I'm Not in "The Club"

So yesterday Chris and I went to hang out and have dinner with some of his old friends from high school because one of them was in town (it's been a nostalgic week). It is always sort of awkward in these types of situations because you have maybe only met these people at your wedding.... or theirs. And maybe only a couple other times.

Anyway, so Chris is laughing and reminiscing with his friends and wife A and wife B both have little children who they are giving their undivided attention too. So I am sitting there with my drink and the appetizers listening to Chris and his friends stories and just feeling out of place. At one point, even Chris said, "Man we will have to have a kid soon to fit in with this group." While I do want kids eventually, I don't have any now and I am tired of feeling awkward or ignored because I don't.

But I guess we all feel this way at one point. When your little and considered uncool (who decides anyway?) you might not be a part of the "popular/cool club". When you are single and not dating anyone you aren't a part of the "boyfriend club". Which means you aren't invited with your dating friends anywhere unless you are willing to be a third wheel. When your single and not married by the age of 21 (in Utah) you are practically an old maid. So by 21 your out of place by not being a part of the "married club". Well I'm not a part of the "Mom club".

However, the night did improve because little ones had to go to bed and I could carry on a conversation without someone being distracted by children. I was able to talk with Wife A and she was very down to earth and we had a great conversation. I understand that when you have children they do consume your entire life and so there is not much else you can do or talk about. I will probably be the same way when I have kids. I just dislike going to an already sort of awkward situation where I am the only one not in "the club".

*By the way, shout out to Kristina! I won an Us Weekly magazine subscription from her blog! I can drown my sorrows with celeb gossip!

New Pants!

I can't believe I am saying this.... but I wouldn't mind if there was snow right now. Growing up I despised winter and even didn't like fall because it meant winter was coming. I was convinced I had SAD. However, since I started snowboarding, it seemed to cure me of my hatred for winter. In fact I love winter now (except for the bitter cold, and the slippery roads), and even look forward to it. It seems that every year around this time I really miss snowboarding. Maybe it is because it is so hot that I long for colder days. Maybe it is because I just had to pay $219.49 to run the AC in July. Maybe it is because I am a woman and there is always something we want that we can't have. I don't know what it is, but I am always itching to go at this time. Maybe if I were rich and could fly to Chili or Australia that would help. But that ain't going to happen.

Last time this year when I was longing to go, I bought a board, boots, and bindings. I justified this because the board I learned on was used and (surprisingly) too long. Plus, it was the summer so I could get a deal. Surely no one was thinking of buying snowboard gear in August. Well, I woke up early and was surfing the net and thinking about how much fun it will be when I can go boarding... and I came across a website that had snowboard pants on sell. I really wanted new ones because I bought my old ones at Costco and they were really baggy and always falling off my waist. I constantly had to pull them up. So.... I bought these

I found them and they were a great deal so I couldn't resist. I saw them and had to have them. And they are Columbia brand so they have to be good. Anyway, I am excited for my new pants and hope this year is a great season!

The Ridge Girls

Ever since I joined Facebook and started this blog, I have been reconnecting like crazy with old friends. My friend Nicole I have known as far back as I can remember. We were probably in sunbeams together. And I have known Kim for nearly as long. We were all in Kindergarten together with Mrs. Tomsic. Even Nicole's husband was in our class! Danielle and Desi shared a fence with me growing up and her mom always cut my hair. She even did it for my bridals and my wedding! (Shout out to Paula!) We all grew up on roads with "ridge" in the name, so we are the "ridge" girls!

Anyway, we all decided to get together and have dinner. I hadn't seen these girls for at least 7-8 years, maybe longer. It was so much fun! We were all laughing nearly to tears at one point in the night and taking silly pictures. Good times.(Desi, Danielle, and Kim)
(Can you tell why we were laughing so much)

We went to the Cheesecake Factory which was delicious as usual. However because of the Anniversary they were out of all the good ones! No Tres Leches (Nicole's fav) and no Dulce de Leche (My fav). So I had to settle for chocolate coconut something or other which was still delectable (think Girl Scout Somoa's topped with cheesecake!). It is so funny that when you hang out with friends from childhood it takes you back....and in a way, you feel a little younger.

(Me and Nicole Eating Cheesecake.....yum)

To Cut or Not to Cut....

That is the question....

(2005)

(2006)

(2008)

(Today)

So I have recently been trying to decide if I want to cut my hair short again. I really liked my hair when I went on my cruise in 2005. I also remember really liking it in 2006 when Chris and I took our engagement pictures.

