Book Clubbing

My book club met tonight. I was the host this go around and was a little nervous about it. Not only does the host "HOST" the book club, but they were the one to choose the book for the month and provide the treats for the club. I played it safe and we had a baked potato bar. I baked WAY too many potatoes. Do baked potatoes keep? If so, I'll be eating them for days. The book that I chose was "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Hadon.



I really liked it. It was written as if from the perspective of a boy with Autism. Being that I work with children and some adults who have Autism or Aspergers Syndrome, I found the book very interesting. Basically this boy is investigating the murder of a dog in his neighborhood and in the process reveals some pretty heavy stuff about his family. I think the author did a really good job of writing it in a very black or white way of thinking.

The book is quite an easy read. The chapters are numbered only with prime numbers- this goes along with the boys love of numbers and fascination with them in his life and in the world. We talked about a lot of his behaviors that we found in ourselves. It was interesting some of our own quirkiness we revealed. I would definitely recommend this book to others. It was a little sad in parts, but different and interesting.

The next book we are reading is "The Education of Little Tree"- you are welcome to keep up if you'd like. Hey anyone who has read the Mark Hadon book and would like to tell their feelings- please comment. It can be like an online book club extension!

And the Oscar goes to . . .

I was so proud.

It's not time to make a change

One of my all time favorite things is listening to my ipod on shuffle. I have about 3500 songs and it would take me FOREVER to listen to all of it, so when my ipod is on shuffle it's kinda like Christmas. I am so excited to find out what the next song will be- whether it's an old Counting Crow's song I forgot I loved or the new Radiohead I can't get enough of (Sullivan Street and All I Need- in case you were wondering). Tonight was especially great. I was driving home from a friend's house where we watched Some Like it Hot (men in drag and a braless Marilyn Monroe) and I was playing the ipod shuffle game when the most wonderful song came on- "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens aka Yusaf Islam. I sang it as loud as I could as I drove and when it was over I hit repeat and sang it again. I remember sitting on my bed with my cousin Heather at about age 8 and her teaching me to sing this song when we were supposed to be sleeping. I think this may be one of the greatest songs of all time.

There is no way a man who writes lyrics like that could a terrorist.

See you at the crossroads

Went on a little trip to Colorado for the weekend. It was quite fun, full of incredibly normal stuff- which was just what I needed. Previously, when I visited my special friend Joey from out of town, we would do extremely exciting things, like cutting down trees and driving for hours, not to mention our near death canyoneering adventure. So "normal" seemed like a good alternative for a change.

I learned a thing or two during my stay such as:
Bubble wrap=fun (knew that one already)
wrapping yourself in bubble wrap and rolling around on the ground=even more fun
wrapping yourself in bubble wrap and jumping on a trampoline=priceless

As I had cut down my first Christmas tree just two months ago, it was only logical to come full circle and burn it in a ceremonious Christmas tree bonfire. Books were also burned, but strictly due to water damage- not due to moral religious or political objections. It was quite the fire.

Early on in my trip, a mystery began to unfold and clues seemed to be around every corner:
hot hamburger
abandoned tree house
severed foot
uneven sidewalk
the rent note on the stairs
and conversation hearts that spelled out mystical sentences

Jinkies (don't we look like sleuths?)

What did it all mean? What conclusion did it bring us to? Hmm, nothing. . . yet.

We carbo loaded at breakfast everyday, just to ensure we would be able to make it through the rigorous schedule of normalcy we had planned. We napped to keep up our strength. We made a trip to a granola town and didn't even eat granola (we are rebels like that). And all I have to say is thank heavens Michael was almost done with his milk- I don't think even Knight Rider could have saved him if it had been much longer (did you know that if enough people had watched the made for TV movie of Knight Rider they may make it a series? I didn't know or care either).

We wanted normal- so I nagged and he told me what to do, in fact I nagged so much that he FINALLY cleaned off his ceiling fan. That was a fight that could go down in history. But then we made up and ate two entire bags of Cadbury mini eggs and shared a gastrointestinal breakdown -which only brought us closer.

