thoughts continued...

I'm finding that doing "bullet point blogs" helps me to sort out my thoughts better, and that you don't have to read a bunch of crap when I can just get to the point.

• It's finally hump day. Two days closer to Friday.
• I am SUPER tired today. I need to go to bed earlier if I am going to get up at 6:30am every morning.
• My husband is a morning person, I am finding that I am not as much as he is.
• One of my treats in life is going to a seafood restaurant and getting crab. The kind you have to work to eat, breaking the shells open and everything. It's very satisfying when you can get the meat out all in one piece. Yum.
• The dehydrated strawberries in the Strawberries n' Cream Quaker Instant Oatmeal kind of taste like fruity sponges when hydrated.
• And I was pretty excited to see and taste the Blueberries n' Cream and the Banana's n' Cream instant oatmeal too- both are very good.
• The woman that I share a cubicle wall with is SO loud when she talks on her phone. And she's on it OFTEN. AND she has a Spanish accent... and says the word document like "Dock-ooo-ment" and it makes me insane. I sometimes have to walk away so I don't have to hear her voice, it's that grating.
• I need to go get new glasses, I'm afraid my vision is getting worse the older I get.
• I have a messy house. Funny how I noted that in my last thoughts blog and that it's still not taken care of.
• I love my mom too- a lot. I'll write a "Tribute to Mom" blog for Mother's Day, I promise. I just didn't want her to feel left out.
• My iPod mini cover is AWESOME. It's got pictures of sliced kiwi's on it.
• Sometimes our trash-taker-out person here at work forgets where they took my garbage from to empty and puts it back in a totally different spot then it previously was. And then, out of habit, I'll sometimes throw trash away in it's usual spot, and it's not there to catch it.
• The bamboo at my desk is getting really big. My goal is for it to reach the top of my cubicle, which it's fast approaching.
• We bought pots to put on the front porch and deck this last weekend. I need to figure out what flowers to put in them.
• We went to Red Lobster with some friends last night for a birthday celebration- and didn't have to pay for it. That was a nice treat.
• I got complimented on my hair today and that was nice to hear. Especially because I was feeling like it didn't look that great.
• My usual hairdresser is going to be having a baby this month and so will be out until July and until then I have to go to another one of the stylists in the same salon, but just once. I'm always a little leery going to someone else when I've found someone I really trust with my hair and does what I like. And it does taking "finding" someone...
• Things to do: clean the front bedroom, clean/organize the dining room, put all of my clothes into my new dresser, put the computer desk together, take all my Cd's and put them on my shelf, buy more decorations.
• We're having a "Happy Birthday Cecilia and Jenean/Cinco de Mayo" party at our house this weekend. I am excited for people to come and enjoy our house.
• We love to have company.
• I want a sub from the Italian Place in Orem, UT right across from the University Mall. Dang those things are good.

Okay, I'll spare the rest... I guess I could go on.

Pictures from last night:

Happy Birthday Jenean!

