Haircut

I know it may seem like I change my hair every month but....
Here is a very blurry photo of the new cut. I really won't know how I like it until tomorrow when I have to get ready, but so far so good.

Bedfellow

So here is Ali, I can't believe I actually shared a bed with a dog this weekend. Shocked mom?

I can’t conceive it…you won’t believe it!

This is the cliffnotes version-despite what you might think! It is also 1:32am, soooo…
This weekend has been indescribable…and there are still many hours to go. It really began Thursday evening when I got off work. Thursday was terrible! I often have bad days at work but this was ridiculous. My coworkers were meeting for drinks after work, but I opted to scurry home to clean up a little before J and E came over for dinner. At lunch that day I had gone to the store to pick up something to make – but I still was not sure what I would prepare. Thus we ate later than the planned 7:00pm. Granted I had a fantastic time visiting with them but it was a bad idea to stay up so late in retrospect, though I would do the same again, so....
Thankfully there was a University holiday on Friday so no work. I slept until 11am. Heaven. Of course then I woke up and worked out – the cookies are killing me – and then got in the shower. I was planning on meeting my friend CS for lunch but of course we had to reschedule for the second or third time for next week. Then it was errands and projects until it was time to head over to get the keys and info for house and dog sitting this weekend. Typically, I was not prepared and had to head back home after the family left to pick up my stuff.
By the time I was done I had just enough time to run back, feed the dog and myself before getting ready to go to Emily’s parents for a get together. I had a lovely evening Friday too, but I stayed later than I should have and the dog was none too pleased with me. I was also trying to do my laundry so I was up until well after 1am moving loads from washer to dryer so I might have something to wear on Saturday.
I should have just gone to bed. Saturday was going to be a full day in and of itself. C and I were headed up to my grandparents for visiting and golfing with Papa. I picked C up a little after 7 – which means I awoke at an ungodly hour that I rarely am forced to see. We had a nice drive up to Clearlake until…we reached Williams.
Noting the funny look on my face C prompts, “Did your battery light just go on?” I nod and continue my puzzled expression as my dash freaks out and the radio turns off. Next thing you know the ABS warning light is on and my brake light is flashing. I stop the car, turn it off, pause, and restart. Now the ABS light and the warning light for the airbags turn on. The last thing I need is to be driving down windy highway 20, have my airbags go off and totally obstruct my view. It would be suicide. We make it to my Grandparents without incident and are happy to assume there is probably a fuse blown somewhere.
Of course we were late as I was driving extra cautiously, so we had to leave almost immediately for the golf course. Papa and I played 9 lovely holes and C hit A ball. It was soo much fun and the weather was beautiful. So beautiful. After golfing we headed back to the house and visited with Grandma over lunch. Then it was out to the deck for bathing suits and puzzle’s for a few hours. We had dinner before we left and headed out at about 5:15 (maybe). By 5:30 my car was dead! I mean dead dead, as in it ceased functioning completely. It took me 5 min to close the sun roof – moving the dang thing a centimeter every thirty seconds. Luckily we were able to coast to the side of the road. After a while and some ridiculous laughter that brought us to tears over our present situation I was feeling a little better. Here we are:

 
 






Some specifics of our predicament:

• Car is dead
• No one is stopping
• No cell phone service (grandma did make sure our phones were charged tho)
• I have to get back to Davis to feed the dog
• We are in the middle of nowhere
• Highway 20 is probably one of the worst places ever to break down

We were getting a little desperate, okay I was. I decided to try calling 911 and as I was about to do so recalled – AAA has installed a GPS emergency assistance device in my car – We are saved! I was sooo excited. I have discovered the fatal flaw with the GPS system – if there is no phone service it won’t work. I thought I had signed up for peace of mind and all I got was big brother tracking my location 24 hours a day.

We put our sneakers on – time to walk to where we could get cell phone service (outside of the hills) to phone help. The roadside hike was a totally unplanned addition to the day.We walked about two miles before a nice lady and her daughter stopped and picked us up. They drove us to the valley (there is no way we would have made it on foot before dark) by now it was almost 7pm, oh how fast time flies when you are stranded. I must add here that C was an excellent companion through all of this. I was busting up almost the entire time. It was actually an adventure and while vexing and a little stressful it was not the end of the world.

Once I had service I phoned AAA (though I had lost my membership card between getting out of the car and getting service – I found it on the highway by the car). They said someone would be there by 7:17 and we must return to the vehicle. Then C suggested we phone the CHP. We tried to call the local business line but to no avail. Finally I dialed 911. I think it was the first time I have ever done so in my life.

