A few nights ago I went over to my sister Staci’s house for my monthly kitchen beauty parlor experience. Karina the Russian must have been bored because she came over too with her two Russian children in tow to watch me get my hair done.

While the hair dye was processing we threw a pizza in the oven for the kids and Staci decided show us her domestic skills, which if you know me or either of my sisters you would know and accept that we have none. Fortunately you can’t really go wrong with Cheesy Egg Burritos which is what she made, complete with Cholula Hot Sauce on top. She told us,”This is so perfect because I have one carton of eggs that is going to expire in a few days so I am glad you are here to help me eat them.”

I have to say the burritos were excellent.

When I got home I started thinking about the eggs in my fridge and how I haven’t so much as looked at them since I bought them.

They expired in May.

Truthfully I didn’t even know eggs had an expiration date. I mean I guess it makes since that they do, but I never really thought about it. Milk sure, but eggs? Who knew? Obviously not me because I NEVER BUY THEM! But for some odd reason, when I went to the grocery store 2 months ago, I thought, what the hell? Maybe I’ll make breakfast one of these weekends when I am home.

I’ve tried to tell ED that I actually do know how to cook and that once I move into a place with a bigger kitchen I’ll actually use it. This story is not doing me any favors to convince him.

Meh.

Suzy Homemaker I am not. Honestly that’s just not me. But ask me to make you my signature Grape Russian, Peppermint Martini, or a Screwdriver and you will see that I more than make up for my lack of “traditional” domestic skills.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Just me, Uncategorized

I’m a pretty tough chick most of the time. I kill my own spiders (granted I freak out a little and feel like they are crawling on me for next 10 minutes, but I still do it), I hike up mountains, I take out the trash, I wakeboard, I assemble my own furniture and I hang my own pictures. I consider myself an independent woman who takes care of herself and doesn’t take crap from anyone.

Yeah, I’m tough like that.

At the gym last night, right in the middle of their busiest time, I strutted up to the free weights section to work on my arms. I used to rarely venture into the “man zone” as I liked to call it, but since I have been working out with my personal trainer boyfriend ED I have become a lot more confident in my ability and my knowledge of what to do with all those dumbbells.

So I strutted up there, full of all my tough girl confidence, wearing my pink workout clothes and black workout gloves with the fingers cut out and began going through the exercises ED had shown me. I glanced in the mirror and saw two muscle heads working out together and looking at me. No biggie I thought, I’m sure I’m just blocking their view of the mirror. I scooted down a little and started on my next exercise.

The few girls who were also brave enough to be in the “man zone” slowly disappeared and in their place sweaty men with wandering eyes emerged. I continued on. A large serial killer looking man walked between me and the mirror, staring at me while he does so and positions himself next to me still looking right at me.

That’s when panic started to set in.

Everywhere I looked I felt eyes on me. Man eyes on me. Apparently all of the women in the gym, including Karina the Russian, were upstairs in the Zoomba class. My heart started to race for reasons other than my work out until finally, in the middle of a set; I had to get out of there.

I left because too many men encroached in my space… at a gym… in the “man zone”.

So much for my tough girl persona.

Am I alone here? Do you ever get intimidated when you go to the gym?

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Just me

There are few things better than the first true sunny spring day at the park. I work a few blocks away from Liberty Park and I often spend my lunch breaks there eating in the car. Rarely have I ever gotten out of the car, but yesterday was different. The sun was out and I couldn’t bear the thought of not soaking it in – fear be damned! I spotted the perfect location, a gazebo out in the middle of the pond. No one was sitting there. It had my name written all over it. I exited my comfort zone of confined car door walls, and started the short walk over to my lunch destination. Walking along in my business attire, sharp heels aerating the lawn as I stepped on the moist grass. I felt the soft breeze swirl around me and wished I had the sense to pack a light jacket. I had been so excited to hear that the temperature would be in the 70′s that nothing else mattered, outside of wearing the new sleeveless spring top I had purchased 3 weeks prior.

Just me, Random

Just me, Nerdom

Just me, drinking when posting

I am on a quest to find the perfect lunch break study joint where I can get food, some peace and quiet and internet access. I have been rotating through 3 local coffee shops but hate that when I leave my hair always smells like toast for the rest of the day.

Downtown Salt Lake has a new incredibly beautiful library that I have heard is decent to study at, so yesterday I headed there. There was no street parking so I headed to the underground parking garage. I HATE underground parking! Is it just me or do they always seem like a murder scene? No one is around, every step you take echos, it is poorly lit… the man walking towards me with a baby stroller looks like he is going to pull a chainsaw out of it and start chasing me as soon as he gets closer. I have to remind myself that this is Salt Lake and not a slasher movie.