I guess what I am saying is that I had a good weekend celebrating our presidents. I am still a little pissed that I didn't get to dress up as Lincoln, but Joey was right (never question him, rule #1)- the top hat and beard did look much better on him.

***NOTE: much of this blog entry is rich with sarcasm, for those who take things FAR too literally. Joey is defintely one of the nice ones.

Lets be honest this Valentine's Day

All ya need is love

My love of Valentine's day has gone back and forth. Some years I love it and some years I hate it. This year, I think I love it. Not for the reason you all may think, but because I am feeling so grateful for all the people in my life whom I love and who love me back. I am so so lucky!!! So thank you for loving me and letting me love you. It makes me who I am.


But don't get me wrong, I do hope I get a little somethin' somethin', if you know what I mean.

Make it a Happy Valentine's day

I thought this was funny.


Sorta random pet peeve- I HATE it when people call it ValentiMe's day- why do people do that?

free money

Ok, so here is the deal. My roommate and I have been talking about our credit card debt. In the grand scheme of things we are not that bad off. It says that most households have up to 9 credit cards. That is insane. We live in the same household, but we each only have 1 credit card. JUST ONE! and we really want them paid off and quickly. So, we have tried to come up with logical solutions to our debt problems.

1)Ask Oprah for it. I mean, after all, she is a bajillionaire and she likes to help those less fortunate (which is pretty much everyone). So two poor social workers trying to change the world seems like a worthy cause, don't ya think?

2)Game shows. This might be a little more logical. I think I could apply for "Don't forget the lyrics" and Aliah could go for "Deal or no Deal" and we could get our measly amount that we are looking for. Or maybe even "Are you smarter than a 5th grader" but I might want to punch Jeff Foxworthy in the face and that will just get me arrested instead of out of debt. Ok, but have you seen these applications? They act like you are applying for the CIA or something.

3)Googled "Free Money" that was fruitless. It's like no one wants to give out free money- I bet they do, it's just a little harder than just googling it.

4)Rob a bank. But just for the exact amount we need to pay off our credit cards. I am sure the bank wouldn't even miss it and probably not even come looking for us. It would probably be a story the bank tellers would laugh about around the water cooler during their breaks "did you hear about the two social workers who came in and robbed us for a few thousand dollars?" We'd be legends AND debt free.

5)Play the lotto and or go to Vegas. We decided against this one, because no one actually ever wins and you kinda NEED money to GET money.

and last but not least

6)Craig's list. We figure if we ask every person that looks at our add to send us 5 dollars, people might just do it. Maybe. I believe people are inherently good. In fact, my blog site meter says that on average 38 people look at my blog a day, if every one of you sent me just 5 dollars, that would be 190 a day and I could get my credit card paid off in no time.

Then I can focus on more important things, like saving the world through my social work. Wouldn't you like to make the world a better place? Of course you would.


***Please send all proceeds to the Angie and Aliah get out of debt fund. Email me- we accept paypal, all major credit cards, cash and check.

Firsts

I am kinda copying a blog my friend Spencer wrote. I am going to blog my first memory of my closest friends from over the years, either that or my favorite memory, or both- we'll see how it goes.

Melanie- I was 7 years old, so I obviously don't remember the exact day we met. I kinda just feel like I have always known her. There aren't really memories pre Melanie. One of my favorite memories of me and Melanie is watching Labyrinth and dancing around. We didn't want to say "hurts like hell" which is what David Bowie sang, so we would sing "hurts like heel". I think we were both kinda in love with David Bowie, which seems so funny now. Also, we couldn't watch Beaches without crying about each other (still), but I kinda always resented that Mel was the pretty one and I was supposed to be Bette Midler.

Ginger- I think she was my very first friend in Florida. Girl's Camp was really what solidified our friendship. I think it was our mutual disdain for Gail Homer's awful harmonic destruction of "teeny jaws". Most, if not all of my high school memories have a Ginger in them. One of my favorite memories was skipping a fireside to go and run naked on the beach. Mike could get us to do anything!

