A garden

This week was crazy. My boss, Joee, was sick on Thursday and gone from work on Friday. Because another coworker was already gone on vacation, I was alone most of the time in my cubicle/office. It was a lonely and busy time. I was so tired on Friday that I didn't really go out. Today, Sarah and I decided that it was time to plant. Well, actually I thought that it was time and she agreed to buy the plants. We bought two tomato plants, which I planted in pots in the back yard. I hate tomatoes but Sarah loves them. For the front patch, I bought flowers. I bought some Verbena, Gazania, two Osteospermum

, and a big Begonia on the end. I got to rip out all the old plants from the flower bed, dig up some horrible roots, then plant these beautiful flowers. I am so glad that Mom and Dad taught me how to garden. I hope they flourish. The picture of the metal iris was taken at the greenhouse. I just thought it was very cool. Tonight we are watching a movie and I will probably make some cookies later.

Grrrr! Sunday can be hard.

On Sunday morning, I awoke to a slight chill in the air. After my morning ritual of face washing, I went downstairs to get the paper and eat breakfast. As I came down the stairs I noticed that the front door was open two feet. I thought that perhaps Camille had stepped out to retrieve the newspaper. I stuck my head out and called for her but she wasn't outside. I went upstairs to ask her why she left the door open and found her asleep. As near as we can tell, when Dave left he didn't close the door tightly enough. The deadbolt wasn't used so the door slowly opened. It was open for at least six hours. Luckily nothing was taken, and as far as we can tell, no one entered. The computer, tv, dvds, etc. had remained in their respective spots. I was unhappy about the situation, to say the least. I guess I should be happy that neither of us were molested in our beds or robbed in the wee hours of the morning. After getting over the shock of the open door, we both got ready for church.
I took all the my visual aides and quotes and mentally prepared myself to face a room of nice, but not well known people. Before Relief Society started, I approached one of the counselors in the RS presidency. She was confused when I said that I would be filling in for Sarah, especially since Sarah wasn't supposed to teach until next week. I was dismayed knowing that I had prepared a lesson that I would never teach. At first I was mad, but then I saw it as a growing experience. I learned a lot while I preparing the lesson. Elder Holland's talk is amazing. The idea that harsh words can cut as badly as a whip can be a startling revelation. Plus, I will always have Sarah double check the date of a lesson when she asks me to fill in for her.
It was so cold when Camille and I got home from church, I finally turned on the furnace. I went visiting teaching to see Cassie and then came home to make dinner. At 8:30 I went to ward prayer while Camille went over to Dave's house. Ward prayer was fun. Keri, Jake, and I spent over a half an hour talking about life and the possibility of people from the ward getting together for a trip to the Shakespearean Festival. By the end of Sunday, I was exhausted. I was in bed early to prepare for my early Monday shift at work. Because of new employee orientation, I went to work early to help my boss set up.
Thus ends this blog. I am exhausted after a long day of work, grocery shopping, going to the library, writing blog entries, and going to Family Home Evening. Goodnight dear readers.

A visit to Tahitian Noni

On Saturday afternoon I had the opportunity to go to a wedding shower for Christine, a fiancee of my cousin. They will be married in May. I must admit that I spent most of the time playing with my darling niece and nephew. Sidney and Isaac kept me busy. I most magical moment was when the three of us went outside to visit a dog. Dexter would bark and then Sidney would bark back. Then Isaac would laugh. A baby's laugh is the most magical of all sounds. After the shower, a bunch of the Roberts Clan went to dinner at the Tahitian Noni Cafe. The food was pretty good and Sidney loved the purple rolls. The greatest part about the meal was the garden tour after the meal. While Grandpa and Grandma sat for a while, Diane, Larry, Nancy, Mom, Dad, Sidney and I walked around. Sidney and I had a great time exploring. The streams and ponds were beautiful, and ran around hiding from Mom and Dad. When it was time to leave, Sidney and I threw some pennies into the fountain in the foyer of the building. She made a wish for her little brother and her parents. It was darling. I miss spending time with my nieces and nephews. When I got home I decided to finish preparing my Relief Society lesson. Sarah was supposed to teach part of the RS lesson on Sunday but wouldn't be back from Arizona in time. She asked me to fill in so I spent my Saturday night preparing an excellent lesson on Elder Holland's Conference talk. Camille and Dave came home and I went to bed to the sounds of their voices.