Anyway, parking at the library is free for the first 30 minutes and $1.25 for every 30 minutes after which seems a little steep to me. I walk down the hall where there are little cafe shops but realize quickly that you can not take food into the library with you so I pass them by. I walk through the metal detectors and it really is beautiful. Glass walls overlooking the city and the smell of old books. I start looking around trying to scope out a good place to hunker down for the next 45 minutes, carefully assessing the people around. I see no less than 4 (presumably) homeless guys hanging out. I head up a level to look for a more secluded area. I find a work station in the corner by a window. Shortly after I have all of my books out and am starting to add polynomials, one of the homeless dudes from down stairs comes and sits at a chair 2 desks down from me. No big deal until he falls asleep and starts SNORING very loudly. I breath deep, curse myself for not bringing headphones and keep working. Then snoring homeless guys buddy from downstairs comes and sits right across from me to read the paper. It’s a public library, people can sit wherever they like, I get it. But I purposely found a place away from everyone and there were other empty desks close by so I start feeling like he did it just to fuck with me. I become a little paranoid and can’t concentrate. All I hear is the snoring snoring snoring and I keep getting waves of the scent of cigarette smoke and dirty clothes from the guy sitting across from me who is intently studying a Sears ad like it is breaking news.

Finally I pack up my stuff and start to head out, half positive that the homeless duo are going to start following me, which of course they don’t but it doesn’t stop me from looking over my shoulder anyway. I feel like everyone is watching me as I walk out and I swear to you they were! I tell myself I am being ridiculous and if anyone IS looking at me it’s just because they don’t see many 6 feet tall women walking around and maybe I am a freakshow to them. I hustle out and as I am waiting for the elevator to go back to the slasher parking garage, another homeless guy who looks a little like Jesus, if Jesus had a lazy eye, won’t stop stairing! I hit the elevator button again and sideways glance over and he is STILL stairing! Which if you are going to kill me fine, stair away. But if not, it’s just considered rude! I finally make it to my car, pay the toll booth and head back to work.

After committing this story to words it is very apparent that I must have some serious fear of public places… or homeless dudes. Either way I don’t think I will be going back to the public library anytime soon. I’ll stick to the safety of my little coffee shops where I can see my car from the window thank-you-very-much. Obviously I am not cut out for life in a really big city. I’d be having anxiety attacks daily. I’m actually a little dissapointed in myself to be honest. I pride myself in being an independant bad ass chick. I don’t like seeing myself as the stupid girl who when running from the chainsaw guy trips and just starts screaming while he keeps coming towards her. I want to be the girl who laughs in his face at his weak weapon then drop kicks him to the floor while yelling “IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?” because that is what a bad ass chick should do.

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Back to School, Just me, Story Time

Summer

Emotions get the best of me, Just me, Lessons Learned

Last night I hit the gym, studied for my math test, revised my essay and watched the first 2 episodes of Heros (season one) with the boyfriend. I was a blogging slacker so I’m taking the easy way out and posting what I already posted on Facebook… although numbers 8 & 9 don’t really count.

23 Things about me.

1. I talk to my cat. I can’t leave the house in the morning without telling her goodbye and to be good.

2. I still bite my nails. It’s one of those nasty nervous habits that I have never been able to shake.

3. I ate Indian food for the first time in my life last Friday. It was amazing.

4. I started getting gray hair about 2 years ago.

5. I own my car. Paid it off last summer. I can’t tell you how much I love not having a car payment.

6. I was once told that I didn’t know how to be alone so I spent a year being single. Best unspoken challenge that I ever won.

7. I’ve never had a boyfriend with brown eyes.

8. I’m a blogger. My grandmother is my biggest fan/reader.

9. I recently created a blog category of “Posts grandma won’t approve of”

10. I hate seeing wrinkles. I spend way too much money on face potions and lotions.

11. At any given time I have 8-10 tubes of lip stick or lip gloss in my purse, mascara and powder. It’s slightly ridiculous.

12. I’m pretty sure my tech guys at work only tolerate my computer ignorance because I amuse them.

13. I have more condiments then actual food in my fridge.

14. I am never happier then when I am in the mountains; be it hiking, skiing, snowshoeing or camping, it is my happy place and gives me my sanity.

15. If I didn’t have to work I would donate all my time to charity and write a book.

16. I love being back in school. Over the Christmas break I missed it.

17. When I was a little girl I had a lisp and talked like tweety bird – one of those stories my Dad still loves to tell just to embarrass me.

18. I got divorced 3 1/2 years ago from my High School sweetheart. We are still friends to this day though.

19. I am very close with my family. I eat Sunday dinner with my parents at least 3 times a month.

20. I have beautiful-amazing-talented

Just me, Random

Summer

Back to School, Just me

I have been dealing with this for over 10 years. I’ve tried every type of treatment from pills to shots to surgery (twice) to finally my current treatment, a simple IUD. When I was younger, doctors used to tell me to hurry and have kids then get a hysterectomy – the only guaranteed cure. Advice that may have been true, but to an 18 year old, not exactly something I was prepared to hear. However, when I was 24 and married, I did attempt to get pregnant. A year later I was divorced. I suppose this information will help explain part of this post.

Right now I am just reflecting. I am not throwing myself a pity party, as I mentioned this is not new news to me. It just still hurts. I think it will always hurt a little. But we all have our challenges and this is mine. It’s not so bad. I’ve learned the process of mind of matter when it comes to pain management. Plus when that doesn’t work, a glass of wine and some Ibuprofen can do the trick. I have learned how to genuinely be happy for friends and family who become pregnant. I no longer begrudge them as I once did. As for the rest of the symptoms that are a bit too personal to discuss, I am tackling those too. I could have it so much worse. I just have to remind myself of that at times… like right now.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Just me