Quarter Life Crisis

Author's Note: First of all, let's have a big shout out to Maren for letting me use her computer to post this while I wait for a new charger to arrive in the mail. Also, thanks for the Frosty.

There's nothing quite like revisiting an old favorite movie from teenagehood. Back in those days, we called them chick flicks instead of rom-coms. I think in those days fro-yo was frozen yogurt as well. Times, how they have changed.

Anyway back when I was 16 watching Never Been Kissed I pretty much thought two things:

1. I hope I get kissed before I'm 25.
2. Michael Vartan is hot.

Well, now that I'm almost 26 watching Never Been Kissed I thought some more things:

1. 25 isn't that old. (As far as the kissing thing goes, I've found it's often more trouble than it's worth. Of course, Michael Vartain, nor anyone resembling him, has met me on a pitcher's mound before a high school baseball game. I think that's probably what I'm missing.)
2. I enjoy being 25 much more than being 16.
3. Life isn't like a movie, but it can be close if you know how to tell the story well enough.
4. Michael Vartan is still hot (related thought: how did it take me that long to discover Alias?). If he, or anyone resembling him, wants to meet me on a pitcher's mound before a high school baseball game, I would be amenable to that.

Be still my heart

My long lost coworker (she moved upstairs and I am bereft without her) invited me to a lunch meeting sponsored by AIGA SLC (American Institute of Graphic Arts, Salt Lake Chapter) at Caffe Niche in downtown Salt Lake. There are many reasons why I loved this. First of all, I love hearing people talk about graphic design. The event was called Shift.Option.Talk, which, if you have ever designed on a Mac, is just a cool name for a seminar. Last, and totally not least, I fell in love with Caffe Niche after visiting their website to peruse their menu options.

Look what greeted me:


The rest of these pictures I snapped with my camera phone, so they leave a lot to be desired, but I hope you catch my drift.



Finally, imagine this as a really big wall to serve backdrop to the speaker (image belongs to Caffe Niche):

So, this was extra cool because the speaker was there to talk about environmental graphic design, or the infusing of a space with the client's brand. Caffe Niche was a built-in case in point.

Tomorrow I'm off to an event called Slide Jam! at the Salt Lake Art Center. A handful of presenters have 5 minutes each to share their thoughts through slide images that have to do with a traveling exhibit called "Branded and On Display." I'm not much of a branding expert, but can appreciate good branding when I see it.

Isn't Salt Lake City great?

For those who care (Dad, I'm looking at you) I chose the Roasted Dame Sandwich for lunch: herbed goat cheese spread, roasted butternut squash, balsamic figs, arugula and lemon-chive oil on sourdough. Divine.

Resolutions Revisited

The most important part of setting goals is accountability. This is what they told me on my mission anyway. I've meant to revisit my resolutions each month and while I've done so internally, I see no reason why I shouldn't let everyone else in on the fun.
Mind

• My friend Ben is going to write for a half hour every day. I think I will join him. When I look at it now, this one is almost laughable. However, there are still 9.75 months left in the year to get better.
• Write a novel. Not yet. And I probably won't revisit this one until October as I get ready for NaNoWriMo.
• Write a screenplay. Getting ready. Script Frenzy starts next month, and I'm going to give it ago. Don't worry, I won't ask for your help like I did last year. Doing so turned out to be a fiasco. (Thanks for the 3 of you who did help. I appreciate it.)
• Read 36 books I've never read (3 a month) I think I'm at 5. I should be finishing up 15 this month. I had better get cracking.
• Enroll in an independent study British History course. Not yet. I'm thinking probably in the summer time. I have to save my pennies, in times such as these.
• Learn Adobe Flash and make a short cartoon. Luckily, this is happening because work is endorsing it. I can make a glass of soda fizz, and I can sync audio with video. I would show you examples, but unfortunately the lesson on how to share and host video doesn't come until later in the book I'm working from.

