ROBERT'S FIRST DATE

I had the pleasure of staying in Tooele this weekend to hang with my niece and nephew while my brother Jeff and his wife Virginia went to San Diego for the BYU football game and Virgina's birthday celebration. That Saturday happened to be homecoming for the local high school and Robert was asked to go. Just for the record: it wasn't a date...they went to a dance. Whatever.


Lauren and I were in charge of making sure everything went smooth. So while Robert and the non date group were playing air hockey during the afternoon, the two of us set out to buy a flower for the girl. There is one flower shop in Tooele and it is closed on Saturdays. Instead we tried the local Macey's and Albertson's supermarkets. No luck. The final attempt led us to Wal*mart where they only sold bouquets but we didn't need a dozen. As we were about to leave and admit defeat, I remembered a time I went to a Wal*mart in Springville with my friend Holly and she had to use the restroom. When she came out, she handed me a rose and said she found it in a vase in the bathroom. Weird. I went in and checked out the restroom. Sure enough there was a vase with roses. So maybe I boosted one for Robert's date.




As Robert was showering and getting dressed I realized he was gonna wear a tie and probably needed help with this one but I don't wear ties. With the help of a youtube video, Lauren and I can now make a perfect Windsor knot. Crisis averted.


Add a little hair gel, hide his white tennis shoes and white socks so he has to wear black socks and dress shoes, a little spray (or twelve) of cologne and we had one good looking man cub ready for his first date with a little bit of help from his big sister and favorite aunt (that one is me).

PS Lauren and I have amazing outfits because we went to an 80's themed birthday party during the dance--not our normal attire.

THE SHOW

I used to hear this song on Euro VH1 so I'm not sure if it has been playing in the states, but it's my fave song for the day:

The Show by Lenka
click for the video or
...here's just a few lines...

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why

Slow it down
Make it stop
Or else my heart is going to pop
'Cause it's too much
Yeah, it's a lot
To be something I'm not

I'm a fool
Out of love
'Cause I just can't get enough

I'm just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
It's bringing me down I know
I've got to let it go
And just enjoy the show

***I like it so much, maybe I'll name my 3rd born Lenka***

22 DAYS OF GYM

This is a story of girl meets boy. The girl, Deanna Watson of Orem, Utah, grew up believing that love could be all flowers and happily-ever-afters. This belief stemmed from early exposure to sappy Beatles love songs and totally misunderstanding the movie Swamp Thing. The boy, Jason somebody of Wherever the heck...it doesn't matter now, USA, maybe shared this belief. Since the days of his gym experience he'd only love two things: the first was his huge biceps. The second was hydrating his body after a good workout. Deanna meets Jason on September 25th. She knows almost immediately he is the one to finally be her boyfriend. This is a story of girl meets boy, but you should know upfront, this is NOT a love story.

DAY 1 blog entry Jason looked away as I looked up from the elliptical machine and then almost ran into the door as he tried to sneak one more peek just before leaving the rec center.
DAY 11 I went to BYU symposium this morning. Was late to the gym.
DAY 5 Jason walks in to rec center. Glances over at me on elliptical. Can't help but smile.
DAY 13 Two meetings at the fountain.
Jason: You having a good workout?
Deanna: (panting) yeah. Today is a good day.
Jason: Me too. I'm exhausted.
Deanna goes in for another drink and as she walks away says: Deanna! That's my name.
Jason: Deanna? I'm Jason.
Deanna: cool. (and goes to exercise on)
DAY 18 MIA.
DAY 6 I'm not even thirsty but I go to drinking fountain just to see him and he follows. Twice.
DAYS 19&20 I went to gym early maybe hoping to see Jason as I was leaving and he was coming. No luck.
DAY 7 I go to drinking fountain and he is there before me.
Deanna: So we meet at the fountain again...
Jason: But you usually make it here first.
Deanna: Guess I'm slow today.
Jason stands there as if wanting more of a conversation. Deanna walks off...exercise on.
DAY 15 As Jason was leaving the rec, he looked down on Deanna riding the bike then turned around and pushed the door open with his back for an extra look.
DAY 21 I went to gym early and then went back for round 2 to sit in hot tub with Brother Tim. Jason sees me talking to him and seems to pay more attention to me. Jealous maybe?
DAY 14 No drinks.
DAY 22 He arrived on time, talking on his cell as usual. I finished my time on the elliptical and headed to the fountain for a sip. He was there!
Deanna: Jason, right?!
Jason: yeah
Deanna: just remembering. (starting to breath heavily now because of the workout and being nervous, but I knew this was my chance.)
Jason: Hey (and he stood there as if waiting to have a conversation with me.)
To myself: This is it!!
Deanna: So...what's your girlfriend's name?
Jason: Brooke.
Deanna: You two exclusive?
Jason: Yes.
Deanna: Fair enough. (walks away)

Most days of the year are unmemorable. They begin, and they end, with lots of water consumed in between. Most days have no impact on the course of a life. October 16th was just another day.

