New Blog On The Block

A few weeks ago, I had a very interesting offer come in. Clint "Winnis" Hadley and Jared "Willey" Wilson who are two of the best sports writers I've ever read, asked me if I'd take up a new position on their team, "Got Books." I had to clear it with Seth and Gavin because I wasn't quite sure how they'd feel about their mother standing so close to their dug out. They too play on the team. With their approval, I decided to take the offer even though the pay sucks. It was better than playing team nurse and with all the injuries in the first few games I had volunteered my motherly services to mending and reapair and blood really isn't my thing. I decided to give up that short lived title when the better offer came in. Now I just take pictures of the blood and that's a lot more fun!

You might think this team is new, but Au contrair! "Got Books" has been around a long time. This is not their first season. I am however excited to report I think I'm going to be shooting my first championship game here soon, cause Got Books is going places with their five and O' record this year!

I get a kick out of thier page on Facebook and as one reader wrote in, "Reading the Tuesday morning Got Books column is better than ESPN!" Got Books facebook page is for invited readers only, and in order to load full resolution images so the kids could down load them, I decided to go all out and make them a blog.  For anyone who is interested in sports. Check it out. Go to firstupgotbooks.blogspot.com

I try to post the news articles and pics Tuesday mornings, but sometimes it doesn't get on there until Wednesday or Thursday. At anyrate, you might enjoy it! Have a look see!

Nice win last night boys! Who's Got Books?

Funnest Day Ever!!!

Some days just can't get any funner! Today was one of those days! I guess you could blame it all on Gavin, after all he is the one that instilled the addiction in me ---anything APPLE! Anything Apple/White!

 It didn't matter if it was a Saturday. It didn't matter that the mall would be crazy with people. I woke Des up and asked her if she wanted to go shopping. Des is no fool. Shopping with mom is a no brainer. She was on her feet in seconds and in no time, we were on the road.

She was pretty happy when I pulled into the parking lot at the Gateway Mall. First store ---Old Navy. We found a sale on flip flops. Only $2.50! What a deal! We bought an even dozen. You can never own too many flip flops! Des also found plenty of other things on sale. She had no problem spending my money. I too however did my share of damage shopping for my grandkids. We're going to have a 4th of July picture! We made a haul and had to take the sacks back to the car before we could continue on.

After dropping off the goods, I informed Deserey, the next stop was my shopping spot. Into the Apple store we went. Des was amazed. She had the same gapping awed look every person gets on their first trip into this divine place of business. The Apple store is amazing. If you haven't been inside you are missing out on one of life's funnest experiences. I must admit though, if you are a born again Mac Head! That makes the entire experience even more thrilling.

After saying hi to all the men in blue. We had fun playing with the new iPads. "That's going to be my next purchase" I told Deserey. We had to stop there first because the table with all the white iPhones was surrounded with bodies. When the rectangular table finally cleared, we stepped up to actually touch the most amazing technology ever. It was everything I'd dreamed it would be. It was white!

I turned to the first man in blue and said, "I'll have one of those." He immediately went and pulled one from the stock room. Then fate smiled on us and for the first time ever we met "Maddy."

For some people fun is an attitude. For Maddy, fun is her personality and her way of living! She was the woman who would teach me how to use my new phone. She was the woman who would show me what a perfect Apple saleswoman is. She was the woman who would leave lasting footprints on my soul! And little did Des and I know, she would become our new best friend for life! (Long story.)

She could see I was excited, so she let me unwrap the box and told me I should be the first person to touch my new phone. It just got funner from there. We took pictures, made videos, and laughed until our sides hurt. I even called Gav, the truest of all Mac Heads, for my first ever facetime call. It was symbolic!

I don't know how long we sat there having fun, I just know I hated to leave. Finally however, it was time to make our way out the door. I got half way to the car and remembered something. Des and I turned around and hurried back to ask Maddy one last question. When we found her, she was laughing and preceded to tell us how happy she was that we came back to the store. She went on to tell Deserey that every boy on duty that day had been over to ask her about the cute girl she had been helping. They all wanted to know if Maddy had taken down Desi's cell number. I had been so consumed with my phone I hadn't noticed one boy after another coming up to talk to Deserey.  She and I laughed all the way to the car.

After leaving the Apple store we had to hit Barnes and Noble.

Des is the book queen.

We worked up an appetite, then hit our favorite Macaroni Grill.

We finished the day up with a four hour visit to Eleanor's,

Which just topped off the whole entire day.

It's official now. April 30th, 2011 funnest day ever!

Yes, It's HERE!

