Listen Up

Jeff and I were lucky enough to catch Conan's musical guest on Thursday night. M. Ward played Chinese Translation and was accompanied by Neko Case (Her voice is just too powerful to be back-up.) and Jim James of My Morning Jacket.

If you have time to watch/listen, I highly recommend it. Beautiful:

In Our Own Backyard.

This past weekend we wanted to get away. Not far enough for us to drive all night, but far enough to feel like we were... away.

We ended up at Daniel's Summit outside of Heber. I've never ventured that far outside of Heber, since my cabin's on the other side of town. But, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. (Even climbing mountains on mountain bikes, enjoying late night swims, and rooting for the Jazz.)

I love that we have such different, vivid landscapes so close by.

Us

Jeffrey and I are celebrating our 2 year anniversary this weekend. Thinking back on our special day: cheeks sore from smiling so much, feeling so loved, being the happiest I had ever been.

Can't wait for all the many more anniversaries we'll be celebrating.

Haley

Ms. Haley was my muse on Sunday. She's an amazing gymnast. (Look at her braids flying through the air...)

I felt like a kid again watching her bounce and flip, flip, flip on the trampoline.

"The days you work are the best days." --Georgia O'Keeffe

(Trying to keep this in mind. I've got Spring Fever.)

Goodbye, Girls.

I am still dumbfounded that the CW decided to end the Gilmore Girls. Sure the show can’t go on forever, but I was hoping for another season to tie up all the Stars Hollow loose ends. Will we ever find out if Rory ends up with Jess? Or, if Kirk ever marries Lulu? Will Zach and Lane really become rock stars?

I guess we’ll never know.

And, in the immortal words of Rory Gilmore:

"... sometimes you have something you need to say but you can't, because the words won't come out or you get scared or you feel stupid. So, if you could write a song and sing it, then you could say what you need to say and it would be beautiful and people would listen and you wouldn't make a complete idiot out of yourself. But all of us can't be songwriters, so some of us will never be able to say what we're thinking or what we want other people to know we're thinking, so we'll never be able to get the chance to make things right again..."

It really is too difficult for me to explain how I feel about this show…

So, to commemorate the final episode, I have compiled a list of my Gilmore Girls Favorites:

Favorite Stars Hollow resident? Kirk. Anyone who misplaces all the Easter Eggs causing a deep stench in the city-center, as well as decide to live in a box above the city, is a favorite of mine. I always laugh when Kirk’s in a scene.

Favorite Lorelei boyfriend? Luke. Luke’s aware of Lorelei’s affinity for coffee, was there when Rory graduated from Chilton, and even built Lorelei a chupa for a wedding that never happened. For a time I liked Christopher, but the chemistry is still sparking between Luke and Lorelei. And Christopher wasn’t there for the girls when they needed him most.

Favorite Rory boyfriend? Jess. I guess I’m attracted to the rebel without a cause, and Jess fits the bill. It could’ve been Dean, but he ruined a marriage for her. And, it sure isn’t uppity-high-class snob Logan. (Did you see the way he ended things with her?) Jess was a good balance of likability without being overly likable.

Favorite Lorelei friend? Sookie. She too goes on language-rippling tangents that are filled with wit and awkwardness. And, she actually looks like she is a chef.

Favorite Rory friend? Paris. Paris’ unceasingly pessimistic attitude and competitive drive was so funny to watch. Rory and Paris were first enemies, but soon turned into life-long friends, and I‘m thankful for it… I did like Lane, but she just didn’t deliver those punch-lines like Paris.
Case in point:

“Fine, if you guys wanna sit around for an hour after school swapping makeover horror stories, then count me in. Hey, did I ever tell you about the time I plucked outside of my designated brow line? Man, was my face red.”

(However, Lane's short-lived romance with Adam Brody’s character Dave was fun to watch. He was Lane’s first kiss. What a nice first-kiss it was.)

Still reading? I'm impressed.

Favorite Stars Hollow Event? I really liked the Snowmen building episode where Lorelei and Rory built Bjork. I also enjoyed the episode where the town threw a funeral for Babet’s kitty, Cinnamon. And, the Living Art episode… perfect.

Favorite Episode(s)? There’s so many. But, the episode I can never tire from is the Dance Marathon. The Girls are dressed to the nines while they try and beckon their inner ‘50’s ballroom dancer. This is also the night Rory realizes she has feelings for Jess. Dean leaves. Rory’s sad. Lorelei comforts Rory. Kirk wins Dance Marathon.

Another great episode? When Max proposes to Lorelei for the second time. He literally fills her entire house with daisies. And, Lorelei then hands out daisies to all of Stars Hollow.