Meet "Sal" the Salamander

To Dad

Let me start off by saying that I realize how blessed I am to have the father I have. I know that there are people out there that haven’t been blessed to have as great a father as I do, or maybe to even have a father figure present in their lives. I am however blessed to have parents who after 42 years of marriage are still madly in love with each other. I am blessed to have a father that loves and adores his wife, his family and his God. He is a dedicated human being not only to his family and the people around him but in everything he does. Of course, I am biased.
My dad has taught me a plethora of things. He has a love of nature and of the things that God has created and taught me to love it the same. He always had a wild flower book with him whenever we went on rides in the forest of Northern Arizona in his clunky 1979 Dodge truck to look for “flat rocks” for the landscape in the front yard. Any time he’d see an Indian Paint Brush or Lupine he’d stop and say “Look at that! Isn’t that beautiful?” with the excitement of a child. He also is very familiar with the Latin names of several plant species and randomly names a tree or a bush or flower in Latin instead of its “common” name. He’d built a pond in our back yard with a small waterfall that had large rocks placed around it and with gold fish in it. For a moment of peace and quiet he’d often go and sit on the big rock and just watch. He loved to hear the trickling water and have that quiet time to himself. He was often accompanied by either a cup of Rocky Road ice cream or bread, honey and milk.
I have tons of fond memories of times with my dad camping, like one time going to the top of Sunset Crater; just me, my older sister and him. We popped up our little tent and I remember listening to the wind blow through the Aspen trees softly as I tried to fall asleep. I was pretty scared at first, but then instantly felt safe when I remembered my daddy was sleeping next to me. In the morning he would make us a great breakfast. We’d often explore in the woods… I believe it gave him inspiration for his landscaping.
When it would snow like crazy and the roads would get icy, he’d tie a saucer sled to the back of the car for me, as I am the youngest and was the littlest, and would have my brothers and sister get in their snowsuits and hang on to the back bumper of the car while he SLOWLY drove down our street pulling us. I still remember laughing our heads off partly because we were having so much fun and partly because we were a little nervous too!
When I was much younger, he’d cut my hair for me. One evening I remember him cutting my bangs while we were sitting in the family room watching TV. He was sitting on the couch and I sat in front of him on our little blue wood stool while he cut away. My sister who was also on the couch was making me laugh, and my dad too, which while cutting someone’s hair isn’t a good thing to do! I ended up with the shortest quarter inch bangs I had ever and have ever had in my life. I didn’t allow my dad to cut my hair after that!
I remember cooking a lot with my dad too. My mom taught piano lessons to kids who could only come after school- so my dad and I were in charge of making dinner. We’d always find new ways of cooking things or new things to cook. Like doughnuts and cookies and other concoctions. He always had “creative” ideas on how to cook things- like his famed “Pink Chicken” that we all still talk about!
He taught our early seminary church class that was held for the high school students in our Church at our house every morning for three out of the four years I was in high school. He’d prepare, and study and cook breakfast occasionally and dedicated himself to the kids in the class. I remember countless nights that he would stay up way later than anyone else making sure that he had a good lesson prepared to share and that it brought the right feeling and spirit into the class. He cared so much about those kids. He would even take each student and their families his famous homemade fudge every Christmas and a kind note about the student.
He’s a very tender man, although I don’t think he’d be happy I was sharing that secret with the world. But I love that about my dad. He can cry during a sentimental commercial. He cries during sentimental moments in movies or TV shows. He loves good classical music, and if it moves him enough you can see him sitting listening intently with his eyes closed and a soft smile on his face and a little tear rolling down his cheek. Most recently, having my dad cry as he walked me down the aisle to my new husband-to-be on my wedding day, I’m pretty sure he cried more than I did! We had a moment in the kitchen before hand (where we had to wait so that my husband couldn’t see me) making faces at each other and telling funny stories to get us to not be too blubbery the whole time. He makes me laugh and smile and feel so good about the decisions I make in my life.
He has taught me how to love; how to love his spouse, his family, and his fellow beings. I love the way he looks at my mother, and loves her so much. I love that he would do ANYTHING for her and that he still finds her desirable after all these years. He’s taught and teaches me about Heavenly Father and His love for us. He teaches me to be a better person and to be humble because he is that way. He teaches me patience and faith. He teaches me kindness. He teaches me how to laugh and deal with trials. He teaches me to be honest and fair with my dealings with my fellowmen. He teaches me unconditional love. He is one of my greatest examples of what a good human being should be.
Overall, I don’t know what I would’ve ended up like with out my dad in my life. Frankly, I don’t want to think of that. The importance of him in my life is one that I cannot put into words. I feel privileged to have come to a family with such an honorable good man as the head of our family. I love my dad with all my heart.