When I got up this morning, I noticed there was a brilliance to the day I haven't seen before. I thought perhaps it was the clear sky, and the sun beaming down, but then I turned on my 3GS iPhone and truly saw where the glow was coming from.

There was clearly an aurora coming from the screen on my phone, more bright and brilliant than the noon day sun.

WHY??? Because it was displaying Apple's latest add.

Hold onto your seats! Wait, wait, wait for it.......................

THE WHITE iPHONE 4 IS  H E R E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One glimpse, left me gasping for air! I'm standing in ovation form. Straight as a stick! My hands are pressed together and clapping wildly! Be still my beating heart. Wipe up all that drool!

In case you haven't got a clue,  I've been waiting to facetime on a white iPhone 4 for what seems like eternity! (Evil laugh.) Now there is going to be a stampede. Yes, yes siree... because my 3GS is FOR SALE! Get in line little children, and hope you have lots of money! My head is tipped back now. Laughter is pouring from me.  There's going to be a fight. They'll all want it. Deserey is going to clammer like a stuck pig. Free is not in the cards Deserey. Hahahaha (more evil laughter.)

I've got to go now. Today I'm going to spend Man With A Drill's Money. (Chuckle, chuckle, what's new??? Thank you dear, I love you!)

Briwax - An Awesome Product

I like to pass on information about a great product when I find one. Here's a tip you won't want to miss.

Maybe you've heard of it. I had not until I was desperately hunting for something to help me with some of my wood furniture. Some of my wood pieces are looking a little battered and beaten.

Drum roll please. . . Da' Ta' Ta' Da'!

Meet your new best friend.  BRIWAX

Crack open a window when you use it, because it has a strong smell. It's potent! What did you expect from something that really works!

This product is awesome! Here's a little video to give you an idea of what it can do. I can see already I'm going to need another jar.




PS
Ordered mine on line. Try Amazon for a good price.

A Day Made Of Glass

Wow, man with a drill! When are we building this house? This post is actually complements of Gage! Hope I live long enough to see it! Awesome video! I only have one reserve... finger prints?

Simple Instructions

Goose taught me a cool trick the other day.

After spending two years in Guadalajara Mexico,

one learns a few things.

 All you need is a sharp knife.

I love Avocados!

Avocados provide nearly 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. They also act as a "nutrient booster" by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha and beta-carotene and lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.
I've been reading about brain foods! Put this little star performer on your grocery list! Your brain will love you for it! The best way to eat this little goody ----squeeze a fresh lemon on it and a little salt and pepper. YUM!

Going To Get Me One Of These!

I love technology!
   

EyeFi Memory cards . . . Amazing. Check it out! Going to order one of these today!

2011 Time Out For Women

Last year I went with some of my girls to the 2010 Tiime Out For Women Tour at Weber State University.  We had such a good time we are going again. Hurry and sign up girls! It's TIME FOR US! This is one of the most uplifting inspiration weekends you could ever have! I can't wait. Yes, we'll be doing lunch again. If you sign up right now you can get the group rate for and individual price ---49.00 dollars! Anyone is welcome. Let me know if you want to join in the fun! Check it out, TIME OUT FOR WOMEN.

It's Maple Syrup And It's REAL!

It's called the Pancake Town! I call it Heaven away from home! You can officially find it on the map under Burton, Ohio. I use to live in Cleveland, Ohio and since I'm not a city girl in any way, shape, or form, back then, in order for my life to feel some measure of what I like to feel when I am at home, I would make Glade drive me out to Burton.

When we first moved to Cleveland I thought I was never going to stop crying. At first, everything in my soul hated living in a big city.  The first few weeks in my new place, I burned off oodles of extra calories running to the window every five minutes to see who was pulling in my driveway.  Every time I heard a car, I ran to the window. I forgot I now lived on a busy street in a ginormous city. All those cars were driving past my house all day, they weren't coming to see me at all.

I think it was six months before I opened the front door when someone rang my bell. I thought only criminals lived in the big city and therefore if I opened my door to a stranger, I was sure I would be held at gunpoint, robbed and raped. I know, don't go there.

We moved to Cleveland in late August of 1980. Seth was born in November. When he finally learned to talk, his first sentence was, "Mom, it's a ranger at the door!" He couldn't say any word with an S so the letter R made a good replacement. How sad, I immediately passed my stranger phobias onto my children. I was afraid of everyone and everything in a big city. Then finally one Saturday the Tillman's invited us to go out to Burton with them. That was it. One trip to this little piece of Heaven and I knew God still loved me.