Body

• Continue on the weight-loss journey. See below.
• Go to the doctor. I've gone to the doctor, had echocardiograms, blood work, even had my saliva tested for Cushing's Syndrome. (Sound familiar? It was featured on House! Don't worry, not one of the life threatening ones.) I wanted to know if there was an internal reason for the rapid weight gain I experienced late in 2008. It turns out there might be some cause, but mostly it's going to take the ol' elbow grease to get back down to where I want to be. This week I'm signing up for a membership at the city athletic center. They have nice facilities and a swimming pool, not to mention Pilates classes on Tuesdays. Also, now that the days are getting nicer and longer, I'll be more likely to walk around this beautiful neighborhood I call home.
• Swim in the Deer Creek Open Water Swim. We'll see.
• Establish a regular sleep schedule. Getting better all the time. Part of this is keeping my room clean. The more of my floor I can see, the sounder I sleep.

Spirit

• My friend Jenna is going to read an Article from the Ensign magazine each week. I think I will join her. I've been reading my Ensign, but perhaps not as regularly as I should.
• Study Conference talks. Have plans to finish up before April.
• Enroll in Institute. Done and done. I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It took me a couple of weeks, however, to get over the fact that the Institute instructor is a cross between my Uncle Stan and Benjamin Linus from Lost.
• Increase my temple attendance. Between the ward temple nights, stake temple meetings, and once-monthly visits with my family, this one resolution has probably made the single greatest difference in my health and happiness. I love the temple.
• Go visiting teaching in the first half of the month. This is true for half of my route. My companion is getting married in less than a month, so it's sort of hard to corral everyone together. However, I have become good friends with one of the girls I visit teach. How great is that? We even went out for ice cream after the above mentioned stake temple meeting with some other people in the ward. See Mom? I am making friends.

Well, for those of you who have read this far, thanks for letting me be accountable to you. As a bonus, I'll let you in on my goal for March: No reruns or repeats! This means no TV on DVD (unless, of course, it's a new-to-me show) and no movies I've already seen! I'll admit, I already fudged this a little bit by watching Two Weeks Notice last night with my roommate for our Saturday night in. There might have also been a lunch time viewing of Gilmore Girls. But no more, I say! This will also pertain to books. I have this pesky habit of rereading books. I really don't see much wrong with this, but this month, it's all new all the time!

How about everyone else? Still resolved?

To tide you over while waiting for the Post of Wonder

Mallory got this from her friend Michelle. I can't tell you how happy it made me.



Please enjoy it while I compile a post I've been meaning to write for quite some time.

Dining Rooms (and Duvets and Desks)

This is mostly for the benefit of my mother, but I thought I'd share with everyone the decorating that is taking over my life. I'm addicted, and nowhere near where I want to be. But I do love my dining room, and my duvet, and my desk.

I had to hurry to set the table in order to catch what was left of natural light for the day:


Pretty dishes. Aren't they fabulous? A Christmas present from Mrs. Claus. She got them from Target.


Another angle of my babies:


Striving for five is a cinch with a fruit bowl:


Here's a view from the inside corner of the dining room:


I found this table at at Home Goods, an home decor off-shoot of TJ Maxx. The vase and its contents come from Ikea.


I saw these frames and I knew I had to have them. They come from Home Goods, and they are made out of news print.

So the table was supposed to be for my cook books, but that didn't work out. So they're tucked away in a corner. They're happy, I'm happy.


While at Ikea, I got this new duvet and sham for a killer deal. The damask lamp was one of those temptation purchases, courtesy of Mallory. Seriously Mal, you + Target = Me spending too much.
This basic desk is yet another Ikea purchase. It's lasted me through college and beyond. However, it was only a desk top with some table legs, so I went back to Ikea after Christmas (with a gift card in hand: thanks Mrs Claus!) and found this topper. As you will notice it has a magazine rack, shelves, and a white board to the right. Members of my family will notice a message specifically for those who have been harping on me to post these pictures.

