we said we went to the rodeo, but hey! The rodeo is fun!

Check out this sunset . . . Tooele knows how to make 'em.

Check out this horse! It's like he's tapping his heels together!

Check out these ladies! (Allyson, Carrie, Kaylin, Melissa)

My Life As A Temptress

Well, I've gone and done it again--I've upset the karma gods. Last night I became the enemy of Belle . . . of Beauty and the Beast. In my defense, I didn't know that Belle had the fierceness of a beast (ahem) when it came to laying her claim on her man.

Apparently, I encroached.

Last night I attended a birthday party for a guy in my ward. In typical ward birthday fanfare there was cake, ice cream (you'll be proud to know that I abstained from that sugary delectableness), and single guys and girls posturing themselves in the best light possible. I'll admit I was one of them. Sue me!

Out of the corner of my eye I see a guy whom I have met a few times but only recently have we come to be on a first name basis. I'll call him A. A looks my way, gives me a smile, and for some reason I walk over. I'm feeling bold. There might have been a swagger in my step.

For the record, he sent out all the signals. I merely reciprocated. The first time we met he told me I had a beautiful smile. Last night, he gave me a big hug, said hello (in that order), and asked how I was doing. Sounds promising, right?

In the middle of our conversation my friend Dan walks up and say, "A, where you been? You dating anyone?" A just kind of shrugs it off in a perfect, noncommital way. Just casual enough for someone as dense as myself not to pick up on any evasive tactics. Instead, I resume our conversation.

Enter Belle.

Belle was in our stake production of Beauty and the Beast. She did a beautiful job. She was cute, sang well, and had this really sweet smile. She was the perfect Belle. From what I understand, after Beauty and the Beast she became our stake's resident It Girl. Every guy wanted to date her. I can't say I blame them . . . she's really cute.

However, there was a gleam in her eye that suggested she was a little offput. Me? Still not picking up on anything. A calmly says "Have you met Dan and Melissa?" She smiles, we say hello. Dan compliments her on her performance of Belle.

But then Belle does something weird. I have no idea how to describe it. She looks at A, her eyes suggesting she'd like a little "alone" time. And then she reaches over and grabs his hand and shakes it. What? Their fingers don't quite interlace, you know the way they do when you're holding the hand of your significant other and you want to be kind of intimate with them without proclaiming it to the world. Instead, her fingers kind of cup his, kind of the way an adult holds a child's hand. She smiles at him knowingly. A still looks like nothing's going on. He doesn't seem interested or uninterested. He's just there. If she hadn't of shaken his hand it wouldn't have looked quite so awkward. Instead it just looked plain weird and I was suddenly very uncomfortable. I would have rather she'd just said, "He's mine. Stay away." Even Dan felt a little weird. We both promptly left.

I walk up to my friend Mindy. "Did you just see what happened? Oh my gosh it was so weird."

Mindy grimaces. "I was going to warn you but I didn't get a chance. Sorry."

Imagine me emitting a slow, deep whistle. That's what I wanted to do in between my bouts of laughter. Because it's official, I pissed off Belle. I had no intentions of doing it! I really didn't! According to Mindy I should feel good that I threatened her enough she had to make her presence known. It does kind of feel good. I am a temptress.

The Funnyness

Pay special attention to this picture. Does anything look wrong to you? If you're observant you'll notice a few things. Unwittingly, I posted this picture on my Facebook account only to have a guy in my ward point out my hand is outstretched in an inappropriate manner. Yes, my dear friend Rachel is happily sitting next to my friends Ester and Mindy on the first sunny day of the year and I try to cop a feel. What is my hand doing anyway? I have no idea.

The best part about this picture is I had to call Rachel to tell her about Lane's comment. However, the only thing she remembers is that she's wearing grey sweats over her black nylons. Leave it to a man to skip over the sweats, black nylons, and Howdy t-shirt and go straight to the inappropriate touching. Rachel wants everyone to know that it was Sunday, she wanted to take her skirt off but she was planning on putting it back on later so why remove the nylons? We women know what a pain it is to hike them up!