I got this idea from a blog comment that Sara had from a gentlemen writing a book about Fathers and their Daughters and thought I'd write something nice about my dad to share. I decided to add it to my blog/journal as well. http://www.gregoryelang.com/

thoughts

• my bed is really comfy. i like it, and it likes me
• rancid bacon grease is one of the most disgusting smells ever
• i love my husband
• i love our backyard and our deck
• i don't want to work tomorrow
• being unorganized is driving me crazy
• i love my husband. oh wait, I said that one already.
• i'm 28. i graduated high school almost 10 years ago. i'm going to my 10 year h.s. reunion this summer. yikes...
• there's a salamander that lives in our garage. we named it "sal".
• my mother in-law spoils us. she's nice.
• i should lock the window... we have no screen on it
• i think i hear an owl in our backyard
• i can't wait to go to the beach
• i love my husband :)
• i miss my family. a lot. even though i just saw most of them last month. it's hard being so far away from them sometimes.
• love my wedding pictures.
• i used to be a good weight. now, i'm a lot fatter than i used to be. it doesn't make me happy at all. i have to lose weight, not only for the fact of my self esteem and looking better- but because i want to be healthy when we decide to start having babies.
• kaboom! bathroom cleaner rocks (which btw you can buy at walmart or target)
• as a side note to that- i'm grateful for kitchen gloves because cleaning the toilet is sick.
• i switch shifts from 10-7 to 8:30-5:30 on tuesday and that makes me happy.
• the lime tostitos are one thing i'm hooked on right now.
• homemade chocolate chip cookies are always better- especially when they're not flat and greasy
• one of my favorite pictures of my neice is below. i had to share because it just shows her coolness and sense of humor even though she's only 4.
• need to go to bed. it's not even midnight and i've already got the monday blues...

Brooke is cool.

Just cuz I can...

Ryan and Jared dancin'
At the Chattahoochee with some friends.

Helmet Heads...

Randomness...

Parking and Driving in Georgia

I have to vent. I have to vent about people who are inconsiderate in their driving and parking. It seems there are certain days when the idiots of driving come out in full force. Yesterday was one of them- and as of this morning on my way to work, today is too.
First of all, living in Utah for 7 years I experienced some REALLY bad drivers. And I think the thing that consistently bothered me is what I and a few others referred to as the "Utah Box". Now those of you who know what I am talking about can shake your head in annoyance with me. And it most often occurs in the fast lane and the lane next to it. I hope I can sufficiently describe it although, this is not the purpose of my blog- the title of my blog is pointing out the real issue I have with Georgia drivers- more specifically ones in the greater Atlanta area.
But going back to "the box", picture yourself driving down I-15 (if you live in Utah) and you're going at a pretty good speed (of course well over the speed limit, because really- who drives 55 on the freeway? And if you do, good for you but move over) in the fast lane of course, because well, that's where you're supposed to drive fast. They didn't name it "the fast lane" for nothing. When all of a sudden you come up to another vehicle in front of you going about 10 or so MPH slower than you are. You decide to pass them on the right because there is no where else to go and flashing your brights at them did nothing to move them over. So you look to your right, of course checking your blind spot when you see a car next to you with it's front end about half way back the length of your car. And you cannot move forward or pass to the right. There's an example of the "Utah Box". OR another example is when you've got someone to the side of you going about the same speed as you, maybe a titch bit faster and a person in front of you going about the same speed and no extra lanes to pass either of them in. ARG! I think that a mentality comes in for some who think they can "monitor" the other drivers in hopes that they will go the speed limit by getting in the fast lane and setting their cruise control at exactly the speed limit and not backing down to those who come up on them like they're about to make a permanent impression on their bumper.
So, now- getting to the drivers here in the ATL. WOW. I don't even know where to begin. I thought Utah drivers where bad... not so much compared. The reason for my anger this morning was: #1- a driver that refused to go with the flow of traffic on a two lane city street and felt the need to ride every one's (including my) bumper and then passing in front of them wildly just to get to be about the same speed he was going before this neurotic move. And only to find out that he works at the same place I do and got to the parking garage at exactly the same time I did trying to go faster than me and everyone else and cutting people off. I just laughed to myself and called him an idiot, secretly hoping he didn't hear so that he wouldn't beat me up.
My #2 reason for being angered this morning and just about every morning here at work was that there is always some jackass (excuse the language) who decides that he/she can take up 2 parking spots just because he/she feels like it. There is one guy who is a repeat offender, and I have come SO close to writing a small note saying "You know, it could do you some good to be considerate of others around you- in particular this parking garage. Learn how to park!" But I haven't... yet. I mean, there are hundreds of people that have to park in that garage everyday- and there are already limited spots. They had to make up spots to accommodate everyone and then people like that don't even pay attention. Its as if they park their car (with a tire a foot over the next spots white line) and just get out and say "oh well" and walk on. Where as a normal human being, or rather, a considerate human being would FIX the mistake. Right? I mean, why not just take the literally TWO seconds to back up and straighten out your wheels and then pull forward again? Do you want people to hit your car with their door? Do you want dings or possibly dents? Because if I can squeeze myself in there, and it's tight when I get out- I'm not going to be very careful. I'm just sayin'... I'm going to gather some footage just to prove my point and not just from people at work. It's everywhere.