Here's a pic with the flash, and with an extra view of the top shelf. In the middle you will see the Damask clock which was a housewarming from Mallory. Bottom middle you'll see some more Damask items, such as a pictureless frame (I'm working on filling it) and a damask pencil case, both from Target. Both were purchased when Mallory was with me.
I can't complain though, because she makes me beautiful things like this for Christmas:

So there you have it! I hope this makes those who were waiting so desperately for this post happy.

Public Service Announcement

Let it be known that while David's blog was relegated to a lower position alphabetically to make room for Ben on my blog roll, this is no way indicative of a decrease of importance of David's blog, and you ought to all go read it.

Thank you, and have a nice day.

Year of the Yurt

I went snowshoeing in the Uinta Mountains yesterday. Yes, you read that correctly. That's okay, I won't spite you your disbelief, because doing such a thing is completely out of character for me. But some people from church were going, and I remember going once a long time ago in the former life I refer to as Pre-Mission Existence. I have a vague recollection of enjoying it then so I decided to go.

I'm really grateful I did.

You see, I'm a wannabe outdoorsy person. I love spectacular breathtaking views, but I'm not always a fan of hiking to get to them. But with vistas such as these, I'm okay with it.

We had fresh snowfall on Friday night, so imagine the delight at having the sun come out amid the bluest sky I've ever seen. The snow was a perfect pristine powder and cushioned any spills I may have had quite nicely.

We hiked about a mile in from the trail head to this yurt. It is one of about a dozen or so found in the Utah's back country. The best part about it was the wood-burning stove that kept us warm when we weren't outside. We also had a potluck of hiking food, and one of our guides packed fixin's for dutch oven apple cobbler. It was perfect with a cup of hot cocoa.

After a short rest, a few of us headed back out to do some exploring. I know, even more out of character, right? But I was able to snap a few good shots.


Now, there were a few times when I wanted to (and once when I actually did) tell the group that I was going to head back, because my pesky joints were aching, and I really didn't believe that I could make it up any more hills. But they continually assured me that in just a few more yards, there were beautiful views, and that I could make it.

It must be the writer in me, but when I am surrounded by such grandeur, I can't help but wax philosphical or spiritual. When I did make it up to the hill, I realized that in a small way this is what my life is. 2008 was a year of thinking I couldn't make it up hills. I wasn't going to find a job, and I wasn't going to find a place to live. And just when I felt like not trying anymore, when it was too much to send out another resume, or call one more landlord's number, it was as though my Father in Heaven was standing at the top of the hill telling me, "I know that you don't want to, and I know that you can't see it from there, but if you want to come up just a little farther, there is an amazing view."

I'm really grateful I did. The best part of that hardship (and trust me, I'm super sore today) is that after testing my faith in making those really difficult decisions, life just doesn't seem too hard. I feel stronger and more able. Which, I think is really the point of it all.

For auld lang syne...

Well, 2008 has past, and I've taken to perusing the blogs of friends and family for an account of all the excitement of the year. At Christmastime, my dad asked my brother and me what the high point of the year was. For me it was a close race among my birthday fortnight, graduation, getting a job, buying a car, and finding my enchanting new Avenues home. (I know some of you are wondering where American Idol auditions rank. I'll let you ponder that quandary.) It truly is miraculous that everything ended up the way it did, and trust me, I give credit where credit is due.

During the month of December, I spent a lot of time pondering my 2009 New Year's Resolutions. I generally am of the mind that if I make a ton of resolutions, one of them ought to take, right? I've looked at my friends' blogs about this too, and I'm impressed by their resolve, and I hope that some of them don't mind if I borrow some of that resolve.

Mind

• My friend Ben is going to write for a half hour every day. I think I will join him.
• Write a novel
• Write a screenplay
• Read 36 books I've never read (3 a month)
• Enroll in an independent study British History course
• Learn Adobe Flash and make a short cartoon

Body

• Continue on the weight-loss journey
• Go to the doctor
• Swim in the Deer Creek Open Water Swim
• Establish a regular sleep schedule

Spirit

• My friend Jenna is going to read an Article from the Ensign magazine each week. I think I will join her.
• Study Conference talks
• Enroll in Institute
• Increase my temple attendance
• Go visiting teaching in the first half of the month

So there you have it folks. I really think 2009 is going to be a banner year. In January I'm always excited to see what the year will hold, and by December am always awed and grateful at all of the blessings. So here's to you and here's to the new year.