DANCING

My friend Clint told me he needs to take me dancing because he can't find anyone to stunt with who doesn't get freaked out.

He then proceeded to tell me most cute girls can't dance and the not-so-cute girls cut up a rug so it's a struggle when he wants to ask a girl onto the floor.

Then I realized he said he wanted to dance with me. Which position does that put me in? The not-so-cute girl who is the good dancer? Dangit.

BAD BUSINESS

Now I'm not usually one to make a fuss but I also don't appreciate bad business and would like to pass this info on to you.
#1
Stewart Palmer Studio: I must tell the truth, I did leave this place yesterday with a great haircut and color but I also left with a wet hoodie and jeans because they spilled water down my back when the girl washed my hair. I know, that was an accident and it's cool because I can dry off, but the part that really bothered me was the poor customer service as I was getting my hair cut by the "professionals" who stopped styling hair to call in an order of food for lunch for themselves and take several calls on their personal cell from a boy they are interested in dating. Those phone calls can wait until AFTER you finish with your client. I mean, if I am paying for the service...I deserve the attention.

#2
Elase in Orem: I detest this office more than any human being could hate another place of business. Not only did the consultant BURN my neck with a laser (leaving me with some gnarly hickey looking marks), but the manager also lied to me about it, and then tried to insinuate that I was lying when I returned to talk with them about the incident. In past experiences with this office, they have also zapped a chunk of eyebrow when doing laser hair removal for my friend and left a bruise on the face that lasted for over a month.

PS If you talk with representatives from other laser/spa offices around Utah County and mention something went wrong, I've noticed the first suggestion of where the bad service was performed is usually Elase. Nice job guys. Zero out of five stars.
NOW THAT'S BAD BUSINESS.

REALLY BOYS...REALLY?!

Just a few of the most ridiculously romantic (less romance more ridiculousness actually) comments I either had said to me or heard a boy say to a girl this week thus far:

*You are hard to forget, but easy to ignore.
*I'd take care of you if I knocked you up. At least for six months OR until you started showing.
*You're cute but there are some things you should change. Maybe watch what you eat because your height and weight don't match. But don't worry...your boobs are great. Don't change your boobs.
*Hi. I want you.
*I need some arm candy Saturday. You busy? Make sure to wear a dress and curl your hair.

I mean REALLY boys? Really?! Let's have more tact please.

DEAR CHOLESTEROL LEVEL

Dear cholesterol level,
I promise not to eat like this every day, but I have to tell you that that bacon, cucumber, tomato, and whipped cream cheese sandwich on toasted bread was just what I needed today. SO delish.
Yours truly,
deanna

SNORT

There aren't many things that embarrass me very easily, but if I snort when I laugh I totally hide my face for some reason (and then that usually makes me laugh even more and then another snort might come out...it's a horrible process). And well, it happened at church on Sunday...in a sacrament meeting...that wasn't even mine...after everyone had laughed and then the room went silent for a brief moment. Awesome.
So Bridget and her dude friend decided we should exit stage left and head for a drive up the canyon where we found a crazy tepee and beautiful fall foliage that made everything better.


**I totally stole these photos from her blog.

WHITE ON RICE

In a previous post (from a long time ago actually), I wrote about going to Velour in Provo with my pal Danny Wilson to be stars (no need to be modest) in a movie. Well, it has hit the big screen. I saw it tonight.
It's called White on Rice. And it is amazing!
Go to the site www.whiteonricethemovie.com to find out more info and see screening times at a theater near you. You will not be disappointed!

to the Utah fans, it's playing in both Utah and Salt Lake counties this weekend

you'll totally understand this one when you see my shot

me & steve hanging with Bob

HARRY

I normally don't like when other people make albums singing songs that have been done several times and I normally don't post 2 blogs in one day, but I just can't resist Harry Connick, Jr. So click here and thank Harry and Oprah for a free download (WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS) of a song from the new album.

MR GRAY SHIRT

Thank you, Mr. Gray shirt, for looking away when I looked up from the elliptical machine and then almost running into the door when you tried to sneak another peek before leaving the rec center today.
You made me feel pretty.
Unless you were checking out the old guy 2 machines away...then that's just weird.
PS don't be so shy next time.