Mike- Can't remember the first time I met him. I am sure that I liked him from the moment I saw him. My 14 year old self was in love. But then our friendship just grew. I still love him (but in a much more platonic way now) and I love his wife and kids too- in case anyone was getting the wrong idea. Favorite memory was on his 19th birthday. He made me jump over an 8 foot wall into this beautiful park with a fountain and trees. And then we got chased by security and almost arrested for breaking into an assisted living facility (who knew those places were so romantic?).

Alissa- My first memory of her was in the lunchroom in 8th grade. I was playing the shy new girl and Alissa was playing the potential new friend I didn't want to scare off with my spastic personality. It didn't take long for the real Angie to shine through- good thing she was just as big a spazz as I was. I have MANY favorite memories of Alissa. One of the best was Disney World in 10th grade, I think she would only understand why it was so great- too great to explain with words. We will continue to have great memories.

Sunny- We met at girl's camp, but then we were together at EFY and Youth Conference and then pretty much our group was together for the rest of high school. Favorite memory was probably one of our many crazy weekends of a stake dance and dancing like idiots. I think we would still dance like idiots if we had the chance- that's what I love about you.

Erin- Wow, it was freshman year in college- we were put in the same trio in girl's choir and we would just talk about Florida as Christina, our second soprano, would try to pipe in with something and we would ignore her. Triscuits with cheese (poor man's nachos) followed, then roommates and then best friends. Who would have thought. I can't pick one memory she's been a constant for the past 7 years. Everyday with her is my favorite.

Alyssa- Hmm, I think it was at Dorm 6. I walked in and there she and Ashley were. Her and I then went and ate oreos at the dorm opening social and I knew we were going to be friends. Favorite memory- hmm. Another hard one, but I think it goes back to her BYU days and the snow and the swings. Such a perfect night. That night saved me many times on my mission. Although, Alyssa super pregnant and me, her and Jared dancing like crazy on New Years in San Francisco was also super awesome. I could go on.

Mark- First time I met Mark, I was taking a nap and I was miserable- my life had just basically fallen apart and he popped his head in the door and said "Hiya" in his cute Scottish accent. We then proceeded to go to the movies everyday and he even moved into my room. I think I would have decomposed in my room if he hadn't rescued me. One of my favorite memories of Mark is sleeping bum cheek to bum cheek. Ah, platonic bliss.

Aliah- We met at work training and I remember thinking- “wow she has really cool hair and shoes and bags“. And then our offices were right next to each other and we would IM all day and I could hear her laughing through the wall at all the clever things I would say. Then we lived in the same apartment building and now the same house. Ah. Friends forever. One favorite thing about me and Aliah is that we pick the crappiest movies to go see together. It's actually humorous how bad they are (don't ever watch the movie In the Mix, trust me).

Maren- She was Aliah’s friend Maren for the longest time. Aliah kept wanting us to be friends, but we aren’t the types to do what someone else says- so it had to happen in our own time. Then we hung out and we knew we were going to be friends. Most recent favorite memory- snow day, frozen pizza and like 4 movies. It was glorious.

Dainon- first time I saw him it was kinda a blind date, except it was me him and his friend and I remember thinking that he was too good looking. I am not sure what he was too good looking for, but just too good looking. I told him we would be best friends, he didn’t believe me- but of course it was inevitable. Favorite memory would have to be our trek to Denver. Good music, good laughs, just a good time. And the fact that I always seem to do something totally ridiculous around him and he of course never lets me live it down.

Sarah- I think I had met Sarah a few times, but one time we all went to the Pie and there she was. She ended up taking me home and I basically told her she had to be my friend and forced her to hang out with me. So far, so good. Favorite times- 4 words- Sex in the City.

Anyway- that is all I got tonight. I will add on whoever wants me to. Or you can comment and fill in your own memories.

Love Ya.