We Don't Know What's Going On

"We don't know what's going on in your life anymore."

Megs and Jules informed me of this last Friday night when Rob (fighting the urge to call him Robalicious, fighting the urge...) and I visited them at Megan's house.

I launched into some spiel about how I don't know, when another person is involved in my day-to-day life, how much of that can be considered "public" and how much can be considered "private."  So, I'll share the big stuff so you have a little morsel.

1. My sissy Britty and her new husband Matt came to town to visit me for Thanksgiving!  Lots of great adventures - watching the Macy's parade, the on fire fountains at City Creek, the funicular at the St. Regis, Christmas lights in downtown SLC, Quick Wits, game nights with old friends, IMAX Skyfall, two new pairs of boots for $35 total at midnight (These and two pairs of gym pants were my total black Friday haul) and pure exhaustion.

2. I experienced my first Ferre family Thanksgiving - complete with Christmas singing afterwards!  And my first Smyth-family Pie Night on Thanksgiving Eve.

3. Rob is coming to Ohio for Christmas adventures, complete with a visit to the A Christmas Story house!

4. I have been asked by my wonderful director of ole, Wendy Dahl-Smedshammer, to reprise my role as Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense in March.

I think that's it in big news for now - love you all!

LEATHERBY'S!

Britty and Matt helped me decorate for Christmas and I awarded Brit the "star on top" privileges

Christmas Tree in the LDS Conference Center

Scheel's - this totally ridiculous sporting goods store

Ferre family Thanksgiving

Cafe Rio with Rob's amazing friends from Orlando days of yore

Pie Night at Megan Smyth's

Ferre Family Thanksgiving

Cantina - my fav Mexican place!

Those Three Little Words

Sunday evening, my partner in crime's little 3-year-old niece was jabbering away to me whilst eating her dessert at the dining room table.  We made faces at each other, I pretended like I understood everything she said, and we both smiled bemusedly.  She leaned over to me, reached her hand through her long red hair, and touched my shoulder as she said three little words I understood crystal clearly: "I love you."

I didn't think those words would melt my heart they way they did.  I know little children are very unconditionally loving, but this child had no obligation to love me - she is not related to me.  I often feel so undeserving of the love of my niece and nephew because I only see them a few times a year.  Yet, because I am their Aunt Rissa, they love me dearly...because that's what kids do so perfectly.

Her words made me wonder, "Do I deserve this love?  I didn't even do anything..."  I smiled as I realized that in the eyes of this little girl, I must be pretty cool just because I'm there and she's happy when I am. And in my eyes, she's pretty cool too. 

I returned her favor as I watched her ridiculously cheesy little grin, "Thank you, Gwen.  I love you too!"  Because I do. You always hope you are going to find love when you begin a romantic relationship, but what I didn't ever guess was where exactly that love would come from. 

Red Butte Gardens after we took her to dance class at the end of September

Ten Lucky Movies - Because They are My Favorites

How do you pick a favorite movie?

I've long proclaimed that asking me to pick a favorite is much like unto asking someone to pick their favorite child.  Alas, a couple of my friends (1,2) have recently blogged about their favorite movies and it really got the wheels in my head turning: "Perhaps I should finally at least narrow down my list?"

So what is my determining qualification?   Any movie that will make me absolutely excited anytime anyone says, "Let's watch..."

I believe some of my decisions will knock your socks off...with shock, not impression.  I maybe sorta kinda watch movies to escape.  My list of ten is a friendly list kinda number thanks to David Letterman.  But me?  I'm like Winnie the Pooh, I, "Think, think, think," and I definitely have my favorites that are above the others and then this garbled endless list* of, "but I love this one and this one and this one too..."  The point is, I'm not certain these are the top ten, but at the time of pressing "publish," they are.

There is a certain amount of nostalgia involved in my choices.  I've spent a lot of time thinking about why.  As an adult, there is a lot required to make me feel a sense of awe and wonderment or that feeling that what I am experiencing is changing my life.  As a child/adolescent, every new experience is embraced with the hungry vigor of youthful innocence.  In a strange way, I long for the days when I was so innocent and impressionable, each experience intense and eye-widening.  These movies bring those feelings to me again - every time I watch them I feel what I felt then.  And that, my friends, is a treasure hard to come by.

Jurassic Park


A League of Their Own


Goonies


You've Got Mail


Big


A Christmas Story 


Signs


Lord of The Rings Trilogy - Return of the King


Indiana Jones Trilogy - The Last Crusade


Back to the Future Trilogy - Part 1


What are your favorites?

