I HATE PSORIASIS...

...but I hate death even more. I just saw this commercial tonight and I can't believe anyone would even consider taking this medication after hearing the side effects. It's like when Fat Free Pringles containing olestra were introduced to the market and the can warned it may cause loose stool and abdominal cramping. Ok sign me up! Seriously people?!

SUNRISE, SUNSET

After a day of riding horses and enjoying the sweet Oklahoma country air, I was watching the sunset through the window and the question came up of whether I like to watch the sunrise or sunset. I thought that question was a no-brainer...sunset, of course, because I have to be up way too early to catch a sunrise.

But the very next morning, I was up before the sun and got the opportunity to fly in a little plane and watch the sunrise from the sky. I think that has become my new favorite sunrise memory. And yes, I got to steer the plane...all those years of playing Top Gun on the Nintendo with my brothers finally paid off!

YES, MA'AM

Last night, I went country dancing and I noticed at least two guys said "Yes, ma'am," to me when I asked them a question as we were scootin our boots on the dance floor. At first, I thought, 'Yes, ma'am...I'm not 50 years old.' Then I realized these are southern boys and they are proper respectful. So go ahead and show me that southern hospitality and charm me! Yes, Ma'am me all you want!

FAILURE?

Today I went into an office where the girls at the front desk were giggling and modeling their new purse (or purses for most because they said a girl can never have too many) and then it hit me....I might be a failure at being a girl. Here are my reasons why:
1. I don't carry a purse to match every outfit. In fact, I don't even like the word purse.
2. My favorite color is NOT pink.
3. I don't consider myself to be needy.
4. I kinda hate cats and when I see them I kinda want to kick them (but I never would).
5. I'm not that terrible of a driver.
6. I don't like to shop.
7. I don't have to leave something on my plate when I go out to eat to seem dainty.
8. I have an opinion. I won't push it on people, but I'll share it when needed.
9. I've never had my nails done.
10. I don't take crap from boys and
11. I'm not afraid to get dirty.
So there you have it...do I suck at being a girl?

OKLA HO-MAN

I've learned that if a boy here says, "New to the area? I'll be your friend and show you around Tulsa," what he really means is, "I want a tour of your pants." They never change...no matter where I am in the world.

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

"Rock, paper, scissors...show me what you got," is a phrase I hear at least once a day. It seems after making a suggestion on how to solve a small arguement, I've created 4 little monsters who now use rock, paper, scissors to determine who gets to sit where in the car, goes first when playing a game, gets the last bite of a piece of dessert, or even whether they leave the night light on or off at bedtime.
"But, deanna, we rock, paper, scissored it...."

OKIE DOKIE

A few things I've encountered from week 1 in Oklahoma:
"Oklahoma, where the wind blows..." The song is true. As I went out for a morning run, I learned it blows and it blows COLD. Maybe this sign I saw as I was transferring airports should've been a clue.

Wal*mart is EVERYwhere and apparently, saves the best parking spots for flying birds carrying sacks of babies.

I drove by the Oral Roberts University and saw a giant pair of clapping hands. While I was there, I prayed for hair for DB, men for J, and less wind for me.

If the praying with the hands doesn't work, then maybe buying tacos from the taco mobile outside the church with the giant rotating faith sign will work. Gotta love the bible belt.

Deciding to get some kicks on Route 66, I ended up in the Art Deco part of Tulsa and fell in love with a Sunday stroll in perfect sunny weather and beautiful architecture.

SUPER SEXY PRICE

I don't really like shopping but I just couldn't take my eyes off these shoes. They hypnotized me so much that I couldn't decide between black or brown so I bought both. I know...I know. But, I got them for a super sexy price. Instead of paying the $130 suggested retail price, I got them on sale with a $5 off coupon per pair for a total of $15 for both (alright $15 something including the 8.517% OK sales tax)!

DOGGONE GOOD TIME

Yesterday, I rounded up the gang and the five of us went to the local Tulsa library to PAWS for READING (where kiddies get to read to registered therapy dogs and get to take a book home as a souvenir). We then stopped at PetSmart for adoption day and pet and played with some dogs. Finally, we went home and ate hot dogs for lunch. Does that last activity make me a bad person? All I know is we had a doggone good time.

TOM CRUISE, WHERE ARE YOU?!

