What I Did For Earth Day

A few weeks ago I noticed a bird that always seemed to fly away from somewhere really quickly whenever I walked out of or towards my door. Birds kind of make me nervous and it would freak me out whenever it happened. I also started to notice a bunch of sticks all over my patio area. But it has been so windy lately that I figured they had just blown in. About two weeks ago, after the bird scared me to death while walking in the house, I did a little investigating and realized a starling was building a nest inside the dryer vent. The twigs that were scattered all over the patio were ones that were to large to fit in the vent.

What the heck do you do when a bird starts building its nest in your vent? 

A few days later, my mom came over to visit my grandma and I told her about the bird situation. We went outside to look in the vent, but it’s pretty high up! So we got a kitchen chair but that really wasn't enough height. So we grabbed a step stool my grandma had, balanced it on top of a flower pot, and my mom climbed up.

It was kind of hard for her to see in the vent but she pulled out some twigs and said she would probably need to come over another day, with the shop vac, to get everything out.

Fast forward to last Thursday….. I noticed the bird was back. And I could see sticks poking out of the vent so I knew the bird was rebuilding. I called my mom and she and my dad planned to come over the following Monday to clean it out and put something up to prevent it from getting back in.

So Monday, Earth Day, my dad climbed up on the put and was shocked by the inside of the vent. It was completely full of twigs!! He took a picture and pulled the first handful out.

 I stopped him and asked if there were any eggs in the nest. He told me it was too early for eggs and kept pulling out more and more stuff. After a couple handfuls he turned around and said to me “We have to clean this vent out. This is a fire hazard”. In my head I was thinking “Yeah…… I know we do…….” He put his hand back in the vent and pulled out two small turquoise eggs….. still warm. I held them in my hands as he reached in and grabbed two more eggs. I took them inside, put them in a bowl filled with washcloths and stuck them under a lamp.

My dad pulled out tons of stuff from that vent! I wish this picture did it justice!!
It also doesn't show how much he had to suck up with the vacuum!!!

He said the bird had built up a wall inside the vent, to keep too much hot air from getting through. He made a comment about how my grandma’s dryer was probably acting funny because it wasn't getting any air flow. It was crazy because just a few days earlier, my grandma had asked me if I thought it was taking a lot longer for clothes to get dry. She thought one of the heating coils was going out, when all along it was the bird’s nest.
My dad is very smart and he built a short of cage contraption around the vent so the bird can’t get back in.

 I feel kind of bad about it….. At one point, we had gone inside to look at the eggs and when my dad got back up to vacuum it out, the bird flew out. Poor mama bird!! We destroyed her
nest and took her eggs!!
I felt really bad about the eggs! I tried to keep them warm under the lamp, but after everything was done and cleaned up, when we picked them up, they were cold. So what did I do on Earth Day??? I killed some of Mother Nature’s creatures. Jeez!!! I really did feel bad! I even considered calling IFA to see if they would take them!! But then we shut off all the lights in the house and my dad held a flashlight under each egg and all you could see was a yolk. Phew!! No fully formed baby birds ready to hatch any day!!

That Moment When You Panic

I got on my computer tonight to upload some pictures to my posts and hit a snag....

I cant find the pictures I'm looking for.....

I've checked all my flash drives.....

Sorted through my CDs......

Checked my old laptop.......

Checked my desktop computer......


And nothing.......


This is the moment when you panic because 8 months worth of pictures have disappeared.....


Posts coming....... who knows when.......

My Insta-Life

Do you use Instagram?
I LOVE it!!

Here is an almost wordless update on my life, through the eye of my Instagram account!!

Too Long

Wow, I didn't realize just how long it’s been since my last post!!
I was horrible about blogging last year because my computer was dying, which made typing posts
and adding pictures miserable!
 And then I moved into my grandma’s basement and didn't have the Internet for a few months.
Then I finally got the Internet, but my new excuse was that my pictures were on so many different flash drives and CDs I didn't know where to start!

