WHAT'S IN A NAME?....

....that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet....

My last car was named "REMINGTON," (Remmy for short), but when I bought my new car, I never could come up with the "right" name for my new ride. I knew it was a "him," and that "he" needed a very dignified, British or Royal sounding name. I considered several, but in the end, came up with nothin'.

I forgot about it and thought nothing more on the matter until a friend just got a new car and announced what she had named it. It was then that I realized that my car has now been nameless for 1 1/2 years........until today.
I have heard about parents leaving the hospital and have still not decided on a name for their new baby, but 1 1/2 years? Come on. That is ridiculous.
Okay, I realize that I might be the ridiculous one thinking that a car really needs a name. They don't, but single girls with no husband, bf, or kidlets apparently find other random things to preoccupy themselves with.
So it is now official. I have decided on EDMOND. After picking this name, I was pleasantly surprised to learn it's meaning.

Origin of the name Edmond: Derived from the Old English Eadmund (wealthy protection) ,a compound name composed of the elements ēad (prosperity, fortune, riches) and gar (a spear): hence, "spear of prosperity."

So there you have it. Was that really reaching for a some new blog post material, or what?

I WISH I WAS A LOSER....

....... the bigger, the better.
Over Thanksgiving, my family went on a few small hikes and it was sad that I was getting winded and my 60 year old father was running around scaling rocks like he was in high school. My dad is amazing! He still runs almost everyday. I don't know how he can get out of bed at 6 am to go and run in the freezing cold. Crazy man!
I love watching "The Biggest Loser" and am always amazed at how much those very overweight contestants can do. I have always said that if I were ever on that show (I am not quite there yet)I would pick Bob over Jillian to be my trainer because I think Jillian would make me cry. She does know how to get results though.
I just checked this DVD out at the library thinking that if I really like it I might buy it. I figure that I can handle Jillian on a DVD. If she makes me want to cry, I can just turn her off.
It has 3 - 20 minute workouts on it. Level 1-2-3 of circuit training (weights, cardio & abs). It claims you can "lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days. I would be thrilled to lose 10 or even 5 lbs. so I thought I would give it a try.
Last night was day #1. I know that I am out of shape, but how hard can 20 minutes be?? WOW was I surprised!! This workout kicked my butt!!! I usually don't start feeling sore for 48 hours, but I am already feeling it and am wondering how I am going to be able to do it again tonight. I do love that feeling though.

I think that most of the exercise videos work and will produce results, but the key is to do them and be consistent. This is my problem. They don't do any good just sitting on the shelf.

REBATES.....and all of the fine print

(This cartoon is kind of small (stretching it just made it blurry), but I thought it was hilarious).

Maybe you have noticed as well, but I think these rebate people are getting more and more sneaky.

For starters.....rebates are sneaky to begin with. Companies lure you into buying something with the notion that you are getting a fabulous deal because of the great rebate that is offered. It may very well be a great deal if you want to take the time to jump through all of the "rebate hoops" and actually send it in. But I bet there are MANY who forget them, lose them, or simply just never get around to filling out all of the forms and sending them in.

For years I have been buying my contacts from my doctor's office and there is always a rebate to send into to ACUVUE. I have never had any problems with their rebates and always recieve my rebate check very quickly. However, this year I did not receive a check. Apparently, the new rebate tactic is pre-paid VISA cards. I had heard that Verizon has started doing this, but this was the one that I had received.

I would definitely prefer to go to the bank and get my $100 cash, but regardless I will make sure I use the full $100 on my card. Heck, I can blow through that in one purchase. I think these companies are planning on people losing the cards before they have used all the money or forgetting they have them until after they expire (mine expires after a year). It also came with some limitations. You can't use them for cash advances at an ATM, your can't "pay-at-the-pump" at gas stations (the clerk has to run the card inside for gasoline purchases), etc.

If you have direct deposit and never go to the bank it maybe you would prefer this method, but I just think it is a way to be sneaky and try to prevent people from receiving their full rebates.

MY PERCEPTION OF THE PROVERBIAL "WAGON"

Tonight I was going through all of the pictures on my computer and burning them to CDs so that I can free up some space on my computer. After looking at hundreds of pictures of me in such a small time frame, I was disgusted with what I saw. This got me thinking about really focusing on and conquering this weight that I have been trying to get rid of for a long time now.
A while back I mentioned the website sparkpeople.com that I have been using for a couple of months. They have message boards where people can ask questions, post success stories, help motivate, etc. There have been a lot of posts lately of people "falling off the wagon" and wanting to get back on. This, along with tonight's pictures staring me in the face, got me thinking. The following is something I posted on sparkpeople.

Until recently, I thought of the proverbial "wagon," that everyone [myself included] keeps falling off of, as my worst enemy. While on the wagon I could not eat whatever I wanted, eat however much I wanted, be lazy, I had to exercise which I thought of as torture, etc. Why would I want to ride that? It just made me miserable. In fact, I often found myself standing so close to the side of "the wagon" just hoping there would be a little bump that would knock me off and help me to rationalize my fall. (It is my birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, I have been really good so I deserve this, or whatever. I will get back on and start being good tomorrow).

I have recently changed the way that I look at "the wagon." Now "on the wagon" is where I want to be. The wagon is not a bad thing. It is what will help me [and you] to feel better, become healthy, and more attractive. Who doesn't want that??? It is hard to reach your destination if you are not on "the wagon." Yes it will take work and it might be a slow ride at certain points along the road, but the results are 150% worth it. So I say to myself [and to everyone]... hop on that wagon, stay away from the edges (temptations), hang on and enjoy the ride. When those bumps come along, nothing will be able to knock you off.