We took a trip back to Cleveland not long ago. I discovered when we arrived, Burton was having their fall festival and the sugar camp would be harvesting the maple syrup. Hot diggidy dog! I pitched a fit and made everyone consign to go. The day soon came and despite the war to get everyone in the car and excited, not to mention my sour face once we finally pulled in, (just getting there was a real battle I'll have you know) still the best day ever on my Cleveland trip and I look back on it often with great pleasure.

Now I have a new tradition. Every year I order a 1/2 gallon of REAL maple syrup from Burton. I like to get it just before Thanksgiving, but since I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off (trying to get ready for a wedding) I was a little late this year. Today the gold landed on my front porch! Better late than never! I will crack it open for Christmas. It is absolutely the finest maple syrup I've ever tasted!

This is what a real farm looks like!

It is an Amish farm.

We passed so many on our way.

I loved seeing all their clothes hanging out on the line.

I finally made Glade pull over for a picture.
I was sad no clothes dotted the horizon but I figured I better grab a picture while I could.

The Sugar Camp ---

It takes between 40 to 75 gallons of raw sap to make one gallon of delicious syrup!
You have to cook it for eons.
This is why real maple syrup is pricey.
You can tap a maple tree with up to three taps.
One tree produces about 20 gallons of sap.

I've decided anything that tastes divine takes lots of work, lots of time, and lots of money!

Here we are enjoying the festival.

You know Burton has to be an awesome place 

if the water tank sits right in the middle of town square!
Reminded me of my roots. I miss the old blue water tower!

This is a sappy looking picture,

but this is what the finished product looks like.

Too bad you can't come over and taste it!

Sorry!

Check out this link if you'd like to order some.
You won't be sorry.

Burton Sugar Camp Syrup

Yes, it's to die for!!!
And it makes the holidays just that much better!

Are Your Pictures Worth Saving?

I take a lot of pictures. I have boxes of photos taken with film, stored in my closet. I have photo albums galore lining the shelves in my study. I have an external hard drive that sits on the side of my desk filled with literally thousands of images. My life has changed over to the computer era. My film camera now sits in my closet collecting dust. I shoot everything in digital. I practically live on my computer and I'm always transferring pictures from my camera to my computer, then onto my hard drive.

I hear it continually, the same advice, over and over again, "Back Up EVERYTHING." When you work from a computer, being told to back up everything is as common as being told to brush your teeth when you're a kid. Yes, you must do it every day, twice a day, three times a day if you are me and you want your computer to run fast and smooth.

A year ago my sister had a horrible fire. She lost her home and everything in it. Seeing the devastation first hand made me realize I can back up to infinity and beyond and it's not going to do me one bit of good if my house burns down and I'm not lucky enough to be standing outside with my external hard drive tight in my hands. I could always back up my photos to an off site server, but backing up as many photos as I take would be so time consuming.

Take a look at my next purchase.

Solo IoSafe! I am buying one of these come Monday! Why? It's fireproof and waterproof. Watch this.



I'm going to protect my work, my memories and any other important documents I keep on file.  Want to know more? Check out Io Safe Solo, You'll be impressed.

Have you been SPOOFED?

Let me pull up my soap box! Yes, I'm going to get on it! If you see capitalization in this post I am yelling and possibly shaking my fist!

This last week I have gotten countless emails from warm loving souls I know. I get so excited when I see their name appear in my inbox. The trouble is I open up their email only to discover they didn't send it to me at all. Someone else sent it to me using their identity. It's called SPOOFING!

Email spoofing is defined as masking the sending address to make it look like someone else is sending it rather than the sending party. It is often used to try to simulate emails from various websites in order to phish information from the user and steel identities.

Luckily in getting so many spoofed emails I have come to recognize them. Usually a spoofed email has no subject in the subject line. Remember I said, "Usually."

Today I actually got an email from myself. For reals! The criminal was actually faking being me and then sent it to me at one of my other email addresses! Ok, this is where I'm throwing my hands up in the air and screaming. The problem arises in how people SEND their emails. This is where it's going to get a little heated!

Everyday I get a few emails from lots of different people. Cute funny clever goodies to read. The trouble is when I open up the email there in the "To" box are a gazillion addresses. (this is where I go ballistically wild and rant and rave.) Now I can see every single address in the "To" box. The trouble is so can EVERY SINGLE COMMON CRIMINAL! DO YOU WANT EVERY CRIMINAL OUT THERE VIEWING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS? I DON'T!
I'm going to try and calm down now. Maybe if I talk real soft and slow, maybe if I plead and beg, everyone who reads this will comply. I think I will pray as well!