BEST PIZZA OF ALL TIME

Yo, New York, I'm really happy for you and all. Ima let you finish, but I just have to say Beyonce makes one of the best pizzas of all time. One of the BEST PIZZAS OF ALL TIME! *shrug*

But seriously, if I learned one thing this last weekend when I headed East to New Jersey and the surrounding states, it's that we put lots of toppings on our pizzas here to hide the inferrior taste.

I've got 4 words for you: large cheese pie, please.

So, if New York and New Jersey have the best pizza around, then why do I have so many photos of me munching on hot diggity dogs?! Go figure.

RETHINK THIS IDEA

Maybe Golden Corral's marketing department should rethink this idea.

It just doesn't sound right to me.

HYMN 293

We sang this hymn in church today and it made me think about the kind of friend I am or want to be. As I have travelled, I have learned whether we are young or old, rich or poor, educated or humble, full of experience or just beginning, speak a different language or live in another country, we all have the ability to be a friend.

Also as a member of Girl Scout Troop 715, we sang the song...and I still believe the words to this day:
'A circle is round, it has no end; that's how long I want to be your friend.'

293 Each Life That Touches Ours for Good
(click this link for a cool interactive music player to listen to tune and read along with the text)

1.Each life that touches ours for good
Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above
Thru words and deeds of those who love.

2.What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christ-like friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

3.When such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

4.For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior's name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise thy goodness, Lord above.

I have been blessed with plenty of good friends through family, school, church, work, and travel who give me love and support and I am so thankful for them. Especially those that comment on my blogs tee hee.

09/09/09

Maybe a little irreverent, but here is Hitler with today's date:
clicky clicky

SELF CHECK-OUT

If you do NOT know how to use the self check-out machine, please do NOT get in that line and cause your fellow shoppers who ARE smarter than the scanner to have to wait longer to pay for their merchandise.

Also, please do NOT pay for your $10 purchase with nickels and pennies causing a two person wait behind you to turn into a 12 person line.

You do NOT make it fast, easy, nor fun for me!

GO COUGS!

After watching tonights game, I'm still not sure if I like short socks or knee length socks with the football uniforms. Either way, BYU still beat the Sooners at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium 14-13. Go Cougs!

ALONE IN MY PRINCIPLES

"We don't really know what we believe in or care about until what we believe in or care about is threatened, challenged, or measured."
— Sheri L. Dew (If Life Were Easy, It Wouldn't Be Hard)

When the time comes to test my faith...am I really strong enough? It seems I often find myself singing that hit song "Alone in My Principles" and dancing by myself, but I'm OK with it because I know in the end protecting my values is way more important than being popular.

THANK YOU WAVE

Being the courteous driver I am, I stopped to let a pedestrian cross in front of me yesterday. They looked straight forward and walked to the other side without turning to give me a thank you wave or anything. Nothing. Who does that?! For crying out loud...I wanted my thank you wave. It makes me not want to be so kind. You HAVE to give a thank you wave...it's like THE RULE!

GONE LIKE YESTERDAY

You're asking me where to go to get the best pasta in town while in Provo...well, I can't tell you and this is why:
I drove down historic Center Street to get a delicious plate of Gnocchi Toscana, which I have been craving for about 3 months, only to find a sign on the door of Ottavio's Ristorante Italiano that said they have closed for good. My favorite restaurant is gone like yesterday. Ohmigosh. Could my heart break any more?
But I suppose you can purchase their crowd pleasing creamy tomato basil soup at the nearest Costco store (beautiful wall murals, accordion player, and owner who walks up to your table and asks if you are enjoying your dining experience with his Italian accent not included).

EYE HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER

It's true. As I wrote in the previous post, I decided to buy myself LASIK for my birthday. It was probably THE best thing I have ever spent a wad of cash on in my life (even better than the loaf of bread and jar of Nutella I bought the other day with my niece).
Things I learned from having the procedure done:
1) 5mg of Valium is about 10mg too much for me but made me VERY relaxed about the whole situation
2) stealing a cookie from the hand of a girl who can't open her eyes because of the aforementioned valium pill is not a good idea (especially if you try it a second, third, and fourth time).
3) big black shades are cooler than they appear or cooler than maybe you appear as you wear them
4) eye drops come straight from the Rx counter in heaven
5) wearing glasses or contact lenses is great to improve your vision but do not even compare when it comes to 20/15 vision from Dr. Hoopes.

It's as easy as that! If you've even considered it a little bit, go for it. Have it done...you'll never regret it! In less than 24 hours, my eyes have never been happier than they are today (and I couldn't have left the office happier with my souvenir mug of candy and chocolate chip cookie in hand).

