Zachary

The comforter on my bed is white with big hibiscus-like flowers outlined in black on it. My nephew, Zachary, is two and very, very funny. Last night he was on my bed, working on a coloring book. Unfortunately, my black and white bedspread looks a lot like a page from that coloring book. I glanced over to see him concentrating on filling in one of the flowers on my bed with an orange crayon. I said, "Oh, Zachy! What are you doing?" Without looking up, he says, "Dus colrin' (just coloring)." It was so cute how delibrately he worked at it.

Does anyone know how to get crayon off fabric?

New Rommates

I moved a couple weeks ago and haven't had much time for updating y'all on these crazy girls I live with now. So here we go:


LIZ is just the greatest. In one word, she is FUN. She's just bubbly and happy and joyful. We have had a great time giggling together and she's very genuine, a true friend. I just love this girl. She's great!








KAREN is the sweetheart of the bunch. (Don't you just love that picture?) She's got a very likeable personality and is wonderfully cute. Miss Karen is super easy-going and fun. Everybody loves Karen (and her over-the-top reactions to Dancing With the Stars . . .)








BRITNI is devilishly funny. I cannot say enough about this girl. Her sassy personality and humor are in perfect proportion to her kindness. She is awesomely fashionable and has been an invaluable tool for me and my unfashionable nature.







So those are the girls. They are wonderful. But I still miss my Alisca. :(

Sick Day.

I have been battling a severe cold since Sunday. I was up most of last night coughing and being unsleeping, so when I showed up at work this morning my boss mentioned that I looked like "death warmed over" and encouraged me to rethink my decision to be at work. So I just finished up a few things that needed to be done and headed back home.

Being home sick from work is not as much fun as being home sick from school as a kid. Probably because Mom's not around be take care of me. And I keep thinking about work and the fact that I should be there.

Blah.

I am overcome with joy.

This morning I arrived at work to see my pen sitting right back where it belongs.

I wonder if it has anything to do with me sobbing yesterday.

THIEF!

I know that this might seem weird but I take my writing utensils very seriously. At work, I use a Zebra F-Series 301 Stainless Steel Retractable Ultra Fine Black Ballpoint Pen. It is the best pen ever. It sits atop my keyboard and everyone knows that they'd better not use it if they know what's good for them. I have a pencil cup next to my monitor and people are welcome to those cheap BIC pens. But keep your hands off my Zebra. (I have actually let someone use the pen before, but she just needed to write something down right there and she didn't even leave my office.)

Last night, I left my Zebra in its rightful place, safe and sound. This morning, the unthinkable occured. Someone took my pen! When I got here, the very first thing I noticed was that my pen was missing. I searched my pencil cup, drawers and the floor around my desk. It is oh-so-missing. If you're thinking, "Chill out. It's only a pen," you obviously do not realize it's the best freakin' pen in existence.

My first suspect was obvious. It's the woman who has had a history of stealing wite-out from my desk. I strolled over and said casually, "Hey, you haven't seen my silver clicky pen, have you?"

She looked at me with wide eyes. "Did somebody touch your pen?"

She knows how I feel about that pen. I asked everyone. They all haven't seen it unless they're covering for someone, in which case, wrath with be brought to bear.

All morning I've been using a Zebra XA-07. Still a Zebra, but it's just not the same.

Corrine!

This picture is of me and one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. Corri, I love you! You are amazing.

Good Work, Kim!

I am officially unpacked. Everything is put away and my pictures are hanging up on the walls and my files are all back in their appropriate drawers. I'm so impressed with myself. Last time I moved, I didn't get unpacked for . . . well, actually, I didn't ever get completely unpacked. I still had boxes stacked in my closet until I moved again. Made moving a bit easier, though. I will have to post pictures of my cute new turquoise room soon.

Mushrooms Equal Death

Mushrooms are gross. Why do people eat them?
If you have ever been to Noodles & Co. then you know it is one of the most delicious places on the whole dang planet. They have these Japanese Pan Noodles that are so g-good, I can't even talk about them without stuttering. It is a perfect blend of those fat noodles (what are they called?) and a bunch of crisp veggies and a warm spicy sauce, and then they throw in about 800 pieces of nasty 'shrooms. It's devastating.

It's probably just in my head, but when I eat mushrooms, I actually feel very throw-uppy. I had Jap Pan Noods (that's the nickname) for lunch and I feel icky. And why shouldn't I? I've just ingested a "fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus." Does that sound appetizing to anyone?