In order to keep an email address PRIVATE there is a very SIMPLE fix. The fact that it is so simple and such an intelligent wise responsible choice leads me into a rage when people refuse to do it. I think the reason people don't apply this simple measure is because they lack knowledge. I'm hoping it's not because they are lazy and irresponsible.

I have to say here though, not knowing how to use this simple tactic is as idiotic as standing in front of a faucet and saying, "I'm thirsty and I don't know how to get water."

SO HERE'S THE FIX!

PEOPLE! WHEN YOU SEND MASS EMAIL TO MANY ADDRESSES AT ONCE, PUT THOSE EMAIL ADDRESSES IN THE BCC BOX!  PULLLLEEEEESE! Yes, every single one of them! You don't have to put a single address in the "To" box. You can put ALL of your addresses in the BCC box and that way you keep the creepy people from getting all the information! All the mail is delivered the same. Trust me it will get to the person you are trying to send it to. Nothing will happen other than all of the people that have now had their email address held private will thank you, esteem you, and sing praises to your name forever more! RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF OTHERS BY KEEPING THEIR EMAIL PRIVATE. You can do this by using the "BCC" box instead of the "TO" box. BCC BOX. say it over and over again. Use it! You'll love it! I sound redundant don't I? It's because I'm at the end of a short rope with a little tiny knot!

Alrighty, I'm taking a deep breath now. I'm relaxing. I'm calming down. I'm hoping people will read this and go, "Oh, that's easy, I didn't know I could do that. Groovy, I'm down with it!"

I'm putting my soap box away now. Thank you for listening! Thank you for your patience. I apologize if I wasn't my best self. Forgive me. I'm going to try to go back to being a really nice person.

BCC box . . .

PEOPLE. . . USE IT!

Oops, sorry. I almost got out of control! Calm, I'm thinking calm. . . . .

 Check out this link for more on spoofing and phishing. http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/consumer/a/aaspoofing.htm

Everyone Loves Them

This may seem like a strange post. And only the Blanch crowd will drip with emotion when they see the empty glass featured in the picture above. If you're a blood relative to my mother then this little empty glass will produce all sorts of warm and fuzzy feelings inside you! It's true. If you want to feel safe, loved, warm, and secure, if you want to feel peace and a soulful sanctity that puts the world right, just drink from one of these little glasses, and better yet, do it at my mother's house. It's therapeutic I swear!

As long as I can remember my mom has had these little drinking glasses. I drank from them when I could barely walk. Everyone loves them!!! The grandkids can't wait to have a drink when they get to Great-Grandmas and no glass will do but this one. Something about these little glasses immediately fills every human young or old with down to earth goodness the minute you pick it up. The funny part is I think very few people know where the priceless little drinking glass comes from.

Kaedell came over to my house one day and I was putting a little cheese spread on my celery. "Do you like that stuff," she asked me?  "Nope, not really," I quickly replied. Then I told her, "I really only buy this stuff for one reason Kaedell." Then I pulled a little glass from my cupboard and sat it next to the cheese spread. I thought Kaedell was going to faint when she realized what I was showing her. "That's where those glasses come from," she asked? Then I think she repeated herself with the same question about ten times.

I decided I wanted to cary on an amazing tradition, "My mother's little drinking glasses." So now I buy Kraft Cheese Spread like I love it! If you are a grandma, go out and buy about ten of these jars of cheese spread. Feed cheese spread to everyone who comes over until you have empty glasses. Soak the label off and now WHALAAAA! You have the cutest drinking glass on the planet. When your grandkids get their hands on one of these, they'll think you're amazing. And just wait, you'll notice the adults reaching for them too. Drinking from those small clear glasses makes a grown up feel like a kid again.

When my mom finally passes, I'll never be able to look at one of these small drinking glasses without water quickly damning in my eyes.  Everyday when I was a kid she would spread Pimento Cheese on her celery. My mom's a rabbit and she loves celery but not without her Kraft Pimento Cheese. I never concluded as a kid that the small insignificant glass I drank my milk or orange juice from was the by product of her Pimento Cheese! It was not until I got older I figured it out. Now when you go over to my mom's you'll find the little glass filled with Cherry Pepsi. It's funny how one inanimate object can produce so much emotion in me!

Here's to Kraft, the company that hasn't changed their packaging for this product in a hundred years! Hope they never do!

Can You Own Too Many Sanuks?