BEST PRESENTS

It seems I don't get as many presents for my birthday as I did when I was a young girl, but I will admit the few I got this year were rockin! Besides the texts, emails, voice mails, and other various messages I received from loved ones across the ocean, I came home and got 2 of THE MOST AMAZING presents in my life.

1)Big Matt made me the proud owner of a brand new precision aluminum bodied, 15.4-inch LED widescreen display with 1440 by 900 pixels, 500GB, 2.8 GHz, 2009 3rd generation MacBook Pro. I'm kinda in love. I still need to name it, so I'll take your suggestions.
2) I decided to buy myself LASIK so these peeps can see the world a little more clearly with less corrective lenses.

Here's me enjoying the two best presents money bought me this year!

DRINKING FOUNTAINS

I had a fantastic summer in Czech. I got to hang with my Czech family, visit my Plzen branch members, tour around 11 countries in Europe, and partake of plentiful amounts of chocolate, cheese, sausage, and dumplings.

Upon arriving in the Atlanta airport (where I spent over 9 of my 30 hours of travel to get back home to SLC) I was reminded of something I am very grateful for: drinking fountains! And drinking fountains with cool, no gas, clean, free, drinkable water. I've missed you.

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, & WALES...OH MY!

So during my free week I took the 16 hour bus ride from Plzen to London (with a stop in Brussles for some Belgian waffles). After my arrival, I picked up my 7 day Brit Explorer hobo pass that allowed me to hop on any National Express bus within the UK at any time without a ticket reservation.

My first stop was in Oxford where I got to see my old pal Kristy from high school and meet her husband Miles (thankfully they let me stay an extra night at their cottage the 1 time the bus schedule didn't work out).

I then went on to see Bath (with Jane Austin girly stuff), Oxford again (pretty schools), Bristol (lots of Indian stuff and shopping), Cardiff Wales (home of the Welsh love spoon), Cambridge (more pretty schools), and stopped in Manchester (average soup but a lovely ferris wheel) where I met my friend Marc.

Marc and I continued on to Liverpool (new friends in the cavern with Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields just around the corner), The Lake District: Kendal (home of mint cakes that aren't really cakes)/ Windermere (where I experienced fish & chips with mushy peas with gravy for the first time at the Little Chippy)/ Bowness (sitting by the bay with the largest swans I've ever seen in my life), Lancaster (no thanks), Morecombe (boats with no water, 2 star resorts, and very interesting people), and Preston (pizza hut buffet...need I say more?!).

The next day Marc and I talked the front desk workers at the local Travelodge into a free birthday breakfast and bottle of shampoo before heading to Nottingham (where we hung out with Robin Hood and ate many pasty from Gregg's).

Marc left and I continued on my journey through Conventry and Leicester to Birmingham (chips & curry) and then took a bus overnight to Edinburgh Scotland with a short detour to Glasgow. I got to be part of the Edinburgh Festival, hang with Braveheart, eat haggis/neeps/and tatties, and see lots of men in plaid kilts.

After that, I headed back to London on the overnight bus, had breakfast with the Queen outside Buckingham Palace, and then boarded my bus with the all-too-familiar smelly Czech friends back to Plzen.

SMACK BOTTOMS

I was thinking of inventing a game that teaches children good morals and builds character. You know, one that wouldn't contribute to "wasting their time" and will make them good members of society.
I've got it! Maybe I can put up two life-size twistable torsos and have them spank the booty as a music video starring Britney Spears plays in the background. I'll include in-depth instructions on how to twist and slap just the right way. That's it! And I will call it Smack Bottoms!
Was that thought really going through someones head as this console was designed?!

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

My Czech family is going to some super posh resort in Spain for one week starting this Sunday. I'm not going because it's too expensive to take me. I was a little bit sad until I checked the Student Agency bus services and booked a ride to London. Then tonight I phoned national express to buy a 7-day hobo pass to get around the UK (yeah I'm hoping to hit England, Scotland, and Wales) and I swear it sounded like I was talking to one of the Spice Girls...Brit power! Got me excited. I heart English boys!

BIRTHDAY WISH

I forgot my birthday is coming up. Hard to believe huh, since I love celebrating birthdays so much. So, what do I want...well, besides a plane ticket to a new continent I've yet to step foot on or any of the items listed here, I kinda really love this:

hand-made with real license plates from Aaron Foster
But since it costs $3900, I'll settle for this one on canvas for a price of $39.99. It combines two things I love: my America and art.