I actually grew it long by accident. In 2007 I worked all night shifts (7pm to 7am). So I would stay up all night every night and sleep during the day so my sleep schedule wouldn't constantly be flipping around. I found it to be very difficult to do simple errands like visit the bank, go to the doctor, and cut my hair. So my hair grew long, something I had not done since I was 15.

A lot of people comment on how long my hair is, but it is never referred to as "cute" or "beautiful". Yes it is long and yes I haven't had it that way for a long time.

My hair is very fine and it sticks to my head. Regardless of the volumizing conditioner and blow drying (I refuse to rat it up because then I would look silly). I don't do too much with it now, except straighten and ponytail. I've tried curling it, but it tends to take a lot of time and I usually am frustrated with the results so it ends up in a ponytail anyway.

So what do you all think? Should I cut it short again?

MY List of Things That Must Go!

So I was driving home from work after a long day, frustrated and tired, and came up with a list of things that must go. I listen to X-96 frequently and since I work either 7am to 7pm or 7pm to 7am I usually catch the Radio From Hell show either coming to or going from work. This is one of my favorite things they do and always end up laughing out loud in my car or making comments ("amen sister" or "get over it") So here it is....


#1 - I-80 construction. This is the way I drive to work. It has been under construction for over a year with what looks like little to no progress in my opinion (oooh they put a new bridge above 1/2 of 7th east). Semi's are supposed to detour on 2-15, but they go flying down miniature sized lanes over bump after bump of uneven road. My hands always tense up when I am driving because it looks like the semi's going to bounce right into my lane on top of my little car. Oh and I wonder if UDOT would pay for a windshield replacement for the 4 large rock chips and long crack across my windshield.


#2 - 33rd South. Also on my way to and from work. They are laying pipes under the road or something which also has had little progress over the past months. AND it is like off roading/four wheeling on the road because there are so many pot holes. Where I turn left the whole turn arrow painted in the road is one huge pot hole. I am sure my alignment is off and that I will get a flat tire real soon. Just pave a new road already!


#3 - Taking care of toddlers- When I started at my job, we took patients 12 months and younger. I would get the occasional 11 month old that hated me, but it was do-able. Well recently they upped the age on our unit to 2 years! You thought the terrible two's were bad! Try hooking them up to an oxygen cannula, IV fluids, and a monitor. Plus they are sick so they are puking, pooping, and/or getting snot everywhere. And don't even think about putting a (gasp) stethoscope on their chest. They scream/cry when you walk in the door and you haven't even started doing the task that is going to make them scream and cry. They want to crawl all over the dirty hospital floor, and when you try to stop them....temper tantrum! I will take a 2 month old that cries when you bug them, but easily calms when they are wrapped up with their Binky, over that ANY DAY!


#4 - Bad/Mean/Inconsiderate/Impatient Utah drivers. Hey...I want to get to work/home/Smiths/a restaurant/the Mall just as fast as you do! So don't go flying past me and then cut me off when I am already going 5-10 over the speed limit! And please don't come to a complete stop when you are turning right onto a road and I am going straight. I understand that you need to slow down, but seriously? It took my little put-put car at least 20 sec to speed back up to normal speed making the lame guy behind me slow down drastically, get irritated, change lanes, and speed past me (It wasn't my fault!).


#5 - New residents in July/August. Bless your hearts, but I am sorry I have to call you in the middle of the night and or four times a day because you forgot to sign your orders/didn't assign the patient a pediatric team/forgot to write for IV fluids/Didn't put a dose in mg on that medication/question my knowledge/ect...ect...ect. BELIEVE me I would write the order myself if I could, but no....I have to get your permission.


Not to sound like a complainer or anything... but I did have a frustrating day! (I took care of 2 toddlers!)

A New Tasty Treat

$1.50

I bought these new cereal straws while I was running a quick errand to the local Smiths. I figured, I like cereal and I love chocolate. They were only $1.50 too, so I knew I wouldn't be too disappointed if they were gross.

I guess you are supposed to sip milk up through the straw and then eat it. But I have never been a fan of drinking milk... at least that I can remember. So I just ate them plain. They bore a strong resemblance in look and taste to the chocolate Pirouette's by Pepperidge Farm. One of my favorite cookies by them. The difference is minor as far as taste. But price....the Pirouettes are around $6.00!

So I figured I will just enjoy my "cereal straws" and disregard their product advertisement geared toward small children. I guess I could always toss the box and no one would know the difference!

$6.00

$219.49

That is how much it cost to cool our condo in July. $7.08 a day. We had the same problem last year. I tried to conserve. We even bought one of those programmable digital thermostats to make sure it isn't accidentally left at 72 while we aren't home. And I don't let it go below 72. Guess it is a high price to pay to be comfortable in your home.

And August doesn't look too forgiving either!