I was in Sportsmans warehouse when I first spotted them. They were green and had stars on them. I have a weakness for shoes so there was no hesitation, I tucked them in my cart and bought them immediately.
 They're called, "Happy Fun Sandals," I know my feet are happier with them on. Since that day I have worn them right out. There's a hole in the front of the left shoe where my big toe pokes out now and everything on them is pretty tattered. I still keep wearing them, mostly to the garden or when my feet are going to get grungy. I can't bare to part with them. Today I'm sad I didn't buy more. I love the stars on them.
The other day I got on Zappos and ordered me up the pair you see below. They arrived the next day. I love that about Zappos, always a speedy delivery! I couldn't wait to get them out of the package and on my feet! They really are happy sandals. They even spell "SANUK" with a smily face in the "U."

You should have seen Deserey's face when she got home from school. She took one look at my brand new, "SANUKS" and started in with her persuasive whining. 

"Oh Mom, I wanna a pair. Where's my pair? Did you get me a pair." On and on she went.

"Nope," I said with a smirk! "I didn't buy you pair, I bought me a pair!" I think I even laughed right out loud.

See I bought her a pair with the stars the same day I bought my pair and she has not worn hers out! 

If I could get my feet in her green stary shoes, I'd take them back and wear them out too. I hunted on the internet forever for another pair of those cute shoes with the bold stars. The stars really got to me. I feel like Judy Garland with those shoes on my feet! Look as I might, I couldn't find a single pair.

Often worn by surfers and mountain climbers alike, Sanuk shoes are a unique hybrid sandal/shoe unlike anything I've ever worn before. "Barefoot Un-Technoloty." Is what Sanuk calls their shoes. I think that's why I love them. It's like my feet are wearing nothing at all!

After wearing around the first pair I showed you. Guess what??? Yup, I bought a second pair. These above are called, "Plain Jane's." Too bad they don't have stars on them. Zappos delivered them the next day. This shoe has a vintage attitude! I wear these now for everyday. 

Did I tell you I can throw them in the washing machine over and over again. This is my kind of shoe. 

When I feel an appropriate amount of time has passed (maybe a week or two - LOL) or maybe when the weather turns cold and winter is barking at my door. I'm going to by the "Donna Chills." Well just look at them, they have fur inside! How can I pass that up. I'm a person who hates socks!

I think I have a new addiction. I'm going to have to exercise some self control!

I warn you!!! Order a pair and you'll be hooked!

Kitchenaid Vs Bosch

I went to make pie today at the cabin and found I have no large mixer. I am determined to buy one. Frequently I've wondered which machine to get, the Kitchenaid, or another Bosch. Kaedell has the Kitchenaid. She loves it. I have the Bosh and I equally love my machine. However, seeing Kaedell's mixer sitting on her counter top each time I go over to her house, keeps me intrigued as to whether or not I'd like a Kitchenaid. 

The crazy part of this story is, when I first got married several people in Glade's home ward bought us a nice Kitchenaid. I was dumb and stupid back then and just learning how to cook. I regret to say I don't think I ever used that mixer once. And to this day I couldn't tell you where it went. I dare not think!

I decided to do a little research on both these machines. 

Here's the skinny on them both.

Bosch's most powerful machine 800 Watts

Kitchenaid 575 Watts

Bosch comes in white

Kitchenaid you get to choose from 12 spectacular colors

Bosch - 6.5 quart mixing bowl

Kitchenaid - 6 quart mixing bowl

Bosch outperforms Kitchenaid on making Bread

Kitchenaid outperforms Bosch on making Cookies

Bosch outperforms Kitchenaid on making large batches

Kitchenaid outperforms Bosch on making small batches

Bosch - 3 year motor warranty 1 year on parts

Kitchenaid - 1 year hassle free replacement warranty

Bosch - Flour power... 18 cups

Kitchenaid - Flour power... 14 cups

Bosch - 6 (2 lb) loaves of whole wheat bread

Kitchenaid - 8 small loaves of white bread

Bosch - 10 dozen cookies

Kitchenaid - 13 dozen cookies 

Bosch - Three controlled speeds plus a momentary switch for pulsing

Kitchenaid - 10 speeds

There now, isn't that about as clear as mud? 

I own a Bosch and I made this choice before I knew anything about the Kitchenaid. Like I said, I love my Bosch and it's performed wonderfully as I've used it over the years. 

I'm going to buy a machine for my cabin. I thought about buying another Bosch because my family is so BIG. But instead, I think I'm going to get a kitchenaid. Why? Because I can buy it in my favorite color... RED!

If you read this and have some opinions, please share them!

All Birds Baking---Don't Miss This Post!

I love life! There are so many things to love about living! I love to write! I love to blog! I love to eat! And everyone knows I love to work on my Mac computer! I guess I could go on and on all day with everything I love, but this post is not big enough for that. 