At work...seriously. And this isn't even the bad one.
This is in a Costco parking lot.

Two punks in another parking lot. It's a good thing my car is small.

The driving thing... well, I just don't even know how to describe it other than A LOT of people, not all, really don't tend to think that there are other people on the road besides themselves. Like the article I linked about Utah drivers and how they don't signal at ideal times, the same goes for people here. Only I think it's worse. Crossing three lanes of traffic just all of a sudden it seems. Going 25 MPH in a 45 MPH zone just because they're looking for an address instead of pulling over because there are 5 cars behind them and reassessing where they are. Or getting off an exit (the correct way a person should) and then someone from not one, but two lanes over decides "oh yeah, I need to get off here" and shoots on over with no signal of course and no indication to the other vehicles that happen to be on the road as well that they are making this irrational move.
Bottom line is- I never knew I had road rage until I moved to Atlanta. Luckily I don't have to travel 285 anymore, because when I did for a year and a half and would sometimes get home an hour and a half AFTER I left work, my poor sister would have to listen to me just go off with a look of "what happened to my happy Heather?" It's horrible. I just have to deal with the other idiots who make the stupidest moves. I keep saying over and over again, that it all comes down to being CONSIDERATE. If there is someone that's pulled in behind you possibly backing up traffic behind them and you have room in front of you to move up so that they can too- then move up! Not only will it get them in the right place, it alleviates traffic elsewhere! It's a simple concept that some people just don't tend to understand. Oh and don't even get me started on rubber-necking... seriously.
I think I should stop. I could go on. I could recount many times of my anger. Not to say that I'm a perfect driver- no, no, I am not. I have done some pretty bad moves myself. But I at least TRY to be considerate and mindful of the other drivers around me. I'm just saying, if you're going to be driving in GA and haven't before- it's an aggressive world out there on those roads. BE CAREFUL!!!

Marsha! Marsha! Marsha!

There's a sales rep here that insists that I look like Maureen McCormick who played Marsha Brady in the original Brady Bunch show. Not sure how I feel about that...

