It's confirmed--I'm still a pushover

After two years of being a hardened anti-teenage-manipulation machine, I thought my days of being unassertive and a pushover were done. Funny how quickly we revert back to our ways once a certain behavior is no longer a necessity to daily functioning. Personality really is consistent throughout the life span!--Thank you counseling theory classes. Anyway, I used to be able to say anything to a kid about how inappropriate their behaviors were, but I sometimes find myself being worried about even hurting little kids' feelings and having them dislike me when I need to confront them for the greater good. How lame.

Well, last night was truly a confirmation of my unassertiveness and munipulability (yes, I am pretty sure I made up that word). My husband and I decided to splurge and order pizza, but didn't think about the tip (we paid online). I never have cash, but luckily I have a little piggy-bank that comes in handy every now and then. The cheapy that I am, I ran up to my little bank only to find large bills, one $1 bill and several quarters and decided the $1 bill and 4 quarters would have to do. I have no idea what ettiquette says about tips for pizza delivery.

Well, when I answered the door, I grabbed the pizza and sheepishly handed the delivery guy my cleverly concealed quarters, which were hiding within the folds of the dollar bill. Phew. Glad that's over with. But no, the doorbell rang a second time with the pizza guy exclaiming, "Umm. This is only two dollars. . .blah blah blah. . . the order was $24." Oh the horror and shock of being openly confronted for shafting a pizza guy. Completely caught off guard, I played dumb to hide my guilt of being so cheap, "Oh, was that not enough. . .I don't know what is standard. . I'll be right back." I rushed off to my little bank, trying desperately to find extra quarters and wondering how much I really had to pay him.

Luckily, cops are assertive and aware of scumbags. And I just happen to be married to a cop. So while I was frantically searching for change, my husband stepped in and asked the pizza guy if there was a problem; if I didn't pay him for the pizza. Now scared of confrontation, it was the pizza guy's turn to play dumb, "oh, did you pay online? They must not have told me." Issue settled.

Except now I have to wonder how rude and conniving this pizza guy was. Was he sincerely confused about how the bill had been paid; a little too pushy and assertive about getting a good tip; or a con-man trying to dupe a naive, seemingly alone young woman into paying HIM an extra $24? We'll never know, but I sure feel stupid eitherway!

Ironically, my husband originally commented that the pizza guy seemed like a nice guy. Jinx!

Life as a pioneer sucks!

http://www.brighamyoungwomenslacrosse.com/index.html
I found the website for my old BYU lacrosse team--excuse me, "Wasatch South." We were only allowed to officially associate ourselves with BYU if it is was they could make money off of the team by putting on the annual BYU Girls' Lacrosse Camp. Anyway, I know I should be happy to see such a professional website (it looks awesome!), but I suppose I am a little jealous and disappointed I never had the opportunities the present team has. And probably the worst thing is they don't even know they have it so good. And yes, I am being bad, but I also feel sad that I am sure no one on the team would care that I was a player. I am forgotten. *sob*

I remember the difficulty in finding fields to practice and play on, the excitement to buy our new uniforms in place of the mismatched home-made ones (which have now been replaced by official Harrow sponsored gear), and the thrill of traveling to CA and CO for the first time--ever! I remember being proud to wear my BYU lacrosse shorts that I bought from the men's team and the first BYU lacrosse sweatshirt and T-shirt that we had to claim represented the men's team and not ours so we wouldn't get in trouble. The 1 point loss ending my lacrosse career and any hopes of making it to nationals (I was graduating). And I remember when we had to struggle to get more than 8 girls to show up to practice on a regular basis. And I remember the team always CHOKING--it didn't matter we had the best record in the league, we would always choke when it mattered. Of course the current team went to the national tournament this year as well--about 2-3 years after I left.

Perhaps my covetness comes from also leading my high school team to the best records of the season and several semi and final championship games, only to lose it in the end by biased ref calls or our own goalie scoring on herself. Of course, just about 2-3 years later, they finally won the state championships.

Okay, so you can all see how wicked I am, but to clarify, I am happy for the progress of the team and I am grateful to have helped develop successful programs. I suppose any team has its pioneers and I don't remember or know of my own predecessors, either.

So go "Wasatch South!" Slaughter the opponents and show BYU what they are missing!! Just remember to send me one of your fancy new T-shirts.

. . . but you don't even sew!

Christmas has passed, so now I can finally proudly display my past sewing projects for the past 1 1/2 months. I saw the most stylish and chic apron at anthropologie and had to get it for my sister for Christmas--but not for $45! So, I decided to attempt to sew one myself--my first project since high school. Well, almost two months later, I am finished with two aprons--my mom and I made up a pattern for a matching apron for my brother in law--and I am rather proud of myself (yes, I know a matching cow apron for a man is lame, but I am hoping to capitalize on their love of cooking together and hosting dinner and dessert parties--but my father in law still laughed, and all the other men in my life quietly smirked). It has been hard to sew without my own machine and I have been back and forth between my mom's and mother-in-law's machines, but it has been fun.

I have even shown enough enthusiasm in sewing (my new self-proclaimed hobby to keep myself busy while my husband works) that I got a whole sewing set up for Christmas! My sister was so surprised, she said, "but you don't even sew!" Well I do now! Anyway, first, we had to return the peice of junk Europro Shark originally given to me. It wouldn't even sew a single stitch! So, after some research, my husband decided to spring for a Viking--and what a beauty it is!! I never knew I'd be so excited for a sewing machine because I always thought I was no good at sewing, but I am thrilled and ready to start my next project.

