Things I Hate

Yeah, that's right... things I hate... haha. Are you shocked that I would write about such a thing.

Last year I went to Maine to visit a friend going to school there. As we were road-tripping around the state we had a lot of fun days of themed conversations: Boys, Education and Teachers who we feel made a difference in our lives, Things we Love, Life, etc., but it all started with "Things We Hate."

We were driving in the car and Melinda offered me some gum. Well very few people know this about me but I hate gum. For some reason it disgusts me and makes me gag. I can't stand when people make bubbles or pull strings of it out of their mouth or chew it like a cow. I especially hate when you step in it! Usually I just turn people down and say, "thank you anyways" (Though sometimes I wonder if my breath stinks and if I need to pop in a mint) and then move on and nobody seems to notice.

Well, Melinda noticed this time and asked, "Do you even like gum?"I then shyly admitted to Melinda (who I've known since 3rd grade) that I hated gum and I had since I was about 5. Surprisingly, Melinda replied and said, "You know! I think it is good to hate some things." And thus started a day of talking about things we hated. Not in a negative kind of way just kind of like things that we disliked that people didn't know about us. The next day we talked about all the things we loved and then every day from that we had a theme to our conversations.

So... here are a few things I hate:

1. Gum... as discussed above.
2. People who say, "That's so gay"
1. Wow, that is a GREAT way to strike a nerve with me. All it tells me about you is that you have no consideration for another's feelings and you don't really understand what you are saying. I mean common, let's be a little more intelligent with your language.
3. People who treat me like I am innocent and naive.
4. Being cold! (Though I do love a white winter/Christmas snow, snowboarding and wrapping up in a really good blanket with a book on a cold raining day)
5. Throwing up! Especially when it comes out of your nose (Ugh, that's an image)
6. People at the airport who wait in their car at the pick-up curb instead of using the park and wait. "Hello Looser! You're the reason the system doesn't work and there's always some type of traffic jam in the pick-up lanes. Yeah! You! Go back to the park and wait and use this magical thing called a cell phone to find out when your traveler is actually coming out to the curb" I've actually never said that aloud; though I'm very "mature" when this happens and have no shame as I stare angrily at these dumb drivers. Beware of the Amy glare.

2013: The Year of Mistakes

I have a friend from college who has decided that 2013 should be about life mistakes. We were talking about how we are still young and hate that we're starting "careers" and getting stuck in a lifestyle pattern that we will be doing until our late 60s and that we are missing the time where we can take random fun jobs and internships and have other experiences that can happen when we are young and single. And the entire discussion started because she wants 2013 to be about life mistakes.

Now when she says life mistakes, it is probably not what you are thinking of; she is thinking more on the lines of taking jobs you've always thought would be fun, not practical and you've talked yourself out of. For example working on a cruise ship or taking a Disney internship or working for an airline or hotel chain for the benefits. I have one friend who has always secretly wanted to be a forest ranger... 2013 is the year to do it! So maybe they're not mistakes... maybe they're experiences.

Goodness knows I've already made my first "life mistake" this year; I quit a perfectly great job. (refer to my post on 3/4/12, "Unemployment") But hey, from that I'm going to spend time with family, travel (well more than I already do), maybe take a fun internship somewhere or just move to Boston because I've always wanted to and find a job there for a few months.

This concept is completely out of my comfort zone. I'm a planner, I like having a plan. So maybe it will be good for me to fly by the seat of my pants (is it seat or seed or neither?). Maybe this is like getting a mid-life crisis out of my system before I have more serious responsibilities in my life.

anyways... Here's to 2013, the year of life mistakes! and really... maybe we should all take "mistakes" every once in awhile... even if they are small.

Making The Best of Things

For the last month of my job I took TRAX to work to save money on gas. TRAX is... well... an experience. There are people from all walks of life on TRAX. Usually I rode on TRAX with the business population and I would just get on, put my headphones in (without music playing) and read my book; nobody would bother me.

One day I had to take a later train into work because of a dentist appointment I had had that morning. TRAX was spacious that morning and filled mostly with college students, moms with little kids, high schoolers sluffing school (those shenanigans), and homeless people. As I picked a seat on an empty bench I noticed a homeless woman across the isle, who was texting on her phone, that only had her thumb and index finger on both hands. I thought to myself, "How sad, but don't stare" and then just sat down and started to read my book.

At a later stop a mom and her son (about 5 or 6 years old) got on the train and sat in a row in front of me. When the train started again the son looking around noticed the homeless woman. He immediately turned to his mom and said, "Mom! What's wrong with that lady's fingers?" The mom just ignored her son, maybe hopping he'd get distracted by something else.... but he didn't. He continued to ask over and over again, and not quietly at all, but the mom continued to ignore him.

Usually it would be natural for me to want to judge the mom for not saying anything to her son but this time I immediately put myself in the homeless woman's shoes and thought to myself, "What would I do in this situation?" and I decided that I would make the best of it and have a lot of fun. I would probably say something like, "My other fingers shriveled up because I didn't eat my vegetables" or "My fingers fell off every time I was disobedient."

It's easy to say that 's what I would do, when it's not really something I have to deal with but it was kind of an eye opener to me to make the best of the things that I have. Not in a settling type of fashion, just be grateful for what I have and continue to make life fun and enjoyable.

A Love of Youtube

Ok I wouldn't say I LOVE Youtube but it's a pretty great thing. I've watched interesting videos, inspiring videos, tutorials, but most importantly, I have watched videos that have brought me to tears of laughter.