Birthday party

On Friday night I headed up to Salt Lake City to attend a birthday party. First, Ryan and I went to dinner at Paradise Bakery. May I suggest this wonderful place to anyone who is in the Sugarhouse area. It is on 21st south. I had a great sandwich/salad combo and an amazing brownie for dessert. After dinner we stopped by Wes' house to wish him a happy birthday (I don't know him that well.) Afterwards we went over to Brian's house where Ryan P. was celebrating his 30th birthday. I got him a DVD of older cartoons and a lovely card. The following pictures are of Ryan R., my best friend, with Dozer the dog in the foreground, and Ryan P. and Curtis talking about some interesting subject. I ended up staying much longer than I should have. I didn't get home until 1:15 am, where I was met by Dave and Camille watching tv. Sarah is still on a business trip. I miss her.

Home Evening

Family Home Evening is always fun in a singles ward. This week we met at the Barney house. After the lesson, we played in the basement. The fun included fuzeball, an arcade game, billiards, a dart board, plenty of popcorn and candy.

It was a lot of fun. I think the picture of Cassie, Angela, and Sarah is very cute.

Work

It occurs to me that my faithful blog readers are unaware that I am now an employed woman. I registered with a temp agency because I was tired of answering newspaper ads. So, I went to a temp agency and within a week, was contacted to go to Prosper Inc. I have been working there for four days and am an assistant to an HR manager. I like it and hope that it will turn into something more permanent.

Weekend report

The weekend report includes the following: a wonderful dinner at Cafe Trio, playing with my darling niece and nephew on Saturday, dinner with the family, church, and ward prayer. My weekend started off with my getting off work at 5pm. I drove to Salt Lake for some fun with friends. Dinner was at a lovely cafe called Cafe Trio. The food was wonderful. I had the baked penne with the rosemary flat bread for an appetizer. Afterwards, Ryan and I went to an Internet cafe and hung out while talking, listen to music, and reading. I was home by 1 am, where I found Camille and a date on the couch watching a movie. On Saturday morning I drove to Bountiful to help clean up Grandma's yard. I ended up taking Lauren on a walk, where she proceeded become very annoyed with me when I wouldn't let her eat a pine cone. When we returned, Alison and Isaac joined the group. Dad, Mom, John, Jen, and Josh had worked hard so we all decided to go to dinner at Plates and Palates. So Mom, Dad, Jen, John, Lauren, Josh, Brooke, Tanner, Alison, Isaac, and I ate a wonderful dinner payed for by our dear father (or father-in-law.) Afterwards, we all went our separate way. Mom and Dad went to see Grandma J, who is in the hospital, and I drove home. I was so tired that I didn't go out to play.

Church was wonderful as always. Thus ends the report; not very poetic, but still completed.

Sarah paints

Here are some picture of some paintings that my roommate, Sarah, has painted in the last couple of days.

She did them for a project at work, but I think they are great. She faded the colors and then painted the designs over them. The pictures were taken before the green one was finished. It ended up looking kind of like a green lotus flower. I can't decide which one is my favorite. What do all you think?

Red devil and the tow truck

On Sunday morning, my car wouldn't start. When I turned the key, not one cough came from my red devil. I walked to church. I enlisted the help of Aunt Diane and Uncle Larry. On Monday night, they came over and looked at the car. Just in case it was the battery, we let it charge overnight. The next day, my car still persisted in being annoying. Aunt Diane drove me and my battery over to an auto parts store for testing. The battery was fine. We then had a brief conference around the kitchen table where it was decided that I should have my car towed to a repair shop that Larry recommended. On Wednesday morning, Aunt Diane came over and we had my car towed to a local repair shop. She graciously let me use one of her free tows from AAA and then drove me to the shop. I called mom for advise and to let her know what was going on. Three hours, and $323 later, my car was fixed. The starter had worn out and had to be replaced. All in all, it was a trying experience. The only bright points were Uncle Larry, Aunt Diane, and Mom (with her small loan.) I am so grateful for all the help these three individuals gave me. I am very glad to have a working vehicle again.