Magic i8ball- Copied Christina

Directions: Put your music player on shuffle. Press forward for each question. Use the song title as the answer to the question. No cheating.
How am I feeling today? Sleeping In-The Postal Service (this is pretty accurate, I'm super tired today but I didn't sleep in-I wished I could though!)
Will I get far in life? He Wants Me Back- Dancehall Crashers (Not sure what that's supposed to mean...)
How do my friends see me? Sneakin' Out of the Hospital- Beastie Boys (watch out for the crazy! Ha, ha!)
When will I get Married? Everything is Exactly What It Seems-Slow Runner (I'm taking that to mean that since I am already married, that it wont change. Oh good.)
What's my theme song? Spirit Voices-Paul Simon (yes, that's me... mystical and mysterious and I have a way of throwing my voice into a whisper as if it's a spirit...)
What is the story of my life? Touch Of Grey-Grateful Dead (Hmmm, sort of depressing- although the song was our high school graduation song.)
How can I get ahead in life? I didn't like my first answer Bertie-Kate Bush so I did the next one after that Dancin'-Chris Isaak and I liked that a lot better!
What is my best feature? I've Seen All Good People-Yes (I guess that means I have an agreeable personality and can see the good in people? Okay, I'll take that.)
How is today going to be? Absolute-Scritti Politti (Absolute what?)
What is in store for this weekend? Ice-Sarah McLaughlin (ha, ha I hope not!)
What is my life like at the moment? We Never Change-Coldplay (Actually, I like where it's at- and I'm cool with it staying this way for a while!)
What song describes my secrets? Okay, this one is HILARIOUS! And yet, pretty accurate! Big Time Sensuality- Bjork
What is my current lover like? Hmmm-interesting...no comment. Pressure Drop- The Maytals
What song will they play at my funeral? Folk Song-The Sundays
How does the world see me? Heavenly Action-Erasure (I know, I'm like an angel.)
Will I have a happy life? Can't Buy Me Love-Beatles (that's true)
What do my friends really think of me? Enola Gay-OMD (*a bomb dropping plane? Whoa.)
Do people secretly lust after me? Ice Cream-Sarah McLaughlin (what the? What's with her and ice, and does the ice cream secretly lust after me or do people think of me when they eat it?)
Will I accomplish my goals in life? ah, sad. Lose Again-Alison Krauss & Union Station
Will I find true love? Eleanor Rigby-Beatles (again that's sad. It's a good thing I already did!)
How do I treat others? Mediocre Bad Guys-Jack Johnson (I think Karma is after me.)
That's me. No not the guy waving, the airplane. *Refer to above.

OUR WEDDING PICTURES ARE UP!

(yes, we are posers... that's right! )

Heather & Ryan Smith by Kennison Photography. Kennison Photography invites you to view the images for this event.

Link to the event www.pictage.com/274157 .
You may need to enter an event key to view the images:

If you have trouble, please paste this link in your browser: http://www.pictage.com/274157.

They are so wonderful and it helped me remember what exactly happened that busy day! There are SO many of them though, so if you want to see all of them- take your time! We even cut out about 200 for people to view! I would HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend these guys- they were so great to us and we had a lot of fun with them, and I LOVE our photos.

We also got our furniture this weekend, and it's beautiful! And the bed is so comfy my back is learning how to adjust to it! We got a new bedroom suit, a kitchen table (which we desperately needed) and a sofa table. We really needed a new bed too, we had been sleeping on the bed Ryan's grandparents left to him that he'd been sleeping on forever and I only had a twin (we obviously don't fit on that! he, he!). And I got that one from my parents, which had previously been my grandmother's! So... it was time. It'll last us forever too! I feel so grownup to have a real grown-up bed and everything! Oh, and a husband and a house and stuff like that too...

We spent last weekend painting with Ashley in our bedroom, and I think it all looks quite nice! I'm in search of a throw/accent pillow that has the green, orange and brown to tie it all in with each other. I have this vision in my head of a retro looking floral print with it all. I think if I could design it, it could be a hit. But I'll make sure someone else has first and hopefully it wont be too expensive!

Easter Fun

We spent Easter over at Ryan's parents house. His sister Kelly and her kids Matthew, Taylor and Nicholas all came over too for dinner and an Easter Egg Hunt! They are cuties! It was fun to hide the eggs for them and then help them find them. My sister Delinda came with us too and we talked about how much we used to LOVE looking for the Easter eggs. Those were the good ol' days of dying boiled eggs and then finding them. I could only eat like 5 after a little while though. But instead of boiled eggs, my mother in-law got the plastic eggs and put coins in them, like a quarter or a dime or a nickle. I thought that was a cute idea. Each kid ended up with about $3.50! Score for them! And not only that, but they were the coolest eggs too- some egg shaped soccer and footballs, My Little Pony, Spiderman and Shrek are just a few. We didn't have those in my day...