Christmas Time

There are lots of things I love about Christmas:

• My mother's beautifully decorated home.
• 125 baubles on a Christmas tree.
• Days off of work.
• Delicious food.
• Listening to my dad read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" complete with delightfully awkward Freudian slips.
• Reading the story about the Christmas bells.
• Reading Luke 2.
• Singing Christmas carols around the piano, even if I don't play as well as my sisters.
• Giving gifts.
• Wrapping presents and tying bows.
• Talking to nieces and nephews about what Santa brought them.
• Contemplating the numerous and varied blessings I have, the greatest of which is the birth, life, atonement, and resurrection of the Savior.

Yep, there's lots I love about Christmas. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. Also? Santa brought me these this year.

A Christmas Story...

So once upon a time, the lovely princess got on her way to settle her religious financial score with the local religious leader. AS she walked up to her faithful steed, oh no! The lovely princess tripped and fell on the treacherous frozen snow. Not to be undone by the hardened precipitation, she regally rose to her feet and brushed herself off, and shook out the special bridle to help her faithful steed go. Off she went, settled scores, returned safely to the castle, and all was well.

The next morning, the lovely princess awoke, packed her things in preparation for a festive holiday visit with the king and queen, when the special bridle just refused to budge the steed. Not even the reserve bridle would work. With a magical and wondrous device called a cellular telephone, she rung up the king to ask for his sage wisdom. Luckily for the lovely princess, the king was wise and experienced in such matters, and offered his assistance. She took his advise and the faithful steed traveled once more.

The end, and Merry Christmas to all!

Translation: I fell on the way to my car for tithing settlement got my key wet, it froze my ignition overnight, and my dad told me to heat the key with a butane lighter. Worked like a dream!

So today I went to Target...

There are a lot of things I love about where I live:

• It's close (3 minutes) to work.
• It's close (1 minute) to Smith's.
• It's close (30 seconds) to a library (5 minutes if I walk, which I do, generally).
• It's close (4 minutes) to a hospital, which is handy if I start bleeding profusely.

The downside?

• It's far (30 minutes) from Target.

Today, however, I just didn't care. I needed to buy cute gift wrap, and Target is the place.

And, as Mallory, Maren, and my mother can attest, there is a special gasp I have when I see lovely damask things. It is totally and completely involuntary, but I managed to tone it down while alone in public since I didn't want people to think I was hyperventilating.

Beautiful right? Look closely and you'll see even the snowflakes are designed from damask.
Yeah, chances are, if you find me something damask, I will love it. Odds increase if you get it from Target. Or here.

Images found at target.com

Finally, and at long last....

THE CHRISTMAS TREE!!

I really, really love my tree this year. It is pretty much the love of my life right now.

I love it in the day time, sans lights:

And, I love it at night, with lights:

I love it from outside:

I love it laying down underneath it and looking up like how they do on Grey's Anatomy:

I mean, that's one tree, with 125+ ornaments that all bring joy and happiness to my soul.

So there you have it. Merry Christmas.

Christmas with the Gilmores

Anyone who nows me knows how I love Gilmore Girls. Well, imagine my delight when I heard that this year's Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert would feature none other than Grandpa Gilmore himself, Edward Hermann.

Next, imagine my dismay when I forgot to register for the free ticket lottery. I didn't give up hope though, because I knew that if I wished for it hard enough, Santa Claus would give what I wanted for Christmas.

On Friday, one of my coworkers emailed to let me know she had two tickets AND reserved parking for the concert that night. It was a Christmas miracle!

As always, the choir was in rare form, and I was beyond excited when Richard Gilmore came out to do a dramatic reading of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the touching circumstances that surrounded his penning of the classic carol "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Not only was Edward Hermann brilliant, but I have tender feelings toward this particular carol as it is one of my father's favorites. I wish you could have been there. Phenomenal.