CAN'T GET ANY swedeR THAN THIS

My CZ family informed me I had a free weekend so I had 3 words on my mind: student agency bus. I grabbed my American friend Chris from the German speaking countries vylet before (the other 2 girls Jackie and Britny were headed home to Utah) and we went to visit Denmark and Sweden. After 30 hours on bus roundtrip, 6 ferry rides, and 3 currency exchanges, we had 3 days of F-U-N.

Hitting up Prague for a few hours before getting on bus #2

Our bus was on a boat...on a boat! as we left Germany.

We made sure to eat danishes, world famous Ost (cheese), and salty black licorice as we searched for the Little Mermaid, Hamlet, and Squash in Elsinor, Denmark.

We stayed with our new friend Szilvia in Sweden 1 night then hit up the town in Helsingborg for my list of Swedish treats: IKEA, swedish fish, swedish meatballs, princess cakes, and dala horses. Done and done. Back to Plzen.

FREE WEEKEND

I was told I have a free weekend while my Czech family goes to Austria to some super posh Kinderhotel. (I went last month so I'm not too heartbroken). So I decided I will hop on a student agency bus and go to Sweden, Denmark, and whatever else happens to be in between tomorrow.
Then I had someone tell me I have a travel bug. This is my response:

It's true
I want to see the world
the whole thing
all of it
green and blue parts
and the little white and yellow pieces too
every longitude and latitude line possible
I love it

PHOTO CLASS

Even if you have never taken a single photography class in your life, you should be able to take a camera, look through the view finder (or at the big digital screen), push a button, and take a decent photo.
I kinda hate to love and love to hate having other people take photos for me. I mean, if I'm at some tourist site and ask you to take a photo of me in front of something...I don't just want a photo of me...I want that something in there too.
Examples:
I think the Eiffel Tower is behind us


The most beautiful tree in SLC. Oh wait...there is a temple behind that?


Both the castle and I barely made the photo


My other favorite is getting their thumb in on the action


I know I shouldn't complain. I mean, I am the one who asked for the photo and they are doing me a favor (I think), but I try really hard to take nice photos for other people. Sometimes self-timer or long arm is a better option. I just wonder what their photos turn out like... It's good for a laugh at least.

3 GERMAN SPEAKING COUNTRIES

I spent 9 days in the Sumava forest with 2 Czech moms and 3 children who hate to love and love to hate playing with eachother. Then my new 3 American friends came on a rescue mission and picked me up. We left Borova Lada and made it through 3 German speaking countries in 3 days:

Salzburg, Austria (where we danced to the Sound of Music and Mozart, ate weinerschnitzel and Almdudler dinner with Meryl Streep, and walked the streets through the rain).

Munich, Germany (where we toured the town with men in lederhosen, went into cool churches with great organ pipes, and traveled across the green country roads to Bavaria to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle). This was my favorite city of the trip--Munich is gorgeous!

Zurich, Switzerland (where we paid for 3 pots of fondue but could only eat 1...remember to order it with no alcohol next time..., ate some stinky Swiss cheese, saw our friend Martin, and bought cuckoo clocks).

Nuremberg, Germany (where we made a 1 1/2 hour stop to eat some sausage, get scared by little kids on the street next to the castle, and stock up on Haribo before leaving Germany and heading back to Czech.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA

Not quite sure what the Constitution is, Ivanka heard us practicing this in the garden and called down from the balcony asking, "Is this really necessary for him to learn?" Well, after watching this video clip I think you will agree that it was absolutely necessary!

(yes, that's the Preamble...4 year old little Willy style)
This July 4, I may not be IN America, but I am still definitely OF America.

I DO NOT INTERNET DATE

For months, my dad joked about signing me up on eHarmony.com so he can marry me off since I haven't done it on my own. Funny...kinda. All of the sudden, I have started getting a lot of emails from that site (that I do not open I just delete). Is my father a jokester or is God trying to tell me something?
PS I do NOT internet date!

ANIMAL SOUNDS

Did you know, just like humans, animals in different countries speak different languages? Check the differences between American animals and those living in the Czech Republic:
Bird
A- tweet tweet
C- pip pip

Cat
A- meow
C- mnau

Dog
A- woof woof
C- haf haf

Pig
A- oink oink
C- chro chro

Frog
A- ribbit ribbit
C- kvack kvack

Duck
A-quack quack
C- taj taj

Cow
A- moo
C- bu
Yeah...so apparently, a cow says bu and a ghost says mu and an owl says hu and when you want to scare someone you don't jump out and say "Boo!" (because that is what a cow says) you say "baf!" I'm so confused.