The spark of creation

As seen today on Blog Segullah, the following is a short video produced by lds.org, mixing the immeasurable words of President Uchtdorf with beautiful music and images.

It's inspiring and a wonderful reminder of the divine nature within each of us. I wish I created more. I write often, both here and in my daily journals (yes, there are two), but did you know I used to paint and draw? I wasn't particularly good, I'll leave that talent to my sister and aunt, but I still haven't cultivated it in years. I do have some sewing and crafting talent, and I've recently thought of several projects I want to do (some more utilitarian than others), but I'm probably not going to get to them before the sewing machine I have a love/hate relationship with moves to India (even I'm still the only one to have used it). Anyone have a sewing machine they want to give/sell me?

There are lots of things I like to create, and you probably feel the same way. I'd love to hear about those things. As Pres. Uchtdorf says, we all have the power to create. Every one of us.

Still a chimp in a suit

A few more thought's about yesterday's adventure.

It didn't dawn on me until after I posted that the song lyric I was used was from a song I heard both on the way to and from the lunch. It's not like I listen to Seether on any sort of regular basis, but I guess it was yesterday's theme song. Usually, the song lyrics I choose are not so coincidental.

Ladies, if you're going to be in public, especially if you're going to be speaking in public, bras are not optional. Sorry.

When the editor of PR News first started speaking, the Father of the Roaming Gnome turned to me and mentioned that she looked really young. I agreed, but realized, knowing the age of most college graduates, that she couldn't possibly be any more than a year or maybe two younger than me, and, since she's an editor and not just an assistant or something (yay her!), she could very easily be older than I am, and holy cow! how old do I look!? It must have been the suit I was wearing. Of course, when I recounted this story today, I also mentioned my plans for the weekend (80s party tonight, grocery shopping and homework tomorrow), it was suggested that maybe it's Saturday's like mine that are aging me prematurely. Super. I'll just hold onto the weekend where a stranger thought I was 18 and a friend thought I was 30.

Finally, I'll never get tired of passing things like the Washington Monument and the Pentagon as I casually drive back to my office. DC is a great place to live.

Fake it, if you don't belong, yeah

I had a bit of an adventure today.

My father's PR firm was up for a CSR award with PRNews. Since the awards luncheon was being held at the National Press Club here in DC, and I've done some work for his company, I was nominated to attend the event, as it would be cheaper than flying someone else out.

Great!

Oh yeah. I'm not a PR person, and now I not only was going to be hob-knobbing with top PR professionals, I was also possibly going to have to address the whole group in an acceptance speech. Luckily, I was given a prepared little blurb by my dad, but still.

Cue butterflies in stomach.

I met a lovely Canadian woman about my age, and a charming executive from Travelocity (who called himself, in his speech, the father of the roaming gnome, but I never got a chance to ask why), as well as a handful of other people. The lunch itself was delicious and everyone was friendly. No one interrogated me too much.

The sad news? We were the runner-up, and got an honorable mention. That's actually nothing to scoff at, but it isn't quite winning.

The good news? I did not have to speak to the entire group.

I was much relieved.

It was still a good experience, and hopefully the award will be good for my dad and his firm.

The following is a rather terrible picture of me (shiny! washed out!), but I am amused at how my crooked nose is highlighted (click to enlarge, if you dare).

I'm glad I was able to attend. If you want to know more about my dad's business, let me know and I'll pass along the information. I'm simply not posting it here in an effort to keep somewhat anonymous.

Congrats, Dad!

I love to lay you lazy

Crikey! I just opened mine eyes, and lo! I have not updated this since Hammertime was in the charts... You would not believe the fairy dust I have to clean up. Apologies to my regular readers! Even the little blue ones!

I am flat out with learning to play lawn bowls, being distracted by the shiny, just generally being a Darling to the locals, my day is filled with fluorescent light from the second I am woken by murderous Teletubbies to whenever. I am not complaining though. it will be fun fun fun till they take my TBird away.