Favorite Guest Appearances? A lot of bands passed through Stars Hollow including the Shins (Okay, technically they were in Florida playing while Rory was on Spring Break.). Yo La Tengo, and Sonic Youth stopped by as Stars Hollow’s singing troubadours.

The list could go on and on. But, I have a feeling not too many are interested in my final goodbye.

So, finally:

Goodbye, Girls. I'll miss you.

Mr. Sawyer

I'm in love with this smiley-faced Sawyer:

Look at that grin!

We Did It.

My mom, sister, and I woke up bright and early on Saturday to join 16,000 (!) others to run/walk/jog and Race For a Cure. It was my first time running this specific race, and what an inspiration it was.

Breast cancer survivors dressed in pink, while other supporters dressed in white, out together rooting for the same cause.

I loved seeing my mom's smile as she crossed the finish line. She's one strong lady. (I only beat her time by 3 minutes!)

So many brave souls where running for their loved ones who passed on. I saw many images of women who lost the battle to cancer, but their family was still there fighting for them.

It was an awe-inspiring sight. I'm so glad I got to see it.

welcome, Spring.

Here's a mix I made for my Mix Club last week... I forgot to mention it, but wanted to before Summer creeps up on us. (Especially since it already feels like it's here.)

1. Icicles... Let's Go Sailing
2. Hummingbird... Wilco
3. The Fairest of the Seasons... Nico
4. I’m a Broken Heart... The Bird & The Bee
5. Sundress... Ben Kweller
6. Sunny Road... Emiliana Torrini
7. Just To See My Holly Home... Bonnie "Prince" Billy
8. Lark... Au Revoir Simone
9. Another Sunny Day... Belle and Sebastian
10. Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie... Joanna Newsom
11. Make a Plan to Love Me... Bright Eyes
12. My Slumbering Heart... Rilo Kiley
13. I'm Looking Through You... The Beatles
14. Birmingham 1982... Maria Taylor
15. Love is a Place... Metric

I absolutely love Wilco's lyrics to Hummingbird, which has lovely imagery:

His goal in life was to be an echo
The type of sound that floats around
and then back down
Like a feather
But in the deep chrome canyons of the loudest Manhattans
No one could hear him
Or anything

So he slept on a mountain
In a sleeping bag underneath the stars
He would lie awake and count them
And the gray fountain spray of the great Milky Way
Would never let him
Die alone

Welcome, Spring!

You can sample this mix via iTunes here.

Gone Bowling

(I, at least, broke 100.)

Warm Weather Recipes

The second Tuesday of every month I get together with a bunch of gals to swap recipes. We each make a dish that fits the theme for the month (See title of post.), sample each other's recipes, and then take each recipe home. (Of course, there is the casual conversation about each recipe, but then it quickly turns to Hollywood Gossip or "Grey's Anatomy" scoop.)

Tonight, I sampled two of these yummy recipes:

Brittany made a very delectable Anti Pasta Salad... (Even leaving the meat out on one sample, so I could taste it.)

And, Ms. Candice, who always has to-die-for cookie recipes made these:

(I had to sample not 1 or 2, but 3! Just to make sure I enjoyed them.)

And, I made Your Heart Out's suggested Spring Salad, which was a hit! All the girls went back for seconds. (Which, at this event, is a sure sign that your recipe is gooood.)

me too.

At one of the YW activities the other night, I overheard a conversation that went something like this:

"Oh my gosh, I love that book."
"Me too. I've read it 3 times."
"I love how they haven't even kissed, yet."
"I know! And, he really is beautiful. I just know it."
"But, you've never even seen him before..."
"I have in my dreams."

(Really.)

At this point, I had to interject: "What are you guys talking about?"

After which a chorus of shrieking girls reply: "Twilight! The best book... Ever!"

Ah-hah... Something I can relate to. So, I say, "Oh, I have heard about that book... isn't it about vampires?"

"Yes! It's seriously sooo good."

But, then, I get drowned out as they busily talk about their favorite parts of the book.

I've seen this book highlighted in the blogosphere, (I think Lori's reading it right now.) and I'll admit, I feel left out when everyone's reading something that I haven't. (Especially if it's something I can talk about with my YW.)

So, I picked it up on Saturday, and I'm already on page 147. True, it is a Young Adult novel, and sure, a lot of the dialogue does seem immature... But, what can I say? I, too, am finding out about this beautiful vampire named Edward.

Finally, something I can talk about with my Beehives.

Intrigued?

Go. Jazz. Go!