And then, I thought all my Christmas dreams came true as Mr. Hermann read the Nativity found in Luke Chapter 2. Then the choir ended the concert with their signature "Angels From Their Realms of Glory," complete with beautiful ballet dancers who had costumes that looked like angel wings. Glorious.

Maren:

Me:

Maren & Me:


Me frustrated that we couldn't find our way in the parking lot. Extra ironic because we had just watched that episode of Seinfeld. The urge to start yelling "Krrraaaaaaammmeeeerrrr" was almost more than we could take.


I was starting to get upset because we sat in the car for literally an hour before we even started moving. I just wanted some snacks!

The Office

Well, I live in a cubicle most days. And interesting things happen. Like the one time our copy room seriously smelled like it was going to spontaneously ignite. Literally, in the service request I submitted, in the field asking for the nature of the problem I wrote, "Smells Like Burning." Turns out, this was the culprit:

This used to be a regular piece of 8.5x11 piece of paper, and it used to be white. It got caught on something inside the printer, and started burning. It now serves as a trophy on my desk.

In my downtime from putting the kibosh on potential fires in the copy room, I get really busy. Like really, really busy. To where papers inexplicably build up in little to no order on my desk.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

But, now, I'm less busy, thank heaven, and now my desk looks like this:

Exhibit A (Clean):

And Exhibit B (clean):

And don't think I haven't noticed that pile of filing. Yeah, that will be a load of fun.

The Weather Outside is Frightful

Our next door neighbor warned us about a coming snow storm.



He wasn't kidding. But he did give us time to stock up on some videos so today has been the first Saturday I haven't been running around like a chicken with my head cut off since I moved up to Salt Lake City. But the best part? I've had plenty of time to plan blog posts. So, with out further ado, I bring you:

• The Office
• Mo Tab Concert (with Grandpa Gilmore!)
• And the long awaited Christmas Tree

Happy Halloween!

I know this doesn't seem like a timely post, but I finally downloaded pictures from my camera. Just feel grateful that I didn't take you back to graduation in April. And I think you'll forgive me once you get taste of this:

And this:

But, let's back up. I took my first day of paid time off and flew to Coeur d'Alene to visit my sister. She picked me up in Spokane and we went to visit some apple farms to see if she could find her favorite apple of ever. While we were there, I took the opportunity to walk with Clara through the leftovers of the pumpkin patch. She liked it. Truth be told, however, that her favorite part was probably tromping about in the dusty dirt.

Next it was time to get ready for pumpkins, or "cuppins" as Clara calls them, and as they are now referred to in the Bryson household. Getting Clara ready for cuppin carving (it does do something pleasing for the alliteration, I'll give her that) involves stripping her down to her onesie and putting on a full body smock-like bib.

Don't let that stellar grin fool you. Sure, she had her cute little kiddie cuppin scoop in hand. But let's take a little gander at what happens when it's crunch time.


Cuppins and Bear Caves from Megan Welton on Vimeo

Don't worry, because being the Best Aunt Ever that I am, I was there to come to her rescue. It's just practice for when I need to have her back for the truly scary things in the world: like boys, or visits to the lady doctor, all though the latter, I'll probably leave up to her mom.

The rest of the weekend was pretty much taken up by basking in the beauty of surrounding environs, and the cuteness of small children. I even got to watch Wallace & Grommitt with Clara while Jonathan napped, leaving Rachel and Jeremy an entire free hour by themselves at Costco. I'm pretty sure there's room for my Best Sister Ever badge to go next to the Best Aunt Ever ribbon.

Now, while I finish waiting for my video to load, here are two more pictures of Clara. The first, she's thoroughly enjoying my fakesie Uggs:

And here, she's sporting my Farmer Hat. She really loved it. I often found her sneaking in to my suitcase to find it. I tried to get a pic of her sporting both the boots and the hat at the same time, but that was too much to ask for.