I absolutely, positively promise I will make more of an effort to blog more often until the nice men in the white coats come back. One day I will find my magic genie! This is for my ever faithful, devoted public..

Okay. Just kidding. But I have noticed I've been rather quiet as of late, or at least it seems that way. Only 7 posts so far this month? And half of them memes or utilizing the ctrl+v? Lazy! So, I when I happened upon this gadget for the Lazy Blogger as I was cleaning out my internet bookmarks (mostly sorting the work ones from the non-work ones), I figured it was worth a shot.

Oops. Guess I was just using the ctrl+v again. Better luck next time!

Ya gotta have friends

A very dear friend of mine is in need of some help.

Paul Gibbs is a 34-year old Salt Lake City, Utah film student and part-time Clark Planetarium employee who is also helping to raise his 4-year-old nephew and 2-year-old niece. Having lived his entire life with impaired kidney function – he underwent 9 surgeries for Bilaterral Ureteral Reflux before the age of 5 – he now find himself in kidney failure and in desperate need of both dialysis and a kidney transplant to survive. In order to keep his body from attacking and/or rejecting the new kidney, he will have to be on medications for the rest of his life. This is a very expensive situation and not one that he can afford on his own. Medicare will pay for the surgery, but not the very expensive medications he will be on for the rest of his life.

You can donate (money, or a kidney, if you're a match!) and offer support on his blog, which was started by our friend Leisl. Every little bit helps, and posting this is the least I can do to help someone who has always been there for me.

We can be heroes, just for one day

Yesterday was a pretty typical Thursday, plus a trip to the dentist and minus wings or The Office.

Everything was going swimmingly, and I was on track to be home for the evening by 10 PM, and in bed by 10:15 PM, if I had my druthers. I was mere minutes from home before I realized that my purse was not in the seat next to me.

Bother.

Knowing that it would take me at least 20 minutes to get back to the church and that no one would still be there by then, I pulled over and scrolled through my phone to see who I could call. I called one of my fellow Sop IIs and got the phone number for the secretary of the choir, Sis. Childs, who lives just a few blocks away from me. I called her home and talked to her husband, who took a message.

I went home and stressed.

I was hoping that they would find my purse, despite it being under a pew, find my wallet and discover that I lived close to Sis. Childs and give it to her so she would take it home for me and I would be reunited with it without having to wait to call a bishop in that building the next day or, worse, a week until the next choir practice.

As luck would have it, that's what happened.

Sis. Childs called me and I arrived on her doorstep shortly before 11 PM. Not only did she have my purse, but she invited me to join her and her husband for a bowl of ice cream. I happily accepted.

And that, my friends, is why Bro. and Sis. Childs are my current Heroes of the Day!

Pay it forward and you will see

I've picked this fun little idea up from a couple friends. The first three people to leave a comment on this post will get something homemade from me at some point this year. There’s one other catch though, you also have to agree to do the same thing. So a comment, and an agreement to make something for someone else. That's it!

I know I have some international readers, but I won't let international postage rates deter me, should you comment first!

Also, I may be convinced to send something to anyone who comments, just because I can!

And even though I know how very far apart we are

With all this talk about relationships lately (must be Valentine's Day or something), it's reminded me of some of the most important relationships in my life. My family and closest friends, who all live miles upon miles away from me. There are lots of articles, websites, and books about maintaining long distance relationships, but they are always talking about relationships of a romantic nature.

Why not talk a little about maintaining other long distance relationships of the friends and family variety?

Mostly, I love talking to the people I live far away from, some more than others. Some people I just keep track of by reading their blogs, and since I know they are reading mine, it's almost like we're just talking to each other. There are a few people I chat with regularly (thank you GoogleTalk!), and I call my mom on my way home from work just about everyday. If her cell phone rings anytime during the 3:00 MST hour, she knows it's most likely me.