Book reviews

In the last week and a half, I have gotten a lot of reading done. Along with looking for a job, I am trying to keep my mind active so that when I return to school I will still be able to form complete sentences. Thus follows my book reviews for your reading pleasure:

The Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen is a cute picture book. I have a special spot in my heart for children's books that take place in libraries. This one is worth reading. The illustrations by Kevin Hawkes are also worth a look. Double Helix by Nancy Werlin is a science fiction book about the use of cloning and genetic engineering by todays scientists. While the main character, a teenage boy, is well written, the book does not stand out as anything to shout about. It was also strange for the writer to put a teenage romance in the middle of science fiction mystery. It seemed a little out of place and made me wonder if most non-LDS teenagers sleep around as much as this character. While an adequate book, I wouldn't really recommend it.

Two books about genetic engineering I would recommend are both by James Patterson. When the wind blows and Maximum Ride: the angel experiment are both well written with levels of suspense and thoughtfulness. Both have some language but are well worth the read. When the wind blows was written first and is told from multiple points of view. In fact, the only problem I had with this book is that it may have too many points of view. It tells the story of a veterinarian, an FBI agent, a group of evil scientists, and several genetically engineered children who can fly. This book, while not connected by characters, brought about Maximum Ride: the angel experiment. The preface of Maximum... explains that there are no characters in common with When the wind blows even though they both have children who can fly and a main character with the name of Max. Maximum Ride: the angel experiment and its sequel are both books that I would highly recommend. There is an occasional swear word in both but the plot is tightly written, the characters real and accessible, and the action intense. For those of you who like science fiction mixed with scientists run amok and government intrigue, I would advise you to read this book. As a person who has always dreamed of having wings, I really liked this book.

Jenna Starborn by Sharon Shinn is a futuristic retelling of Jane Eyre. Since I have read Jane Eyre twice, I thought I would give it a try. It was well written although I could see what was going to happen because it so closely paralleled Jane Eyre. I am always fascinated by the retelling of classic stories, especially fairy tales. This was an excellent read and anyone who liked Jane Eyre will appreciate this book as a science fiction companion piece. One piece of caution though, Jenna seemed to be in more mortal danger than Jane ever was. Jenna comes close to death several times. If you are the type that gets very attached to your characters, your heart might beat a little faster than normal during these brief but trying times.

I would like to thank Jen for recommending The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. This book meanders through the childhood recollections of a boy as he grew up in Montana during the first decade of the 1900's. The stories of his family, new housekeeper, and one room schoolhouse were charming. My only complaint is that four or five times during the story, he referenced his current status as narrator in the book. His childhood stories were great but his mention of being superintendent of the school system were distracting. Doig's characters were so well drawn that a reader could see the mean trapper, the honorable father/farmer, and the exuberant younger brothers of the narrator. The prose is sometimes a bit poetic, especially when describing nature, but is worth reading so that it can bounce around in your head when you are taking a walk through the park later. Although slow in serious action or suspense, this book was a good study of farming life and the ties that bind.

The next book I plan to read is Beast by Donna Napoli, who is a master at the retelling of fairy tales. It should be good. Thus ends this former librarian's review.

Clothesline Project

On Friday, before I got a horrible headache, I went over to the UVSC campus because of a newspaper article. The article talked about the Clothesline Project. It is a way to combat and bring attention to violence of all different kinds. The project at UVSC seemed to be focused on rape and domestic abuse against women and children. There were so many horrible stories on these t-shirts, but there were also stories of hope for the future and overcoming pain. The picture included show just a few of these shirts. There were tables where, if you had a story or something to say, you could make a t-shirt.