Sometimes I sit and wonder 'Why am I not married to Tom Cruise?' I mean, I think I'd look good on the cover of People Magazine...with all that great makeup, trick lighting, and someone's photoshop skills.
Then I'd get cool things...like free clothes and shoes and maybe even have my own line of fashion socks or something. Just a thought. A girl can dream, right? Come on, Tom Cruise, where are you?!

AAHHH THE MOMS

It's birthday time for the moms. A BIG birthday this year! In fact, I think she's gettin close to the senior discount at the Sizzler. woot! woot!

Important things my mom has taught me:

Always wear clean underwear...because you never know when United Airlines will lose your luggage before a hot hot vacation to the Florida beaches and leave you in the jeans you left Utah wearing for 3 days.

Shake it...even when you have lovely 'grandma humps'

Don't be afraid to toot your own horn...or maybe antler...

There's nothin wrong with showin a little.... or wait is it searching for... some red footed boobies in Hawaii.

and No one can put the ass in embarrass like your family.

AAHHH the Moms, You've been there for me through the big and little (faces/clothes), the good and the bad (dates/jobs), smart and the stupid (decisions/roommates), and the broken and good (hearts/cell phones/cars). Can't thank you enough for everything you do and the person you are. You've got a heart so big. Love your face!

I AM IN LOVE

It's true. It's time to admit it. I am so happy, I want to shout it from the rooftop and let everyone know that I AM IN LOVE...
with online banking!
I can be anywhere in the country or world even and take care of my finances. No late fees, no automated phone calls, no wondering if the check made it to the mail in time, etc. Mr. online banking, you are a genius! I love you.

Oklahoma is OK

I left Utah to Oklahoma on Thursday for a bit to work. Surprise!...for some. I haven't seen much besides 3 of the 12 local Walmart stores, lots of dry grass, and my new 4 friends. PS I discovered the most wonderful thing at Wal*mart: I'm not sure if it's a permanent item or if it's just for Valentine's Day, but they have an aisle with international chocolate. That's right, I was worried I'd have to go back to Germany to find my favorite chocolate treats, but now it's just around the corner. (I'll probably find another excuse to travel back though.)


So all I have to say right now is Oklahoma is OK. Give me a little bit more time to explore the place.

Moving on, it's Valentine's Day and I wish I had a new slide show to post, but, alas, I don't have any of my photos with me, so here is last years again...

In honor of love, Valentine's Day, and all that shiz.
BOYS: Take notes from these dudes.
GIRLS: Find these guys and don't ever let them go.

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Happiest day of my life...
I inherited a cord thingy to plug the ipod into the car. New technology meet Mazda; Mazda new tech. So happy together!

I'M JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU

...but I might be if you bought me one of these:


I'm kinda really obsessed with this machine right now. I think it might be my next purchase. I dream about 2.3 million pixels of perfection, long lasting batteries, silky glass clickity click click surfaces, being instantly wireless, limitless ports, 2.8GHz and kicking into SuperDrive because sometimes I feel the need for speed.... Dear MacBook Pro, You are gorgeous. I haven't had a new crush since 2007, but I think I have one on you. Will you be my number 4? Love, deanna.
Um...anyway, I started out writing about the movie He's Just Not That Into You, before I got sidetracked, and wanted to say I'm just kinda not that into it. In fact, I kinda hated it. That's all.

HOPE

Valentine's Day is coming up. I dedicate this song to you from Hope. Feel free to bring me flowers.

**ADDENDUM**
I was asked for my love song mix so I listed it in the comments. If you have any others go ahead and write them in and help out your local neighborhood playa work a mixed love CD.

GAPS

Recently, I was asked, "How do you know who's the one?" As if I know that answer or any thing about love for that matter, but I replied with the first thing that came to my mind...a scene from Rocky:

Paulie: You like her?
Rocky: Sure I like her.
Paulie: What's the attraction?
Rocky: I dunno...she fills gaps.
Paulie: What's 'gaps'?
Rocky: I dunno. She's got gaps. I got gaps. Together we fill gaps.

CATCHUP

It's time to pour some 'catchup' on this post so you can enjoy a quick review of my last week or so and things I've failed to mention:

I missed the first few days of the Sundance Film Festival, but quickly made it up to the film gods and headed to Park City where I saw old fest friends, met some new people who were "sweet as hell", caught a few screenings, snuck into a few parties, and (even though I missed Dory this year) had a 4 star time.