My goal was to get back on track the first of the year…..
So much for that!

I have almost a year worth of stories and it feels overwhelming!
And my pictures are still all over the place!!
Plus, I am pretty sure the one or two people that may have actually read my blog have long given
up on the hopes of a new post!

But I have to remind myself this is my online journal!
And one day when I have infinite amounts of free time, I will turn my blog into a hard bound book
so I have a copy.

I decided that rather than try to go back and post things in chronological order, it would be much
easier to post things in groups. So you can expect to see groups of posts about running and
vacations, and birthday and holidays for the next little while!! One day I’ll be up to date!

2012 Book List

I wish I could say this is a complete this.....
But I wasn't so great at keeping up with my blog the last part of the year which meant this list also suffered.

• 1- The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
• 2- Eragon by Christopher Paolini
• 3- Immortal by Gillian Shields
• 4- Eldest by Christopher Paolini
• 5- Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• 6- The Maze Runner by James Dashner
• 7- Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• 8- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• 9- Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
• 10- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• 11- Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• 12- Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• 13- The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
• 14- The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
• 15- The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
• 16- Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George
• 17- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
• 18- The Death Cure by James Dashner
• 19- The Lost Stones by Paul Rimmasch
• 20- Divergent by Veronia Roth
• 21- Spinners by Donna Jo Napoli
• 22- The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

My 2013 book goal is 30 NEW books! 30 books I've never ever read before, mixed in with a few of my favorites!

Goodbye 2012

Go HERE if you want to read last year's post!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before? Ran a mile, without stopping, in less than 15 minutes! I don’t think I’ve ever been able to do that before!! It’s always taken me at least a half out and that included lots of walking time!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year? I didn't make any this year!! Mostly because I didn't want to have to admit, yet again, how lame I am at keeping my resolutions on this question!! 

 3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My best friend Lacey had her very first baby in September!! SO excited for her!! My friend Megan had a baby girl in October and my friend Amanda had a girl in November!! So many cute baby girls!! 

4. Did anyone close to you die? No and I am SO grateful!  

5. What countries did you visit? Canada!! Sort of.... In September when I went to Washington, we went whale watching and ended up off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia. We were close enough that if I had decided to abandon ship, I would have been in big trouble because I didn’t have my passport! So I’m totally counting that!!

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? Motivation to get healthy once and for all! And better saving habits!

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched in your memory, and why? April 28th. The day I went through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Running my first 5k!! 

9. What was your biggest failure? Having a goal to become a runner and then slacking off big time as soon as the weather got chilly!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing major, thank goodness! I think I gave myself shin splints when I first started running because I was totally doing it wrong!  

11. What was the best thing you bought? My awesome BlueRay player!! I'm finally up on the times... for now! 

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? President Uchtdorf! I just think he is awesome! 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The Federal government. It’s so ridiculous that they can’t work together! Grow up guys…. forget about who’s scratching who’s back and work together for the betterment of this country!

14. Where did most of your money go? Bills!! And food…. and gas…. Life is expensive!

 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My new position at work! I became the Administrative Assistant the very end of July! It was SO happy to be in a new position!

16. What song will always remind you of 2012? Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jeppson and That's What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction 

17.Compared to this time last year, are you:

i.happier or sadder? I’m always conflicted on this one. I am working on the happier thing!

ii.thinner or fatter? Fatter... SO much fatter! 

iii.richer or poorer? I'm not one hundred percent sure on this one.... I am awful about balancing my checkbook! 

18.What do you wish you'd done more of? Going to the gym and spending time with friends!

19.What do you wish you'd done less of? Sitting at home, alone, doing nothing!  

 20.How will you be spending The New Year? I will be with my friends Miranda and Stacey. The past two years we have done Olive Garden, fondue and movies! But this year I think we are going to deviate slightly from the plan!

