Silly Things

I am not exactly the best at remembering to take pictures when the perfect opportunities present themselves. I notice my lacking every time I think about updating my blog. But there are no pictures to post! Who wants to read words! Plus I can't figure out an efficient way to organize these pictures, so what we will have is a crazy jumble. Oh well. You shall have pictures.

Through a lot of November I spent a lot of time in Las Vegas visiting my parents, Cedar City visiting Mark's parents, and St. George visiting Becca. It was very fun. I went to Katrina's marching band competition! It brought back many awesome memories. Marching band was my favorite part of high school. Becca and I couldn't stop reminiscing... I think I understand the pull of high school sports and reliving the glory days by watching games so much more.

It was freezing.

This is what I look like these days.

Mark gave me a present for my keyring.

Max has gotten fat!

These next pictures are the result of looking through the external hard drive to see where in the world all my music has gone! I do not like updating software and what not. Next time I'll just make Mark reload everything back onto my devices so I don't go crazy.

My point is, that I found some pictures of our trip to Pittsburgh last January that I enjoyed looking at. This trip made it so easy to move to Alabama. Never has a place felt so wrong to me, the people so off. I'm sure its a great place to live, but it sure isn't right for us!

Here we are at the Carnegie Museum(s). It was so awesome! And gigantic!

These dinosaurs came from Price, Utah which kind of tickled us. We loved the dinosaur museum in Price, and that whole set up is due largely to Andrew Carnegie. He dug up the dinos and shipped them to PA! If I'm spouting misinformation, I apologize. Its off the top of my head and I don't feel like fact checking.

Did I mention it was a gigantic museum complex?

I love museums, and it was the highlight of my trip.

We also went to the Andy Warhol museum. Mark was not impressed. He was a weird guy! Mark was mad that Mr. Warhol peed on a canvas and called it art. I liked it. But be warned if you ever venture there! There is an entire floor of Marilyn Monroe, and she's not exactly clothed.

Oh art. How do you feel about fine art and its celebration of the human body? Mark and I have differing opinions.

It was a city. Tiny streets, big buildings all around. No idea why I chose to post this picture, really.

There were a million bridges! Ah! Look how cold it looks! Thanks, but I'll enjoy my 75 degree weather. Even though we had a tornado watch all day. They even cancelled school. It rained a lot. I guess there are trade offs?

And there you go! A tiny update while I wait for my rolly polly dinner rolls to rise. They are so cute and full of Thanksgiving spirit.

I'm making turkey dinner all by myself again this year! I did such a nice job last year that I'm not worried. Besides, its just Mark and I. Its kind of funny, but we've invited all sorts of folks to join us. Everyone else gets to go home to see their mommies and daddies. Lucky for me, I did that beforehand. So it will be a cute turkey-birthday extravaganza with us two. I'm excited! I'll be 24 on the 24th! And then we set up Christmas on friday! Yay!!!

Thoughts

This morning, I was awoken by the cawing of a crow.
How very Halloween-ish.

When silently reading scriptures, my inner voice speaks with a southern accent.
I like how they say things at church.

Leaves are bringing out their fall colors! I wasn't sure we'd have that because it seemed pretty green during our visit last January. The scientist in me wants to point out the fact that the "bringing out" that I spoke of is actually a process of ceasing to make the green things.

I'm not sure I'll dress up for Halloween this year. Mark has the day off, so we should do something fancy. I just don't know what, yet. And that is cutting it a little close.

It strikes me that I will be 24 in less than a month. On Thanksgiving! How cute.

I'm going to go watch Hocus Pocus now.

I'm actually 9 years old.

Hello friends.

There is not much to update event-wise. So maybe I'll share with you things that I love. Specifically TV things. Probably that you can insta-watch on Netflix. What a wonderful service.

Mostly, when I want to watch something while I wait for Mark to come home and I can't sleep or other such times when I don't feel like finding something to do, I have been watching Star Trek. The Next Generation, specifically. I enjoy it a lot, but its not something you want to watch continuously until you finish it. It is quite easy to get tired of.

But you know what I can never tire of? Avatar: The Last Airbender. You may be thinking, what? A cartoon? As in about kids and for kids? Oh yeah. I'll tell you some reasons why I love it so much.

I was going to write a synopsis for the show here, but it turned out to be too long. It also gives stuff away. Just watch the first episode. But don't stop there, because it only gets funnier, more clever, and more exciting.

Characterization. Some of the best. The development and journey each character goes through is interesting and not too predictable. They develop their powers, personalities, and talents. I also get a kick out of their hair and height changes.

Music. I admit, I have a soft spot for Asian-inspired things. I love this show because it was created in America but is pretty much Chinese. At any rate, I just love the music in the show. I often have the songs stuck in my head. Like this and this. I just listened to those and they aren't that great taken out of context. Oh well. Within context, it's fabulous.