Human foosball...ever heard of it? Me neither, but I had the opportunity to go to a school with awesome kids who are working really hard at overcoming some obstacles life has handed them to play it with them. Loved loved loved them and the fact that my team won so we had first pick at the treat table afterwards.

My pal Val passed on the word that the Huntsman Cancer Foundation needed volunteers for the K-Bull Radio-A-Thon so I told her to sign me up. My heart was touched as I did such a simple thing as answer a phone...something I do every day...to hear people swell up with tears as they donated or told stories in honor of a loved one who has struggled with cancer.

After putting the phone down, I headed towards Spanish Fork Canyon for a dance team reunion party at Ricky's house. I got my game on in cards, slept with lots of strange animals running around, and helped cooked breakfast in the morning. Then I headed out with studly Jamie and crew for some 4 wheelin in the snow out by Saratoga. Can't wait to see him in a few months for some wakeboarding!

Next, I loaded up most of the nieces and nephews and the dad for a trip to the Living Planet Aquarium where we touched sting rays, stared at jellyfish, and left with some sweet fish tattoos. The highlight of the trip was when I found Jacq in the backseat with my cell calling random numbers in my phonebook and saying, "Hello Santa? Bring me presents!" on the way home.

Finally, (sorry this is a long one) brother Tim called me the night before and planned to pick me up at 5:45am to go to Denny's for free grand slam breakfast day. But, alas, everyone else in town was there too. And since Tim doesn't have very much patience for waiting in lines, we left and drove to Macey's where we bought the essentials and made our own slammin breakfast at Lenny's.

*This totally reminded me of the episode of the Simpsons where Homer gets kicked out of an all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant, drives around town to find another, and then, since he can't find any, he goes fishing. "Does this sound like a man who had ALL he could eat?!"*

LOOKS GOOD IN A PAIR OF THOSE

After watching Super Bowl XLIII, I decided that I am going to start wearing football pants around because EVERYBODY'S butt looks good in a pair of those.
"Who is that walking up wearing football pants?! Oh, it's just deanna..."

25 RANDOM THINGS

This has been sent to me by a few different people. I was doing a great job at avoiding it but it seems like it's the cool thing to do right now, and, well, since I totally care about being cool I'm posting it here. I see your 25 random things and raise you 5 more (I'm just narcissistic like that):

1. My favorite color is baby blue.
2. I like mushrooms on my pizza.
3. I once scooted my boots on the Western Dance Club of Utah's Performance team.
4. I secretly plan on having Oprah pay for my wedding.
5. Ben Folds rocks my suburbs and Andy Goldsworthy touches my nature.
6. I admit that if I don't have milk for cereal I'll use water instead.
7. I never hang the phone up first (unless I'm low on minutes or really don't want to talk to you).
8. I shave my legs every day in the shower.
9. I'm good at remembering numbers...just wish that skill could help me out in Vegas.
10. My elementary school teachers used to write on my report cards that I didn't talk enough in class.
11. I'd wear my bathing suit EVERY DAY if weather permitted.
12. I like to go to expos/conventions.
13. I had a foreign language, JCP, and DP2K scholarship all at the same time so I paid for my college junk and some of my brothers. I bought brand new books the first semester, used books the second, then by the third, realized I didn't need to buy them the remaining years.
14. I was born in Livermore, CA.
15. I don't usually like to take naps because I wake up not knowing if it's am or pm.
16. I didn't wear any kind of makeup until I was 20 and was told if I wanted to represent the Dairy Industry I had to look presentable.
17. I like chairs and architecture.
18. Facebook.com says as of December 22, 2008, I've seen 17% of the world.
19. I like to laugh. Sometimes I point and laugh.
20. I drive too fast, my showers are too long, but my peanut butter cookies are just right.
21. My favorite NKOTB was Jordan Knight. My brother used to sing, "oh oh oh oh oh...New Kids suck," to the tune of Hangin' Tough and it made me want to punch him. Not Jordan....my brother.
22. Ducks make me laugh because they don't have arms.
23. I heart fireworks.
24. I'm boy retarded.
25. I enjoy cala lilies and yellow roses with orange tips and accept gifts of both at any time.
26. I hate running in the rain but I love to run in the snow because it makes me feel like Rocky.
27. If someone asks me to name a celebrity Tom Cruise and Beyonce are the first that come to my mind.
28. I once tested positive...for G-A-M-E when it comes to playing board games.
29. My favorite adjective is oscillating.
30. I like to smile. Smiling's my favorite.