The other day I meandered out to the mailbox to gather the mail and found a package. I love getting packages in the mail. (Oops there I go again.) I brought it into the house, cracked out a steak knife and quickly cut open the ends. I couldn't remember what I'd ordered. Excitement and anticipation overcame me.

As I tore open the box the contents were revealed. My book, my 2008 blog book. Be still my heart. Just holding it in my hand sent a chill through me. My blog entries for 2008 were so plentiful I had to print my year in two halves. I did the first half (January through June) so long ago I can't remember. I finally got around to printing the last half (July through December) just a couple of weeks ago and now here it was the finished product.

At last I am fulfilling council from wise prophets, "Keep A Journal!" I was so excited I sat down on the couch and spent a long time reading one post after another. It felt good to see captions of my life in print. I love the book.

After looking through all the pages I realized something. If I ever want to find a recipe, over the course of time, I'm sooner or later going to have to look through several blog journal books. This got my brain to musing, "Wouldn't it be nice to find all of the recipes everyone posts on the blog in one book." This led to me taking action, today I started another blog. I'm chuckling. You're not surprised are you?

So here it is folks. Check out the grand unfolding of allbirdsbaking.blogspot.com

From here on out if you want to find recipes from everyone here at the Crow's Nest, you will have to click on the link on the right hand side of the blog here entitled "All Birds Baking." This link will take you immediately to the new recipe blog. 

Right now when you click on the link you'll discover only two measly recipes. But don't give up on me because I'm just getting started. Soon all the recipes that have been posted here on the Crow's Nest will also be posted on the new blog.

I'm so excited. The next venture I'm going to tackle is my dreaded recipe file. It's a mess. The other day I opened up my cupboard and I've got recipes strewn all over the place. I told my girls each week I'm going to take a recipe I love that is tattered and torn to the point I can barely read it and I'm going to post it on the new recipe blog. Are you following my thinking? 


Some day soon I'm going to get on blurb and I'm going to print myself off my first recipe book! I love being organized! (From the looks of my house right now you would never know it.) But I really do. After the book is printable, anyone can get a copy. How's that for a great idea. 


If you have a great recipe that's tried and true email it to me. I'll put it on the blog. Thanks everybody. I love you!

Harold B. Lee Library

Check out the Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL), located in Provo, Utah. My friend sent me this link that has over a million hits on it. The Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL) is the main academic library of Brigham Young University, the largest religious and second-largest private university in the United States. The library has approximately 98 miles of shelving for the more than 6 million items in its various collections, as well as a seating capacity for 4,600 people. With over 10,000 patrons entering the building each day, The Princeton Review consistently ranks the HBLL in the nation's Top Ten University Libraries –#1 in 2004 and #4 in 2007. Named for Harold B. Lee, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the library's motto is "...Learning by study and also by faith."

This is the take out window at Bella's Family Restaurant.