I love that it lasts for three seasons, and has a clear goal the entire show. The pace is brilliant. Slow enough you get to enjoy some of the quieter, more frivolous moments, and yet fast enough that you feel the anxiety of the characters as time marches them on to their scary destinies.

There are many benefits for watching the entire show. There are lots of recurring characters and jokes that reward you for remembering them. A certain melon vendor comes to mind, who happens to be quite knowledgeable about the avatar in the second to last episode.

I love the tone and themes throughout. There is just enough darkness to make the good characters nice and shiny. And, surprisingly enough for a kid show, the good characters aren't 100% good, but flawed and human. They make mistakes. The evil characters aren't bad to the bone, aside from one character who is probably mentally insane. The bad guys have at least a few redeeming qualities and back stories to explain their horrible choices. I love the messages about working hard, doing good things for other people even if its way out of your way, having fun and dancing along the terrible journey, and that not everyone on the show has super powers. Some characters just use their brains, or leadership, or excellent human-y fighting skills. I also love the importance placed on family and friendship.

It's silly enough for children. Its clever enough for you.

Seriously. My favorite show. You should watch it.

So what have we been up to these past few months? I'll fill ya in.

We made the faraway move to Alabama! It has been fun noting all the differences in culture that we aren't used to. I used to think to myself that Missouri was pretty 'southern' in practices with all the iced tea, a few heavy accents, cut off t-shirts and giant trucks. I guess it was, compared to the west. I've decided that Alabama is the South. I find myself slipping into an accent as well, like the other day when I was buying a jigsaw puzzle and the man in line behind me commented that he was impressed, he thought puzzles were beyond my generation and I said I love them which came out "Ah luvum." Anytime I hear Mark's new southern accent I'm thrown into a fit of giggles.

Mark is enjoying the ups and downs of work. He isn't doing engineering work right now which is frustrating to me, but Mark is happy for the "underground experience." So that is what matters. He was recently promoted from managing a crew to managing four guys with crews, and a crew. He has been working outby since he started, which means maintenance. He works wherever they need him which most recently means the slope. It hasn't really sunk in what this means yet, except extended hours, an extra filthy husband, despite extra long showers at work, and that its exhausting. The coal... I'm having to learn new ways to clean it. I suppose I'll just have to deal with the permanent black ring around the tub. I've come to find Mark's coal eyeliner is kinda cute. When he comes up on the surface everyday, he says he is perfectly camouflaged with the coal pile. I think I'd give up if it were me. I don't like feeling dirty. Mark is such a boy. He loves it.

For the first time since I can remember, I'm not returning to school this fall. I hadn't thought of it, to be honest. I feel like I'm done, for the time being. So what am I doing, then? Mark's schedule is 5am to around 6pm and going to sleep around 8pm for the past couple weeks. Apparently in a week he'll be switching from outby to regular continuous miner section, which will mean four days a week 13 hour shifts which would be a vast improvement. But this could be a lie fed to Mark to placate his wife with. Still, I hope it is the truth!

Anyways, with seemingly infinite time on my hands why, you ask, have you not blogged even a little bit? I have no excuses, but I will tell you the things I look forward to doing everyday. I sleep in until I feel like waking up. I am working on a landscape painting right now, something to make my house pretty. Its looking okay so far, but I'm trying to imitate 17th century artists. I've forgotten how to do details in oil... but its been really fun reteaching myself. I'm learning how to be a better cook, expanding my recipe collection and compiling recipes I love into my very own cookbook. Speaking of which, last night I made the most fabulous meal. Mark loves chicken fried steak and I thought it sounded disgusting but it was amazing! Corn on the cob, green salad, mashed potatoes and country gravy...scrumptious. Eh, I'll give you the recipe:

1 lb top loin boneless beef (I just bought some steak from the store, I didn't want a whole pound)
2 cups shortening
1 egg, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
salt and pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 cup flour

1/4 cup flour
1 quart milk
salt and pepper

Cut top loin crosswise into cutlets. Pound each cutlet thinly with a moistened mallet or side of a cleaver. In a large, heavy skillet, heat 1/2 inch shortening to 365. I used vegetable oil because I have more of that. In a small bowl, beat together egg, buttermilk, salt and pepper. I just used milk with a Tablespoon of white vinegar because no way am I buying buttermilk for $4 a quart. In another bowl combine garlic powder and 1 cup of flour. Coat steaks in flour, then buttermilk, then flour again. Place steaks in heated shortening, cook until golden brown, turning once. Internal temperature should be at least 165, but I cooked until 190 and they were perfect for us non-pinkie meat people. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Drain grease, reserving 1/2 cup. Using the drippings in the pan, prepare gravy over medium heat. Blend in 1/4 cup flour to form a paste. Gradually add milk to desired consistency, stirring constantly. For a thicker gravy add less milk. Heat through, and season with lots of salt and pepper. Serve over chicken fried steak.