One thing I miss about college is that seemed to be the place that I was kept most up-to-date with Youtube videos. It was like one day someone would find a fun video and the next day the entire dorm was laughing about it, talking about it and quoting it.

Well below I have posted some (but not limited to) of my favorite YouTube Videos. Enjoy!

MALK

My Push-up Bra Will Help Me Get My Man Back

Miracle Speech (This kid rocks and I send a link to this video anytime I send someone a "pep talk" email)

Guys Will Be Girls

(Quotable for a lifetime)

Do Not Disturb

At my last job there was this paralegal who was so knowledgable that everyone went to her with questions, even the attorneys. I was lucky enough to be on her team but I got to see how often she was interrupted; to the point she would go days without getting work done. One day I asked her if she would like me to put a threatening "Do Not Disturb" sign on her door. She laugh but declined.

Even though my offer was somewhat a joke, by the time I got back to my desk I had several funny/stupid (you decide) variations of "Do Not Disturb" running through my head. So I typed them all up and emailed them to the paralegal if she ever changed her mind and needed to use one.

I have listed these "Do Not Disturbs" below, so if you are ever in need of something to this effect, feel free to use them.

Please do not disturb.

Trust me… unless you are on fire, come back later.

Beware of Rabid Dog: Do Not Enter

Sick with the Flu: Enter at your own health’s risk

I have licked the door knob… are you sure you want to open the door?

Hot Flashes Going On… it’s not pretty in here

Trying to Finish a Big DIABOLICAL Project; Pandemonium Everywhere: Come Back Later

Out to Lunch: Be Back… I'm not going to say when

You have reached (insert your name here)’s door at place of work. I am in the office today, but currently unavailable. Please leave a message and I will contact you when possible. If you would like to speak to someone immediately, please press “0” for the operator. Thank you and have a nice day.

Salt Lake City Restaurants

Today I got a text from a friend saying that a friend of hers from out of state has been living in Utah for a month and is convinced that Utah does not have a single good place to eat. "WHAT?!" was my reply added with, "Is she living under a rock?!"

Immediately I stated to formulate a text FULL of great eating places for downtown Salt Lake City alone. My brother was with me and he had many places to add to the list as well and he even made the comment that he could make a great list even just for Provo (not that we're going to make anyone go to Provo who doesn't have to go there) but I agreed with the point he was trying to make.

These were our suggestions, but not limited to, for Salt Lake City:

Settabellos
260 South 200 West

This is my most favorite pizza place! Authentic italian pizza made in imported italian ovens made with real delicous cheeses. My favorite pizzas are the Margarita and the Settabello; but you really can't go wrong with any of them. Attached to Settabellos is a gelato shop owned by the cutest italian man and if he is serving the gelato it's fun to always ask him what his favorite flavors are and he gets really excited that you would ask and will give you samples of flavors he's experimenting with.

Sawadee

754 East South Temple

My favorite Thai restaurant. My favorite dishes are the stir fried plates or the yellow curry peanut chicken.

Caffe Molise
50 West 100 South
I haven't actually eaten here but I have a friend at work that this is always her first suggestion to people asking for a great place to eat. I also sent my boss here once for a business lunch and he liked it so much that it became one of his regular requests for business lunches (and that had never happened before).

Gourmandise: The Bakery
250 South 300 East
A quaint place for pastries at the end of a date, girls night out or a sinful dessert craving. They also serve Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner if you are needing a little more.

Faustina
454 East 300 South
Modern upscale restaurant but I felt like the lunch menu was reasonably priced.

Biaggis
194 South 400 East (very southeast corner of The Gateway Mall)
I love the butternut squash pasta and margarita pizza here!

Bambara
202 South Main Street
This place is more upscale but I would recommend it for business lunches or a romantic dinner.

Barbacoa

280 South Main Street

I had the cheapest and MOST delicious tacos here AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR GUACAMOLE!

RedRock
254 South 200 West
This place has a great casual atmosphere and some of the best sweet potato fries I have ever had.

Red Iguana
736 West North Temple
Has won awards for the best local mexican restaurant in Utah.

Bruges Wallfes and Frites
336 West 300 South (Broadway)
Belgian waffles with delicious sugar pellets inside that caramelize when cooked. Great for a dessert or snack!

Pie Hole
344 South State Street
Very hole-in-the wall but great thin crust Pizza and on Mondays you can get 2 slices and a drink for $5.

Unemployment

I recently decided to quit my job... well, scratch that. I decided to quit my job back in September, verbalized it in November and had my last day at work last week. 

This is probably the most irresponsible thing I have ever done. But, to quote a friend of mine at church yesterday, "YOLO!"

I'm actually really excited about my unemployment though. I have a list of things I would love to do and to get done. Deep clean my room; keep only the things I NEED or truly love, finish my dance t-shirt quilt, finish my scrapbook through high school, read lots of books, fill photo albums from high school to present, go to the gym, take some institute classes, practice my violin lots, maybe take a spanish class and then, of course TRAVEL.

After all of that I need to decide what to actually do with my life. I quit with the plan to take a break but then to start a new chapter; the thing is I need to decide what that chapter will be: Grad School, Move Back East, Mission, Job, DC Internship, Humanitarian Trips... the world is my oyster!

I'm sure once I finish my long to- do list, and other things I want to do, that I will have some down-time... well... below my good FRIEND Joey has a great lesson on unemployment.