*In case you are curious, the garbled list includes things like Little Manhattan, Shawshank Redemption, The Hot Chick, White Christmas, The Help, Life is Beautiful, The Family Man, 500 Days of Summer, The Prestige, Anything Disney, Sharktopus (don't judge), The Burbs, Elf, Gremlins, Princess Bride, Heart and Souls, Return to Me, Dances with Wolves, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Ten Things I Hate About You, Labyrinth, While You Were Sleeping...

Painting What?

So, I got this lovely little pink flyer on my door the other day.

I was slightly confused at first.  Then I was slightly amused.  I hope I'm not the only one...

You Are What You Eat

Have you seen this commercial from Pediasure? 

The children run around the soccer field as the foods they are eating and only the non-sluggish children are sans some edible accoutrement. 

But the point is that "you are what you eat." 

It really grates my cheese that the healthy children who drink Pediasure are not running around as Pediasure bottles.  Where is the sense in that?!

Election Night in Salt Lake City: Democratic Headquarters

I just want to clear the air that I am not a political activist.  My voter registration is as an independent/unaffiliated.  I've taken many tests/quizzes and I always fall 50/50 between the two parties. 

That being said, my beau's mother is highly involved with LDS Democrats here in Utah.  For the Presidential Election last night, Rob proposed we go check out the parties downtown for both Republican and Democrat.  My friend Colleen was in charge over at the Hilton for the Republicans, however, by the time we arrived downtown, the predictions had us knowing the Democratic party would be the most hoppin.

We arrived just in time for the announcement of Obama's continued presidency.  Naturally, we stayed to people watch and ended up smelling way too much marijuana and could never figure out quite where it was coming from, discussing all the wine-carrying hipsters in scarves or thick black-rimmed glasses or mustaches, and mostly watching all of the screens with newsfeed and statistics coming in regarding local races in our state and others.

As each candidate was declared the winner or defeated, they took the stage to give a speech.  I vaguely remember seeing many photographers around and I also vividly remember telling Rob, "I wasn't prepared to go out in public tonight."

And wouldn't you guess whose photo showed up on the Salt Lake Tribune's website today?    

It's like I want my eyes to be open, but can't quite manage it...and I want to smile, but only the right side of my mouth can muster up the energy. AND to top it off, Rob is holding me oh-so-tightly...to hold me up apparently.

What did he have to say about this?  "I can't believe you were seen drunk at a democratic event!"  He quickly recovered with this compliment, "You really look like Elizabeth Shue there."

Oh boy.  The things I get myself into for curiosity's sake.

Photo Courtesy of Salt Lake Tribune

Red Tights

Different colors of tights with great designs on them are pretty popular these days, right?  I've seen them on everyone from wee babes to grandma's.  There is a pair for everyone - cute, trendy, classy, and sassy.

Sunday, I decided to wear some red tights with a diamond pattern to church.  I also decided to run my fashion decision past my beau, and he said, "They are fine.  Just wear 'em and see."  I said, "Well, they are fun, but are they too fun for church?  I don't want anyone to think I'm a street walker just because they are red."  He stood by his decision that they were fine.

The rest of my ensemble was a pure black, sleeved, knee-length dress with a little red camisole underneath so as to not give a free show should I choose to bend over.  My hair was caressing my back with loose, wavy curls, and I had a dainty diamond necklace on. 

We arrived at church a little late, so decided to sit in the foyer until the sacrament had been passed.  I excused myself to the restroom quickly and quietly.  I returned to find my beau looking forlorn and shaking his head in discontent.

"The guy who was just sitting on the couch next to me was staring at you with the most disapproving look on his face the entire time you walked away.  I stared at him, as he stared at you, and finally he noticed out of the corner of his eye and said, 'Yes?'  I said in an even but stern voice that was inviting him to have a conversation, 'You have a disapproving look on your face.'  He got up, didn't say a word, and walked away."

I responded, "Well, I guess that's my answer - these tights are too fun for church.  I'm taking them off."  Within 10 seconds I'd found an empty room, slid them off, and was seated next to him with my naked legs.

We've had a lot of conversation since then, but mostly both of us are disconcerted by the judgement.  Did he know he was looking at one of the most innocent 32-year old's out there?  Did he know I am a mega-virgin who would never seduce a man save for my future husband?  Did he know I'd have profusely apologized if I'd offended him in any way?  Or am I the one being judgy because I think he was being judgy?  I guess we'll never know since he clearly did not want to have a conversation.

Foot Panties

Foot Panties.  Does this make anyone cringe as much as it does me?

I'm seriously sitting here with my nose still wrinkled up and no comprehension as to why on earth you would willingly insert the name "panty" into a product for your foot.  If you watch the video, you can somewhat comprehend the purpose, but...seriously?!