It. Was. Awesome. I was so proud of myself. Maybe I just didn't know the wonderful thing that is chicken fried steak, but I haven't stopped thinking about it. Not just because its dishes are still piled in the sink.

Anyways, back to things I do to entertain myself. I look up crochet patterns and then make things. I'm getting more proficient and not having to look up as many stitches. In this day of youTube, its so easy to learn anything. I go swimming/ lay by the pool and read a lot. I love it! Its soooo hot here. So hot. I got a new calling! Well, two really. I teach 9, 10, and 11 year olds in primary and on Tuesday nights I work at the family history center! I'm really excited to learn more about family history. I have 3 hours each week, which is kind of a lot. My primary class is three boys. Can you believe it? Three ages, and three kids. Our whole primary is usually around 10 kinds, from sunbeams on up. Its pretty wild. Oh. and I play video games! Right now I'm playing Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Knights of the Old Republic. The first is on the Wii and the second on my laptop, but my laptop went wonky and Windows had to be reloaded so I haven't played it in a little bit. The new Zelda comes out November 20, and you can bet we already preordered it for my birthday. Mark doesn't really like video games, but he likes Zelda, so we'll see. Also, we really love that you can play old games on the Wii. Mark plays Final Fantasy III sometimes! Its so cool. Our favorite game is Super Mario Brothers.

This summer we made friends with a couple that was interning from the U and it was so fun. Us wives hung out everyday and it was awesome! Now there is a void in my days without her! Its quite sad.

I'm pretty excited to do lots of fun things and explore! We've got some fun things planned!

Also, I really love our apartment here. Its still a little bare, and we need more furniture but I just really love it. Its bigger than any shoebox that we've lived in so far. There is plenty of room for all our shtuff. It has two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living room that has a dining area and kitchen open to each other. And a laundry room! I have found that I'm a bit of a kitchen girl. I love to buy things for my kitchen and there is never enough space for that. I think people must feel that apartment dwellers eat out everynight because they never build enough storage in that area. On a sad note, I can't keep food in the laundry room despite copious space because it gets hot and HUMID in there. I'm afraid of mold. Also I've seen some funky bugs and heard some foreign bird calls here. There is a grey bird that likes to perch on our balcony and wake me up every morning. Its call sounds like the whistle you can make by blowing through your thumbs into your hands. You know what I'm sayin'? I can immitate it pretty good. I just need to find out what the bird is called.

In closing, I just wanted to talk about Mark's new car. Its like a favorite pet, to a person to loves pets more than people. That's how Mark feels about cars, and his particular favorite dream car. He wants to cherrish what he has chosen to call "Rider" at the suggestion of Jeff, for his whole life. "And in ten years I'll park it in the garage and rebuild it again. I'm keeping this till I die." We have a carwash money jar. It gets emptied a lot. When it came to naming the car, I really was rooting for Snape "too greasy" or Bruce "What?" "like batman, or the Nemo shark because of that weird little fin on the top of the car." but Becca always comes up with brilliant car names so we deferred to her and Jeff. Yesterday we took Rider to the carwash as a family activity. Sometimes I only do things because Mark likes to. :)

Hi Ya'll

We are on our very first "business trip" in Alabama! So far, I think Alabama in January looks and feels a lot like Missouri in the early fall. The people are super nice with super thick accents. Its really pretty, too. Right now I'm sitting in our hotel room while Mark and the two other guys interviewing with Jim Walter Resources are doing something interview-related. Us wives went out to this civil war ruined court house and took pictures, and walked around the University of Alabama.

For all our meals so far we've been out to eat. Last night we went to a sushi place... I really really hate Japanese food I've decided. I went for the first time to a sushi bar last week and hated it. I got filet mingon which would have been amazing without the flavoring that they put on it. It was loud, with firey explosions, and the rice and noodles were crunchy. I just don't like fish...

For lunch today we went to the most legit ribs place. They serve beer, iced tea, soft drinks, ribs, store bought bread and banana puddin'. On styrofoam plates. With a roll of paper towels in the middle of the table. You use your fingers and tear the meat off the bones with your teeth. It was amazingly delicious.

I've heard the word "ya'll" plenty in my life, but never as much as here. People are seeming to insert it in the weirdest places.

I think I wanted to talk about the plane rides out here on United. They were tiny. My head touched the ceiling. I was clausterphobic...maybe a little freaking out. And they charged for our checked bags, which I was weirded out about.

We toured the apartments that they'll let us stay in until we buy a house if we choose to live here. They are beautiful! And fully funished.

I have no idea how we are ever going to decide where to live. I feel so lucky that we have so many options, but its been pretty frustrating not knowing what's going to happen. We'll be in Pittsburgh at the end of January, so that's cool.

I'm going to get ready for our shmancy dinner with the CEOs tonight, but hopefully I'll blog about the rest of our trip!

I can't believe I haven't blogged since October. Oops!