So last night Deserey starts complaining to me that's she's starving. "Please, please, please," she whimpers incessantly.  "Mother, I want a Baconator at Wendy's, I'm famished. Please mom, pretty please" She whines. She just kept poking me with her demands as I tried to watch TV. I should announce here, once Des gets an idea in that little pointed head of hers, she won't stop bugging me. (I wonder who she gets that from?)  Knowing this, I cave, pulling myself off the couch, I slip my shoes on and head out the door.
I'm such a marshmallow with her. I always melt at the first sign of pressure. Yes, she's spoiled! And even though I know just how spoiled she is I still agree to her demands, grab my wallet, climb in the car and make the two mile drive to Wend'y's. After having raised so many kids, I'm a push over.
Upon arriving, I order up the Baconator and ponder on the calorie count. It's late and I think Des really shouldn't be consuming a fatty hamburger seconds before she goes to bed. "Oh well, she's young" I tell myself out loud, as I pull through the last window and sit the Baconator on the seat beside me.
Suddenly a hankering strikes me. Every cell in my body is now craving Carmel Fried Ice Cream, from Bella's. Once the idea struck me, it wouldn't leave. My mouth started to water like a running faucet, so I pulled out my cell phone and hit the speed dial. I call that place so much, I'm surprised I don't have the number memorized. 
As the phone began to ring, a man answered, and happily I said, "Hi, is this JOE?" 
"Nope", he tells me, "This is Joe's dad." 
"Oh darn," I blurt our over the air waves. 
See, I go to Bella's all the time. I love their Mama's Chicken Enchiladas. And because I am constantly at their take out window, I've gotten to know "Joe" the owner, quite well. This is the point at which I launched into my rave reviews about Joe. I went on to tell Joe's dad all about how much I love Joe and how with out a doubt, he is the best guy ever.  Joe's dad informs me he is much better than Joe! 
I laugh and joke with Joe's dad for a bit. I'm thinking inside my head, "Wow, two great guys and they even sound alike on the phone." I then ask if I could get a take out order of Carmel Fried Ice Cream. 
Joe's dad now laughs gregariously and tells me, "Sure." 
I proceed to drive across the road from Wendy's, and now, I'm pulling up to the take out window wondering where Joe's dad is. No one comes. I wait patiently. I see one of the waitresses walk past putting a pan away. As she sits the pan down, she removes her apron. Immediately I start thinking about how late it is. I begin wondering what the exact time is. I look down at my watch and nearly pass out. It's 11:47 PM. At this point, I gasped for air! They have to be closed, I'm thinking now. It's Monday night and it's almost midnight to boot, this place is closed, I tell myself. 
Now my thoughts turn in circles around the newly entrenched idea that has taken shape in my brain! "I'm an idiot." I'm sitting at the window now thinking about how embarrassing it's going to be when I have to introduce myself to Joe's dad. Now I'm a little nervous to meet the man.
Just then Joe appears at the window with my fried ice cream. For a split second I wondered where his dad was. (DUH) Seeing him standing there however, now jolts my memory back to just how well I know Joe. I'm thinking, "I can't believe I fell for this." Joe is first and foremost always a big tease. I know this and now the realization that Joe's dad probably isn't even alive strikes. His dad has probably been dead for sometime I tell myself. And as slow as I am, the realization that Joe has been teasing me all along, gently taps me on the shoulder! HELLOooo???? 
Now as Joe reaches to hand me my delectable treat, I laugh and kid with him about pranking me. I then try to hand him my card to pay for the goods. He smiles and tells me his till is closed. "This one's on me!" He quips. I wanted to get out of my car and hug the man. Instead I profess I'm an idiot for coming so late, go on to gush all over him with praise and adoration, and end by professing how my love and loyalties will always be with his restaurant. "One last thing," I say before I pull away, "You really are a good guy Joe!" He grins.
Last night as I made my way home. I thought about how much I love Bella's! I thought about how much I enjoy bantering with Joe. I had to chuckle to myself about his prank mixed with his kind deed. Life needs a lot more of Joe's sense of humor. The world could use a lot more of his kind of generosity. As I pulled in the driveway I thought about how he didn't tell me he was closed when he picked up the phone. He didn't even let on about the absurd hour I was calling at. Nope, he just fixed me up his rich dish of generosity, placed it in a styrofoam container,  and served it to me out the window at no charge!  I'm glad this restaurant is closely stationed near my home. I'll long be a fan. Their food is superb, but their service to the public, well now, that is even better! 

Imagine A Happier You

Be Still My Beating Heart!

This is me paying my bills. This is generally what I look like when I'm paying my bills. Money coming in usually makes people happier. Money going out does not. Can you "Imagine a happier you"? If so you may want to visit a new website created by the Deseret Media Companies. But I'm warning you. It's designed to help you manage your money, and that can be a painful thing.

I personally like to spend money. In fact, I'm an expert at spending money. I'm not all that good at saving it. I think the desire to spend is embedded in my gene's. Man With A Drill just rolls his eyes. He's so good to me. He doesn't even yell at me when I'm frivolously plunking down change for one thing or another.

I don't know why, but I just love "Stuff!" I get it from my dad. My father's favorite quip emphasized spending money. He always use to say, "Money was made round to roll, not flat to stack!" My mother, on the other hand, has always been a frugal thing. Don't ask me why I didn't get her gene! Man With A Drill wants to know the same thing!

"Imagine A Happier You" is great for people like me. It is the brain child of Mark Willes. He decided that he wanted to use the resources of KSL TV, KSL Radio, and the Deseret Media Companies to serve women. So he gathered women from each division within those organizations and charged them with coming up with an idea that would help the women of Utah.

The first thing they are addressing is the issue of women and money. This year they are connecting women with resources to help them better manage their financial distress. They are offering a money makeover to three lucky females. They are looking for women that are in a big, hairy financial mess (for whatever the reason) and are willing to have experts help them out of their mess . . . in public. Just what you always wanted, huh, your financial incapabilities publicly broadcast to the universe. They will be following these three women as they get out of debt and learn to budget or save for retirement. They are going to blog regularly about it all, even chat with them on the website.