Here is an approximation of the conversation:

911: “911 emergency response, what is your emergency?”
Me: “I don’t have an emergency, I am trying to call the CHP dispatch.”
911: “This is the highway patrol dispatch, what is your emergency?”
Me: “I don’t have an emergency.”
911: “Mam, 911 is for emergencies and life or death situations only”
Me: (very timidly) “Alright, thanks”
911: “Well what is your problem?”
Me: “Our car has broken down on the side of the highway.”
911: “WELL, that IS an emergency” (Sweet relief) “where are you located?”
I provide directions, my name and contact information
911: “Is there anyone traveling with you?”
Me: “Yes”
911: “Male or Female”
Me: “Female”
911: “Two young things stranded on the highway! I will alert CHP to check on you”

Okay the CHP was totally beat by the tow truck guy! He reached us first. The lovely woman who picked us up (Pand her daughter S) drove us all the way back to my poor car and stayed with us until the tow truck arrived a little after 7:25.

Tow truck guy: “I can take you to Williams and leave you at Denny’s as it will be at least three hours before I can tow you to Davis.”

Oh the horror! Don’t fear, we managed not to have to wait at all in Williams – alright we had enough time to run into Denny’s and get two hot chocolates to warm our spirits. Then we were on the road. My dad met us in Davis and has kindly given me his car for a few days. This in no way accurately portrays the true horrors and humor experienced during this adventure but does explain why I need a weekend to recover from my weekend.

These are a few of my favorite things....right now...

Today I found myself loving my life. Not because it is particularly exciting at the moment, though it is extremely busy. Full and wonderful are not the same things. So here are some of the things I heart this week.

Favorite spot:











Favorite equipment:








Favorite shirt:











From H&M (got in 2 colors)



Favorite drink:











Elderflower sparkling juice
(Available @ the Nugget)

Favorite shoes:









Favorite jewelry:








Favorite tool:








I LOVE my clairsonic face brush!

Favorite book: (of the week)

Sourdough Cookies

Yes, that's right! Sourdough cookies. This post is totally a shout out to the fam - who are probably also trying to find ways to keep the Butler family sourdough starter active. After 3 months of bread making and the 20 hour process that comes with it I have begun searching for alternative methods of using my starter - cuz seriously there is no way I am going to make myself that many pancakes every couple weeks.

This week I stumbled across a recipe for sourdough cookies and thought I would give it a try. Granted I spent 5 hours making cookies the other night (though I realize now if I had just moved the racks in the oven I probably could have baked two sheets at a time and simplified the process, but whatever). Brit was nice enough to come and keep me company during the endeavor and then Jes entertained me by phone after she left. By the time I finished 3 batches of cookies at 11:30 at night I had eaten so many and had so much dough that I never wanted to see another cookie again. Unfortunately I had a pile of well over 70 cookies.

It was almost as much work as the bread (I will also be considering the purchase of a electric mixer-a kitchenaid would be a lovely gift for someone graduating with their Masters, hint, hint if anyone wants to take that up - I like the Artisan series in Bayleaf). I handed out 40 cookies at work and had friends over for dinner last night who were kind enough to indulge themselves and I of course have had my fair share so this photo is of the cookies that are left over - though I do have a bag full in the cupboard as well.

Here is the recipe:
3C. Flour
1tsp. Salt
1/2tsp. Baking Powder
1/2C. Butter
1 1/2C. Sugar
2 Eggs
1tsp. Vanilla
1C. Sourdough Starter
Preheat oven to 375F.
Cream butter, sugar, eggs & vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately w/ the sourdough. Drop onto a greased cookie sheet & sprinkle w/ a mixture of cinnamon & sugar.
Bake @ 375F for 12 min.

Splurge

I know this will shock everyone but I can't resist the jewelry at this shop in Seattle - if I ever go I have to stop by.

The reason I deserve the splurge is because I kill myself at work. Sometimes I don't even realize it, I get so caught up in being productive I don't stop to think about my bizarre tendency to accomplish what should not be humanly possible. Today someone explained it is because I am so "capable" - I seem to expect myself to work at 110% all the time. When reality does not match my expectations I become frustrated.

B and J announced this afternoon that we will be hiring a new staff member, I was so relieved I came home and slept for 2 hours. When I awoke I was so fuzzy I did not know where I was. Thus in celebration of the new hire, C  (whose husband J  I took a class with, he graduate from my Masters program last year), and in greater celebration of the fact that I will no longer be required to do the jobs of 3 individuals and will now only be working for 2 - I deserve a reward!

After I regaining my mental facilities I realized how incredibly stressed I have been the past few weeks/months/since A left our department over a year ago/or maybe since I started working at the University - I never realize fully until the relief sets in how strained I am. Now my worries are finishing 14 more papers in the next two weeks (I have written 2/16), training C, getting through the next month of work while teaching her - but the relief of just having her there is wonderful. She already works internally so J  is going to meet with her current supervisor tomorrow to see if she can come for an hour everyday to start training with me immediately.