It's also fun to do things together. How do you do things together when you aren't together? Easy. You just do them at similar times and talk about them later.

In the wee hours of Thursday morning, around 4:00 AM, I woke up thirsty. Water wasn't going to cut it, for some reason, so I mixed up a pitcher of lemonade with Splenda, had a glass or two, and went back to bed. Unbeknownst to me, Sisterpants had done the exact same thing about 24 hours earlier.

In the clock and weather apps of my phone, I keep track of the time and temperature not only where I live, but also in Utah, Arizona, Washington, and Cairo, because I know have friends and family there. (The fact that I keep track of those things in London and New York is just for me.) In the weather app, the screen turns blue during the day and purple at night. Most of the time, those in the States (and usually London) are one color, whilst Cairo is the other. There are, however, a few hours in the middle of the night, when they are all purple. The weather is vastly different, but it gives me some comfort to know that most of the people I care about are likely home and safe, just like me.

Sappy? Sure. But I like to be connected, even in small ways, to those I love.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Irrefutable, indisputable fact is

There's this crazy fad going around on Facebook right now - to list 25 Random Facts about yourself. Slate, The New York Times, and The Washington Post all have articles about it. Eilonwy did it. Fran is doing a version of it. A former coworker used hers to announce the plans she and her husband have to adopt.

I might as well. Besides, it's about all my brain can handle after reading 200+ pages of research articles today.

1. This week, whilst driving in my car, the music I've been listening to has been either to Top 40, country, or Brechtian punk caberet. The two weeks prior were pretty much devoted to R&B.
2. I can't study in silence. My mind wanders way too easily.
3. I have to color in my eyebrows. This is currently achieved with an eyebrow brush and eyeshadow.
4. I have over 70 pairs of shoes. Approximately 10 of those pairs are dance shoes.
   
5. I walked barefoot outside today.
6. I keep certain articles of clothing simply because I know they might come in handy for a costume someday.
7. I wear up to three different pairs of glasses in any given day - my reading glasses, sunglasses, and regular glasses. I actually have no idea where my sunglasses are right now.
8. I constantly wear a butterfly ring that Fran gave me on my left middle finger.
   
9. I collect butterfly and heart shaped jewelry.
10. I own a broadsword.
11. And a holder to display it on a wall.
12. I will actually display it someday.
13. I have worn a splint, brace, and/or cast on each of my limbs.
14. I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 17.
15. The job I had immediately before my current job was piercing other people's ears.
    
16. I do not think babies should get their ears pierced.
    
17. I have spent pretty much this entire day on my bed, despite the fact that I have two chairs in my room.
18. I have both custom fit vampire teeth and mouse teeth in my theatre makeup kit.
19. Ever since I started using my iPhone, I've wondered why some people don't respond to email as quickly as I do. Yes, I know this is ridiculous.
20. I love hearing people say my name.
21. My favorite number is 47, because it's the number of letters in the longest word in the English language.
22. I keep my house and office keys seperate from my car keys.
23. I graduate in 6 months and 15 days.
24. I've been really cranky about the cold weather this year.
25. I turn 25 on May 25th.

And that's 25 things you probably never planned on learning about me, or aren't surprised at all to learn.

When life is hard, you have to change

There are some big things in store for my life this year. I know what a couple of them will be. I know what a couple of them might be. I know there are few that I haven't even thought of yet.

The winds of change are a currently a calm, yet steady breeze. The wheels are in motion. Things are lining up.

Change is coming. I can feel it.

I'm kind of nervous, but I know that everything is going to work itself out. It's all going to be okay. These changes, at least the ones I foresee, will be for the better, and I'm looking forward to them.

I really am excited to see what's coming up next for me.

Where do you go, my lovely?

As you know, when I read, I always visualize where the action of the story is taking place.

So this little gadget?

It is. The Awesome.

Go ahead! Make a lit trip of your own! If you like it enough, submit it to the website!

My favorite so far? Make Way For Ducklings