I'm probably offending all you mushroom-eaters out there. Sorry. Let's just agree to live and let live. You will continue to eat the growth that feeds on death and decay and I will continue to be disgusted. But, hey, keep your fungus out of my food.

Pie-o-rama.

In celebration of Week of the Young Child, my school held a parent event tonight. We called it "Afternoon a la Mode" and we served pie and ice-cream. So 50 students enrolled in our school, plus parents, plus teachers, plus older siblings equals a whole lot o' pie. I ordered the pies online from Village Inn last week and picked them up this morning. All the people there were gawking at the crazy lady loading with pie after pie into her car. We had almost $200 worth of pie.

This afternoon, my boss and I started cutting the pies into slices. That took forever! We sliced up most of it or, actually, I sliced up most of it. She just couldn't match my mad-pie-cutting skills.

We sliced, scooped and served all evening and had a great time. Go pie. Now it's time for dinner.

Why am I thinking that leftover pie sound like an acceptable meal?

Tax Day!

I did my taxes yesterday.

(Nothing like getting an early start.)

Have you done yours?

Diddly Wack Mack Mormon Daddy

My little sister, Michelle, emailed this to me today. It made me laugh! Apparently it's cool to be a Mormon. Good to know.

A day that will live in infamy.

Today was moving day. Yuck. I'm tired. Good-night.

Liquor

I went to the liquor store for the very first time in my life today. I am moving this weekend and I needed boxes.

It was awkward.

Now everyone who helps me move will think I'm a total alcoholic because all my stuff is shoved inside vodka and tequila boxes.

Speaking of helping me move, what is everyone doing this Saturday? (hint, hint)

Super Saturday!

I had a super-fun Saturday this past weekend! I started the day off having brunch with Alisca. Brunch was held at our kitchen table in our pjs and the fare consisted of Golden Crisp cereal (for me) and string cheese and Diet Coke (for A-Slice).
After our scrumptious meal, I got all dolled up (Hmm. Does "showering and throwing on jeans and a sweater" equal "getting dolled up"?) and I headed up to Bountiful to see my dearest dear, Corrine, who was down in Utah from Idaho. I also got to see Corri's big sis Ashley, Ashley's 3 adorable girls, Corrine's husband Kristofer, and her parents. We went down to Gardner Village and had a ball shopping, laughing, shopping, having lunch, shopping, tasting fudge and a little bit of shopping.
One of the little shops was fairy-themed and every customer got a glitter star on their cheek. Corrine and I, of course, obliged without much persuasion. Kristofer politely declined.
After heading back to Salt Lake, I stopped by Lowe's to pick up paint chips, primer, and paint supplies. (It wasn't until I got home that I realized I had marched all over the home improvement store with a glittery star smeared down my cheek.)
Later that night, Alisca and I headed over to my new house to paint over the horrible wall color in my new bedroom. We primed our little hearts out and finished in just under 2 hours. It was hot and hard work, but we had a blast!
When we got home about 10:30 that night, I had the brilliant idea to watch a movie and then promptly fell asleep, curled up in my favorite red chair. When I woke up, Alisca had disappeared and I couldn't move my neck without gasps of pain. I pulled on some pjs, brushed my teeth, and hopped into bed. (I really did hop. My bed is really high!)
All in all, a great day.

My dad listens to NPR.

All the time.

Goodbye.

Dear friends,

I wanted to make an official announcement of my entry into a cloistered Catholic nunnery. I have taken temporary vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience which will be made permanent after my novitiate. Because I have pledged a life of poverty, I will be giving away all of my worldly belongings. I have lots of furniture, books, electronics, shoes, and clothing. If anyone is interested in these earthly pleasures, please let me know. After my entry into sisterhood, I will be unable to keep contact with my friends and family for a period of nine years. I will keep you all in my hearts as I pursue my fully religious life. I will extend contact with you in 2017.

Farewell.

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Sillyness

One of the reasons I love hanging out with my family is because they are so wonderfully goofy, which is quite perfect for me. Here are a few conversations that occurred in the Raynor family last week:

Mom: Guys, look at that dog food! That looks really good!
(Silence)
Brian: Mom, you know you're not supposed to eat that, right? I mean, it's just for dogs.
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Brian: Did you know that your skin weighs 10-11 pounds?
Me: Did you know that the human brain is made up of 80% raisins?
Dad: What kind?
Me: California.
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Mom: Well, at least we still have our pants on.
Me: They should put that on the license plates here. "Florida: the water tastes like fish but at least we still have our pants on."
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Michelle (about her pet hamster): It keeps pooping on me!
Me: That means he likes you.
Mom: Wow. He must really like you.
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