Whatta game on Saturday! My friends and I definitely were on the edge of our seats (me falling out of mine a couple of times) while watching the final game with the Rockets. It definitely was a heart-pounding, nerve-wracking, thrilling game... and, we won!

So excited to watch them continue to play. First game's tonight.

Go. Jazz. Go! (Yes, these images are some of our key-players... If they aren't on, we could lose.)

Journal Writing

Today I gave a lesson to my Young Women about the importance of writing in your journal. Last week's activity we made journals, and so today was a perfect time to emphasize the importance of using them. I think at their age (12-13) it's a perfect time for them to pick up their pens, and delve into writing about their feelings and emotions. My journal was a place of solace, and I began loving to write once I began writing in my journal.

Some of the YW lessons I can relate to, and I'm always learning more, but this lesson made me realize how I also need to pick up my pen and begin writing in my journal, again.

I gave the girls a pen with a ribbon-tied list of the following 'Important Things to Include In Your Journal:'

1. Important events, impressions, testimony, and personal feelings.
2. Personal counsel, promises, and blessings received and the circumstances surrounding them.
3. Deaths, births, marriages, baptisms, and endowments.
4. Record goals and progress, personal triumphs, and failures, struggles and how they are met.
5. Current local, national, and world events that impress you or influence your life.

But, this can be the easiest to forget:

6. Simple occurrences in daily life.

My simple occurrences today included getting rid of nervous butterflies as soon as I closed my eyes to say the opening prayer in Sacrament Meeting. Feeling that flutter from playing a beautiful chord while accompanying the ward choir, and seeing the girls I taught eyes open just a little bigger (literally) when something I said inspired them. Taking care of Jeffrey, as he hasn't been feeling well. Making dinner with ingredients like fresh basil, pine nuts, and Orzo pasta.

These simple occurrences, which can feel routine, are things I can easily forget...

Time to write in my journal.

quote for today

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
-Dolly Parton

heart.broken.

It pains me to write this:

If you've read my blog regularly, you know my affinity for the 'Gilmore Girls.' Lorilei and Rory Gilmore are my favorite mother/daughter duo. Sure, Lorilei speaks quite rapidly, but boy, it's witty.

And, Rory! She's so sweet (since I knew her back when she was only 14) and has turned into quite an accomplished young lady.

I just got news that the Girls are being cancelled. This will be their last season. But, hey, I may have saw that coming. Since the main writers left after 6 seasons, this last season just hasn't compared. Ratings have dropped. Supposedly, Alexis Bledel (Rory) hasn't wanted to do another season. So maybe another month of shows before the cancellation? Nope. We only get 2! more episodes. May 15th is my doomsday.

How are they supposed to wrap this 7 year show in only 2 episodes?!

I'm sick about it. Just sick.

More about this later... just had to vent.

Y.H.O.

Thanks Ali and Maeve for letting me contribute to Your Heart Out! If it's already not apart of your morning, daily, evening reading, it outta be!

angela+jordan

I was obsessed with 'My So Called Life.' (My mom wouldn't let me watch it, so I had to sneak and watch it- flipping to different channels when she was in the same room.)

I think it was because I could relate to Angela... she was awkward, I was awkward, she had a crush on the dreamy, popular boy and I had crushes on those boys that I knew would never feel the same about me. But, one of the best things about this show, was THAT guy fell for THAT girl... (The Broiler Room episode is a favorite of mine. Didn't you love how Angela loved that one spot on Jordan's neck where his hair fell?)

My sister invested in all the VHS tapes some years ago. But, the good news is, they are re-releasing this series on DVD and including bonus scenes. I can't wait to re-live all the high school angst (zits and all), hearing Jordan sing 'I Wanna Be Sedated,' and watching Claire Daines young, fresh face.

I love this show.

Two Things. Dying to See.

First:

Xanadu on Broadway?! Yes. It's true!... Kira and Sonny's romance blooming on stage. Rollerskates. A beautiful score. I need to get to the Big Apple! The show runs from the end of this month through July.

Second:



Entirely different, but almost as exciting. Will Oldham (One of Jeff and I's favorite musicians.) appears in another full-length film called "Old Joy," but this time he has a leading roll. This movie received great reviews at many film festivals, including Sundance. It's on DVD today.

Sigh. (Happy sigh.)

I just read that The Postal Service are covering my favorite John Lennon song: 'Grow Old With Me' for a Lennon tribute album.

The album will also feature The Flaming Lips and Regina Spektor (never mind Christina A., Avril Lavigne and the Black Eyed Peas who also will be on the album).

I'm so curious how the usual electronic, beat-infused Postal Service will interpret this song. It has to be a good cover... keeping my fingers crossed.