Of course, B let me know for the next year I will have to work with C on everything, but I don't even mind that I will still be the programmer "accountable" for projects, I won't have to do all the work so I am thrilled.

Thus a celebration gift is in order.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5251093

BOOKS!!!

I couple weeks ago I bought what may be the most beautiful books in existence. I have been meaning to post some photos - the covers are amazing! Imported all the way from Canada, they look fantastic on my bookshelves!

Visit

My old roommate E is here visiting this week from Las Vegas. Last night we got together with C  for dinner and today E  and I amused ourselves being disruptive during Sacrament meeting.

After seeing the photos we took I am decided that it is time for a haircut, it is getting a little out of control. How short will I go??? I have not decided yet.

6 year olds w/ a camera

Friday night I babysat for the P' neighbors whose charming children - J and MK I had meet previously. Of course, when I arrived S and J (see bowling blog) were over visiting. MK and Sare dolls, but VERY active six year olds. After racing around the house with them on my back for 30 min it was time to find a different diversion. Luckily one of them grabbed the camera out of my purse. The entertainment could have gone on for hours but the battery did eventually die. "One more" "One more" - I think I took about 60 'one more' shots. My favorites where when they brought out the props and decided they wanted photos of them holding swords as if they had been stabbed - this lead to a whole series of "death" photos with one dead and the other standing over her with mournful expressions.
MK and J were great. I love their mom, B, we started discussing books as I was leaving and I found her just throwing bestsellers I had not read yet into my arms. Talk about hooked! I don't think there is any quicker way to win me over. I am house sitting for them at the end of the month - and I even liked their dog! Shocking, I know.
Here are some highlights:

Fender bender

Over half a year ago, while backing up, my mother scrapped my fender on one of those cement blocks at the front of our parking space. Sadly it came unhinged and had to be reattached. Since then I have been VERY careful about not scraping it on anything. Today, Friday the 13th that luck ran out.

It started at about noon, when I was driving the university car to run an errand (I had just finished some meetings at the Law School and was swinging by the store on my way back to the office to pick up sandwiches for me and my coworker C). As I am driving down F Street in Davis I notice a guy walking down the street grab his girlfriend to start pushing a car that had died one or two cars in front of me. By the time the two cars between us had moved on I was laughing because it was C's car.

Hours pass.

At 4:30 C and I left work to go pick up his car. I was on the phone with AAA arranging for towing so C drove us in my car to the parking lot where the lovely couple had pushed his car. Of course we had to wait over 30 min, even though the tow company that arrived is based in Davis - ridiculous!

As I was backing out of the parking lot to follow the tow truck my fender hit cement - hard. When C parked it I didn't remember is scraping - but coming off it sure did. I had forgotten about it by the time we reached the auto shop, but sure enough as we rounded the corner to return to the car I had to laugh because the edges of my fender where hanging, almost dragging on the ground. C did screw them back on - but it is not quite the same and I was in such a rush to get to my babysitting appointment (as the towing had taken longer than expected) that there was not really time to ensure the fender was actually flush.

As this is the second time my fender has been ripped from its bearings it is starting to get a little warped. In combination with the insane day at work - totally ridiculous, though not as ridiculous as Thursday - I had a very stereotypical Friday the 13th - for the first time in my life - the kind of day I loath where nothing seems to go right.

Okay...

Drum roll - the hair. The sweater makes it look a little redder than it really is, but you get the idea. In the sunlight it glows bright purple.

Life is a funny thing

“In a better-ordered Verona, Romeo and Juliet would have grown up to be just another couple at dinner.” – Adam Gopnik

Today I am grateful for feeling, loss, confusion, unpredictability and all inexpressible emotions and events that convey poetry in life.

1 becomes 2

One of the Christmas gifts I purchased ended up being broken (small jar of lotion). While I should have returned it and been done with it I made the mistake of walking around the store before making my return and found the below. Of course I also picked up a cake stand (why??? your guess is as good as mine. I don't even have time to cook anymore). Pretty excited about the candle holder though - the store appropriately named it "tree of life". Hmmmm...take one small item back come home with 2 MUCH larger items.

Bowling

Last weekend I got to take a break from my life and spend the weekend with M, L, J and S, while their parents were away for the weekend. I don't know what I normally do with my weekends but I realized how much time there actually is on the weekend. Maybe it was because three children crawled into my bed at 7:45 on Saturday morning-so I was out of bed before 10am.

I really had a fun time with them. One of the highlights was taking J and S bowling. I love the photo below of J's reaction when he just misses his two remaining pins.

Purple Round 2

Yesterday my mother walked into the hairdressers and saw this. It didn't stay pink, don't worry - it is very purple though. Next time we are going to try to make it a little more blue.