This ones for you Ashley...

P.S. if you haven't seen Clue, I highly recommend it. Good, funny movie.

Better Together

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Accents

I was reading my friend Christina's blog and took a quiz she had on there. Funny how I grew up in Arizona and then lived in Utah for 7 years and have only been here in the South for 2 1/2 years and that some people think I'm from the Mid-West or up North... I don't get it. I can only attribute it to the fact that because of my occupation I've talked to sales men and women from all over the US and parts of Canada at times and that maybe after talking to all of these people 8 hours a day for the past 5 years, they've rubbed off on me. Strange... we'll see what happens to me in the next few years after living here in the South with a husband that has a tinge of a Southern accent. I've already become quite accustom to the phrase "y'all"... I know, but it's all about convenience and the easy life here, and I'm really okay with that. Take the quiz... I'm curious, it wasn't anything what I thought mine would be.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
North Central
The West
The Inland North
Boston
The South
Philadelphia
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Honeymoon Pictures!

Our pictures still aren't up yet, and I am SO anxious to see them! I love the ones I've seen so far- I just can't wait to see the photographers take on it all! There's one that I'm looking forward to seeing of me with my flowers really close to my face and just my eyes looking up. Ryan did one like that too! Ha, ha! He's a funny joke man! The photographer made mention of possibly entering our photos into some sort of magazine or photo contest too- that would be pretty cool eh? But I did want to mention that my big brother Greg took a lot of pictures and also a video of me walking down the isle to my sweetheart. It's pretty awesome I have to say! If you look to your right you will see Greg Collier Family as a link on my main page and if you go to Wedding Pix you can see some more pictures there, and then he named the video "Heather's Walk".

I love technology, but not as much as you, you see... but I still love technology...always and forever.
We went to Charleston, SC on our honeymoon. For the first night we stayed at Lake Oconee, GA (thanks to Jill and Brent Woodson) the night of our wedding. Let me tell you what- we had a California King and it was AWESOME! One of the most comfortable beds I've slept on (besides one in Kristiansand, Norway at the Hotel Norge- beautiful... absolutely beautiful). We ate dinner, did our thing and went to bed at like 10:30 and didn't wake up until 9am the next morning! Then on to Charleston. We stayed at the Battery Carriage House; cute, historic, quaint, lovely! My cousin Laura and her husband spent their honeymoon there and recommended it. The bed wasn't the most comfy thing on this planet, especially after the other one we'd slept on- but it was a fun room and place to stay none-the-less. Basically we walked around a lot and enjoyed the beauty of the historic homes and buildings there and napped and had fun and strolled. It was super enjoyable. PICTURE TIME! Warning, there's LOTS of them to take a gander at. But I'm sure there's plenty of you that haven't been to Charleston, and may not get a chance to go there- although I highly recommend it.

Our room at The Lodge at Lake Oconee.

Here is the Battery Carriage House, circa 1845

Our Room The view from our room

There are a lot of old cemeteries in Charleston, just about every huge church has one on their property. They are such beautiful sights to see and so picturesque. Here are some shots I took.

Here are some random shots of us gallivanting about the city.

It was a lot of fun... I'm glad we chose to go there. The weather couldn't have been better, except for we didn't get to swim in the ocean. That's okay, we'll save that for our next trip!

***

We ate our cake too... we only got a TINY bit of cake at the wedding from when we shoved it in each other's faces... so we decided it wasn't worth waiting a year to eat the top layer. I'm pretty sure it would've gone to waste. We dug in the night after we got home! Yummy stuff!

I'm going to complain for a second. I'm tired. I feel like throwing up. I have a headache for two days in a row. Okay, I'm done. And NO, I'm not pregnant. T'would be impossible already. I should go to bed I guess, Ryan's asleep next to me already... it's late.