THEME SONG

While catching up with my friend Michelle on what I've done since I last saw her, she told me, "Oh man...your life is WAY BETTER than tv." It made me giggle. Then I thought about it and decided that if my life was a tv show I'd want this as my theme song:
(You have to push play...yes, that's the triangle in the circle...to hear. Listen to the lyrics or google them. Amazing.)

110% BETTER

After considering the future consequences of posting more photos of my broken face on here, I decided we'll let that subject be. It's gone. 110% better. A quick recap is all you get:
DeAngelina lip, IV 3x/day done at home for a week and a half then 10 more days of meds (that might have been mixed up with someone else's prescription for little blue pills which are used for a totally different problem), way too many 6am doctor visits, crochet hooks in my face, a little numbness but the nerves should get back together, face-pons, fun times trying to bathe, many hours of sleeping through movies, and lots of liquids.

MY FACE IS BROKEN...AGAIN

So my face is broken...again...but not as bad as it has been before. I experienced new things this time. I saw lots of doctors who didn't know what was wrong...(I think I should be a doctor. I've practiced my lines, "Let me have a look here and see what we can do. Well, I don't know what it is; that's the first time I've ever seen something like this. I'll prescribe you a medicine and refer you to another doctor. Ok. Pay the bill on the way out. Get better. Thanks.")

I'll post more details as they come but get ready for some gnarly photos as soon as it gets better. You bet I'll share those gems with you!

On the plus side, how much do you think the botox to get my lips this size would run on the street? I just saved myself a lot of money.

PS NO, those are not directions on how to get to the I-15 drawn on my face by the doctor. Thanks Rendon.

**I can't eat anything so chocolate won't help, but feel free to send gifts of flowers, digital cameras, or laptops to cheer my spirits through all this**
xoxoxo

LASERS, CREAMS, AND STAIR STEPPERS

I was going through some boxes of junk (that I have saved through the years for some reason) and found a bunch of old photos. I realized time sure changes you and the way you look. But then I also realized that there are plenty of lasers, creams, and stair steppers to change those changes. Life is good.

BRAD PITT BUTTON MOVIE

Maybe I just don't get it, but I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button movie last night and this line totally bugged me:
"We were meant to lose people. How else would we know how important they are?"
Shouldn't people in our lives be important to us? Shouldn't we love them here on earth and not finally appreciate them after they die? Why, as Better than Ezra said, does 'everybody love to love you when you're far away?'
Help me out...am I missing the point of the quote??
Anyway, the Brad Pitt button movie is a good one--a long one but a good one. Check it out.

SHE KNOWS HOW TO WORK IT

I went out for an afternoon of fun with a handful of nieces and nephews yesterday. Thank you McDonald's for the ginormous indoor playground and 99 cent value menu.

In their own way, they all know how they can get what they want from me, but this little lady knows how to work it with her big grin and "I love you Auntie Nana!" Now let's order her up a cookie.

NYE

So from the post before you might be wondering why I mentioned California. Just a trip through Las Vegas to Cali for the weekend and NYE.
Highlights:
*NYE countdown on the strip
*Rose Parade or bowl for some
*making chinese lamps and playing with legos
*game night at Aunt Shelly & Uncle Jeff's house
*Geisha House with Dory and Dane
*free tour of LA with tour guide Dane (including the Disney Concert Hall, Brody J's apt, Yogurtland...divine!, Hollywood, stars, Santa Monica pier, Venice canals, Hickoryburgers, and so much more...all in like 3 hours)
*getting lost in Santa Ana for 2 hours and having gas station attendants tell me to go a different way each time...thank you Mr. Police Officer for the right directions
*eating Jack in the Box
*and the gorgeous ride home back to the snow (PS not really gorgeous I hate Nevada)
Click here to see more photos

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT CALIFORNIA...

...is that it is January and I was wearing a summer dress with flats outside and the weather was perfect. The occasional trip to Jack in the Box doesn't hurt my love for the state either (goodgosh that place is delicious).