It looks like I am one major step closer to making my much anticipated sock dogs. Wahoo.

Christmas on Crack. . .or maybe Speed. . .or perhaps Miracle Grow

Today my friend frantically grabbed me and insisted I follow and help her pick up a Christmas tree--I had no idea what was going on, but always ready for a field trip, I blindly followed. We practically ran to her car and waged our way through the icy streets to Lowes where we bought every live Christmas tree still available--17 in total. First of all, Lowe's was awesome. Everything we bought was $1 or less--even though the signs said only 50% off.

Next, poinsettias. Ended up picking out 35--yes, again for $1.

Then on to garlands, boughs, and wreaths--probably 10-15--this time for $.50 each.

And the biggest deal--real baby pine trees--looked like blue spruces. 10 count for $1 each. These were the biggest steal because they could theoretically be sold year round and they will grow to be huge pines.

So, why all this Christmas madness? And I tell you, loading it into the three car loads really made it feel like madness--the pictures really do not do it justice as the cars were packed full of poinsettias, wreaths, baby trees, and boughs, plus all the Christmas trees in the bed of the truck. Never in my life have I seen so many pine needles in one space! No, my friend really isn't a Christmas freak, although it did feel like we were both mentally ill buying so much shrubbery. Anyway, she is getting married next week and just happened to get the best deal on wedding decorations EVER. The receipt literally said "total savings" about $1200--for about $70 total. Way to go Lowe's!

I also purchased a baby Christmas cactus as a gift for her wedding. I told her it was a tradition to have a Christmas cactus when one gets married--totally making it up--but it seems like a good tradition. My mom has one she's had for about her whole marriage, my sister has one and she just got married, and an old lady neighbor I had had like a 50 year old one--probably when she got married, right? Makes sense to me. Plus, it will bloom every year on her anniversary. Anyway, she bought it (as in, believed me) and even told her mom it was a tradition. Who knows, maybe it will catch on and really turn into a tradition. You'll know it started with me.

Life's Rough When You're High in Demand

Life is rough when you're high in demand. Apparently my beauty has caught the eye throughout UVSC as I have found myself a model for several campaigns in my short residency at UVSC so far. Today I was cast as an extra in a UVSC commercial. Yes, in just a few short months, you can see my beautiful profile on tv as I use my amazing acting skills to show how interested I am listening to a lecture. Some of you may scoff, but this was hard work--trying not to scratch my nose, making sure my posture was good, and ensuring I didn't yawn. Hard work. And who knows how far channel 17 will carry my face and extend my popularity (who has channel 17 anyway--and who WATCHES it?).

I have also posed with the famous wolverine as a medical patient on a career fair poster. Those images have become so popular, they were extended to table tents and screen savers for our department--all with me resembling a lovely shade of neon green. Yes, I am famous. I had one man approach me in the cafeteria to ask if I was the one on all the tables and posters. I'm sure he wanted my autograph as well, but didn't have the nerve.

And don't be surprised if you see my face on a bus, green with UVSC's Green Fever. Our career fair photos were so well done, the photographer insisted on using them in the campus wide Green Fever marketing campaign. Or maybe you'll get a postercard you can put on your fridge or in your scrapbook. I can't wait to see my face throughout all of Utah County!

Who knows where this will contine. My beautiful face is so versatile--I look great in both white and green!

Honk if you see that bus. And cheer when you watch my commercial.

The grass is always greener!

I constantly find myself in a life-long chronic dilemma--I am either way too BUSY or way too BORED! I cannot figure out why life cannot come at a constant stream, instead of raining cats and dogs, followed by drastic droughts, only to flash flood once more. Work has been incredibly painful--even physically! The students are gone, I have already caught up on the career fair I am in charge of, and I cannot think of any projects to initiate. My dad did a good job instilling work ethic and integrity within my soul, so any moment spent not working causes anxiety and guilt. I have spent numerous hours typing in survey data--yuck! Can I mentally do anymore? And my neck hurts because my office set-up is not "ergonomically" correct. Whoever heard of that word, anyway, ergonomics? Unfortunately my valuable ergonomics training I got at Three Springs was all in vain. Perhaps I'll injure myself so bad I can get worker's comp. ;)

While I can't wait for January--I'm sure I'll be drowing in the flash flood. Career fair in less than 4 weeks with my co-planner resigning, as well as having students back--that's a lot! Too much!

Well, I'm off to my work Christmas party--Ruby River (but unfortunatly, no filet minion!!!) and white elephants. Too bad I couldn't find my "Panties: a Brief History" book I bought last year for this purpose. But, alas, probably safer around the older, "more professional" generation I work with.

Sock Animals

So I've been totally inspired by my friend's blog to be more creative. http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com This mostly happened when I became infatuated with her sock dogs and decided I just had to make one, too. Now that I have a neice and a nephew, perhaps I have an excuse for making one--although I think I may just be too selfish and want to keep one myself!

I told my husband I wanted to make a sock dog and he laughed and even jokingly asked his work buddy if he had ever heard of a "sock dog." Yes, my fears of appearing childlike and silly were affirmed. yet, I am convinced he just doesn't understand. Afterall, he is a man and probably only sees socks as a way to keep feet protected and dry.

So now, determined to begin my first sock creation, I don't know whether to ask my friend for the pattern, or to avoid copyrite infractions, to ask for the book for Christmas. Need an idea for a gift? I think it is called Sock & Glove.