While I'm not in a big fat hairy mess, I would like to learn better management skills when it comes to the all mighty dollar, so I signed up. What can it hurt? Man With A Drill is optimistically hopeful I will win! I'm not sure, but I think he's paying extra tithing to stack the odds in my favor! Given the fact that I'm not destitute though, and I have no real plight, I doubt he's going to get his wish. Still, even for the average person who wants to improve their money skills, the site gives lots of good ideas.

Check out "Imagine A Happier You." I'm going to laugh my dimpled cellulite gluteus maximus off if I get chosen! Man With A Drill is holding his breath!
 

The iPhone Mom (Because it's not your husbands iphone)

My nickname is MacMama and 'i' love anything Apple! Yes, I'm a MacHead! Years ago, Gavin, (who was born a MacLover,) finally talked me into trashing my old PC and switching over to the world of Mac. 'i' remember the whole experience as if it were yesterday. It was really scary, like standing on a cliff and leaping through the air. By the way, we use to do that at Lake Powell until they made it illegal to cliff jump ---the art of plummeting from any cliff into the water. My ultimate fear of heights kept me from jumping off any cliff in Lake Powell, and 'i' felt the same sheer panic when 'i' thought about abandoning my PC.

"Mom, just switch to Mac, you won't be sorry," Gav nagged. So finally 'i' did it, 'i' closed my eyes, made the leap, called the Apple store, and purchased my first PowerBook G4. 'i' only had to open the box and turn it on and 'i' fell in love. I've been a MacHead ever since. In fact when the new MacBook Pro came out, 'i' sold my PowerBook G4 and bought the Pro.

Since that time Apple has become my world. My family all complains that 'i' spend more time on my Mac than 'i' do with them. 'i' think there are some serious jealousy issues going on!

When the first iPhone came out, MacGav was the first on the waiting list. La tee da dee da!!! I was second. Ok, so we weren't really first and second, but we jumped all over the new Apple iPhone as soon as we caught a glimpse of it. 'i' was a T-mobile subscriber until MacGav told me all about the iPhone. (MacGav is like the Prophet in my Apple World!) 'i' couldn't get to the AT&T store fast enough. 'i' ran right over secured a family plan and signed us all up.

That's it the rest is history. We're a MacFamily now ---we're all over anything with an apple and an 'i'!

A week or so ago my MacHead son called me up and proceeded to tout his latest purchase. What planet had 'i' been living on? 'i' hadn't even heard about the new iPhone4. 'i' gave Gavin a hot tainted lecture for not keeping his precious mother informed, and promised him there would be serious repercussions if he didn't tell me how to order one immediately. I'm old, 'i' need help with these things.

I'm now waiting for the white iPhone4 to come out in August. It's torture seeing MacGav and Caroline touching and fondling their new iPhone4's (grrrrr). 'i' wanted one so bad 'i' was tempted to order the black, but being a practical woman, and loving white like 'i' do, I'm painstakingly waiting for my favorite color to make it's debut. I'm telling you, it's torture being practical!

Check out a new site 'i' found. "The iPhone Mom," 'i' just know I'm her kindred spirit, cause I'm definitely an iPhone mom too. Have fun watching this new promo on the iPhone4 ---I'm warning you though, you're going to want one!

Go on take the leap! Buy one today! Even Man With A Drill is going to get one! Imagine, (prehistoric,) Man With A Drill owning his own iphone! Hahahaha, it will take me a year to teach him how to turn it on. Sorry honey, I know you take undue harassment about your techno skills. It's just so fun teasing you.

Need An Extra Eye?

Recently we've been concerned about my mom. Her short term memory is failing greatly and so in the last week we have been considering her safety. She loves being able to remain in her home and given her condition and her age, she's been lucky to be able to remain there. In an effort to help her continue to keep a measure of her independence,  we started looking for ideas to better serve her needs. 
One of our main concerns was the inability she has to contact someone in the event she needs help. With her lack of memory and her inability to learn new tasks, even considering a necklace that she could push in the event she had an emergency didn't seem practical for her skills and abilities. In searching for a way to keep her safe and care for her needs, my Niece's husband suggested we get her a webcam. I just love people who are techno-savy!

Wow, I couldn't get over what I found when I delved into this and started researching all the ways you can keep an eye on your elderly parents,  your kids, your pets, your home, your stuff, heck, you name it! It even comes with an App. you can put right on your iPhone! I'll be getting my mom all set up with some sort of a system like this in just a few days. It feels so good to know we can really keep a closer eye on her now. I know as well as bringing us peace of mind and comfort, it will bring her a lot of comfort too.
Technology ---isn't it amazing? I think I should put one of these cameras in line with my fridge! How's that for an idea!