22. Did you fall in love in 2012? Not this year..

 23. Did you go on any vacations this year? I changed this question again…. It used to be something about one night stands…. that was never going to happen so it was a boring question. And then last year I changed it to something about cultural events/plays/musicals…. But I’m not sure I loved that question…. so I’m changing it again! I went on a few really great vacations this year!! My family did our annual St. George trip in June which is always a lot of fun!! My cousin Kandi was gracious enough to let me tag along on her Disneyland vacation and I got to visit one of my favorite places…. Seattle, with some really good friends!!

24. What was your favorite TV program? I love Dance Moms….. I also just barley started watching Once Upon A Time and it is definitely my new favorite TV show. I still love Criminal Minds and Drop Dead Diva!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Not that I can think of!

26. What was the best book you read? The Goddess Test, Divergent and The Peacegiver.

 27. What was your greatest musical discovery? One Direction and The Wanted 

28. What did you want and get? To live life roommate free!! I moved into my grandma’s basement in May and it’s been so nice!! I admit there are some times I will having people around…. But it’s also nice to not worry about pleasing other people!

29. What did you want and not get? Tickets to the Taylor Swift concert next June. I was on the computer right as they came on sale and I still didn’t get them!!

30. What was your favorite film of this year?  The Hunger Games!!!! Breaking Dawn Part 2!!!!! I also loved The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, Premium Rush and Les Miserables was spectacular!!

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? My family let me celebrate for a whole weekend!! There was some shopping and lots of cake!! We also saw Wicked at Capitol Theater which was fantastic as always!! Oh... and I turned 27.... downhill side to 30! AHH!

 32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Winning the lottery and getting out of debt!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? Pretty much the same as last year! I LOVE cardigans! And Roxy loafer shoes! I've also sort of gotten on the colored jeans band wagon.... I own a pretty awesome pair of plum pants! 

34. What kept you sane? I hate this question….. I don’t know….. But I do know I will be changing this question next year!!  

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Josh Dallas!

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Oh election years.... I HATE them!! I try not to post my political views.... mostly because I dont like the tension it can create!

But I have to say, what a joke I think it is that President Obama has all the sudden spoken out in favor of gay marriage. And the worst part? Everyone is praising him for it!! And yet they slam Mitt Romney for changing some of his political opinions!! What a double standard!! 

I hated all the build up to the stupid elections and I’m glad it's over. And I would be lying if I said I was happy with the outcome..... 

The fiscal cliff stuff has been pretty frustrating…. It’s kind of pathetic to me that no one will compromise! I do have to say though…. I’m sort of on the Democrats side on this one!

 37. Who did you miss? I miss my friend Christine! She moved up to Idaho in September. And now that I'm not living in Murray I miss Charmaine and Chantry and Jamie! 

38. Who are your favorite people that you met this year? I didn’t meet many new people this year… I’ve kind of been a homebody!

39. Quote a song lyric that accurately summarizes this year? I feel like there are a ton of songs that apply right now!!

 “Happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time. It’s miserable and magical, oh yeah” 

“For courage to accept Thy will”

I hope you have an awesome 2013!
My resolution is to get back to blogging!! Look for lots of posts to come!! 

A Proclamation of Thanksgiving

Did you know it was President Lincoln that declared Thanksgiving a holiday?
Have you ever read his actual proclamation making it a holiday?
It's pretty wonderful.... as most of his proclamations were! And I think it's probably a good idea to read it every year to remind us why we celebrate the holiday! So here are just a few exerts for you to read until you can read the whole thing!!

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the hear which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed and harmony has prevailed.......... I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States...to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."

Dont you think so much of it applies to today? We may not be fighting a civil war, but our country is most definitely divided!! There are still widows, orphans, mourners and sufferers.
One thing we dont do so well at.....
Remembering where our providence and blessings come from. So this Thanksgiving, and every day, I hope we set aside time to give thanks to Him who deserves it most!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!