Each color of t-shirt stood for something different. The following are the colors and what they stand for: white for those who died because of the violence, yellow for survivors of physical assault, red for survivors of rape or sexual assault, blue or green for survivors of incest or childhood sexual assault, purple for attacks based on sexual orientation, black for those physically disabled because of violence, and grey or brown for survivors of emotional or verbal abuse. It made me sick how many white, red, and blue shirts there were. How can people hurt those who they are supposed to love? There were two rows of clotheslines inside, then ten under a tent outside. So many shirts. I left sobered and sad, but glad that people were talking about this problem.

Thursday update

I went on a date last night. Brian and I went to dinner at Cafe Rio, and then to the end of a jazz concert (he thought it started at 7:30, when it started at 6:30.) Afterwards we walked through the BYU art exhibit until the museum closed. It was a fun date even though there was no spark between us. By the end of the date, I think both of us felt like we were on a date with a cousin or something like that. Oh well, it was still fun to get to know someone new.
I read a cute children's book entitled Not a Box by A. Portis. It reminded me of stories that Mom has told me about her childhood. Grandpa used to bring home cardboard boxes that his children would play with. This book is about a cute little rabbit that has a similar experience.
If any of you are interested, I did not get the job at the library on the BYU campus. I am disappointed, but am sure there is a good reason that I didn't get it. Life continues in my little apartment. Sarah, Camille, and I are going to try to cook an Easter dinner together. I am not sure what it will be but I will probably plan the menu today.

Seven Wonders

Seven wonders of the natural world
1. Grand Canyon
2. Amazon River
3. Himalayas
4. Niagara Falls
5. Ayres Rock
6. Sahara Desert
7. Great Barrier Reef

Seven wonders of the Ancient World
1. Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) at Giza
2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
3. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
4. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
5. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
6. The Colossus of Rhodes
7. The Pharos of Alexandria

Seven wonders of our family
1. Sidney
2. Caleb
3. Wyatt
4. Lauren
5. Isaac
6. Tanner
7. That we all love each other and get along

April birthdays

This weekend, along with being Conference weekend, was the family celebration of three birthdays. Wyatt turned one years old and Brooke and Alison became a year older as well. (It has always been my opinion that once you hit 25, your age doesn't really matter that much.) I went over to Wyatt's house on Sunday afternoon to see Wyatt eat his cake. His parents had a small celebration that included Britnie's parents, brother, and his wife and son. We sang "Happy Birthday" to a confused Wyatt and then he was able to dive into his own cake, which he soon demolished. It was so cute to see him approach the cake, lick it a few times, then figure out that he could eat it. After a quick bath, he was able to open his many presents. My parents, Alison, Isaac and I left soon afterwards to catch the afternoon session on conference. At 5 pm on Sunday night, the whole family, with the exception of Jen, John, and Lauren, came over for dinner.

It was another good meal by Mom and afterwards we had ice cream cake. Alison and Brooke opened their presents, as did Wyatt. It is so nice to get together with family. Moving down to Orem has been fun, but I will admit that the hardest thing is being away from my family. Everyone else lives within a half an hour drive to Mom and Dad's house. But I guess an hour and fifteen minutes isn't so bad. I was the last to leave. On my way home, I talked to a new friend of mine, Brian. Because we celebrated Brooke and Alison's birthdays early, I would like to wish them a happy birthday for this coming week.

Conference and Ice Cream

General Conference was this weekend.

(For any readers unfamiliar, this is when the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints get together and give talks to the church as a whole on doctrine and other important things.) Saturday morning I watched the session with Camille and Sarah. I especially liked the talk by Elder Holland on speaking kind words to other people. After the morning session, we went to get some ice cream at Leatherby's, an ice cream parlour that I haven't been to in years. We were met by Aunt Diane, Amy, Heather, Taylor, and Easton. Most people had real food while I had fries and an amazing ice cream sundae with melted peanut butter and chocolate on top. For the afternoon session, I was driving up to my parent's house. President Hinckley dedicated the refurbished Tabernacle. I then watched and listened to the Sunday sessions up in Kaysville.
Other than Elder Hollands talk, two other talks have immediately struck me. They are Pres. Faust's talk on forgiveness which mentioned the Amish, and Pres. Hinckley's testimony. I enjoyed all the talks and look forward to reading all of them in the next issue of the Ensign.