If you do fall off just get back on. Ü

MORE MISSION MEMORIES.......

Today was my cousin's missionary farewell. She leaves on Wednesday for the MTC and then she will be off to San Diego/Mormom Battalion Visitor's Center. This along with the events from my previous post has caused me to look back on my mission and those 18 months of my life.

There are many things that I don't miss about those days, but I do miss feeling the spirit so strong 24 hours a day/7 days a week, having the time scheduled out to give my full attention to studying the gospel, and having a 100% focus on the gospel, etc.

Lindsay's talk was fabulous!! (I am always jealous of people that are such eloquent speakers/teachers). I have had LOTS of practice and even though they say it gets easier with practice, speaking in public/giving a lesson still makes me nervous and that makes me sooo mad! --not fair--

While I am on the topic of "not fair," . . . . . . . . I hate every picture I have of me on my mission. For starters....I don't think I am the most photogenic person, then add, hair does not cooperate with the humidity, shoes/clothes/everything grows mold in Brazil, my wardrobe was made up of the "frumpy missionary jumpers" with Doc Martins (the standard missionary uniform before the movement to change the "sister missionary" image). I bet all of her pictures will be fabulous! She also won't have to deal with any of the wonderful issues of a 3rd world country.

Don't get me wrong....I loved Brazil and know that I was called to that mission for a reason. I grew and learned so much from that experience and am really excited for Lindsay's adventure.

MISSION FRIENDS

One of the blessings that has come into my life because of my decision to serve a mission is the many friends that I made in the MTC and while in Brazil. Although I do not keep in touch with everyone, I love any chance I have to get together with anyone from the mission and reminisce about that time in my life.

A couple of weeks ago, 6 of us met for breakfast. It is great that even though we are all so different and are all at different places in our lives we get a long so well and have so much fun together.
I also just went to dinner at TUCANOS with one of my companions. At least once a year we meet for dinner at a Brazilian Churrasco to speak a little portuguese, eat our weight in food (have you been to one of these places?), reminisce about mission memories and catch up on the "goings-on" in each others lives.

As you can tell from these pictures, the last thing I should be doing is eating at a Brazilian Churrascaria, but it is only once a year, right?

Thanks "sisters." I love you all.

VIVA LAS VEGAS

I just returned home from 3 days in Vegas with a former roommate. The trip was organized by a few SLC singles (including Don Osmond, son of Donny) to attend the Donny & Marie show at the Flamingo in Vegas.
We arrived in Vegas on Friday afternoon after having stopped in St. George for lunch at the Pizza Factory and a little bit of shopping at the outlets. Upon arriving, we went and did some people watching on the strip. Among the many Elvis's we saw, we even ran into Michael Jackson. He asked us where were were from and when we told him Utah he asked if we were Mormon. He then showed us his CTR ring. Who knew that MJ was LDS??? He was a little bit creepy, I'm not going to lie. Did Michael actually wear bright red lipstick??










We finished up the night with dinner at the "In 'N Out" that was right across the street from our Hotel
We spent Saturday at our hotel reading and relaxing by the pool. Soaking up some much needed VITAMIN D.

Then it was time for the big show. I am not as big of a fan as my friend, but they did put on a very entertaining show. I don't know how Marie dances around like she does all night in those heels she was wearing. For being "older" those 2 can still move. Afterwards, our group had a picture taken with Donny & Marie. (I can post it when I get it).

Too bad we don't have a few more days to play at the pool. That job thing always seems to get in the way.

A VISIT TO THE TWIN CITIES

Last year my sister moved from SLC to Minneapolis for her husband to do a 2-year fellowship in Pediatric Dentistry.

My mom and I went back to spend a couple of days with them and to see the sites of the Twin Cities.

Although I wish the trip would have been longer, we had a great time. Here are some of the highlights....

The Riverwalk along the Mississippi River is only a couple of blocks from their apartment. ( I am looking "hot," I know!!)

We got our exercise in with a 3+ mile walk around one of the 10,000 lakes (Lake Calhoun). It was beautiful and right in the middle of the city.

I don't really know what it is or what it means, but apparently we had to see and have our picture taken by the giant spoon and cherry??

We went one of the last Twins games to be held at the Metrodome before their new field is completed. They were playing the Texas Rangers. Dinner was a "dome dog" (large hot dog with a bag of potato chips). Here is a picture of me with the catcher, Joe Mauer.

We went to the Minnesota State Fair where EVERYTHING was deep fried....anything you can imagine. We sampled many of the different food items, but my favorite were the fried cheese curds or the battered and deep fried Snickers bar.

Although I am NOT a shopper, what is a visit to Minneapolis without a stop at the MALL OF AMERICA?

Thanks Deb for showing us a good time!!

FREE STUFF

A while back I ran across a website, SPARKPEOPLE.COM. Not only does it have some great healthy recipes, exercise ideas, etc. but it allows you to track your weight, exercise as well as the the calories, etc. of everything you eat. It allows me to do pretty much what I had been paying to do with WeightWatchers, but SPARKPEOPLE is 100% FREE. I don't use it everyday, and I don't use all of the features, but I really like some of them.

I get emails from them everyday. Some I read and some I don't. A couple of weeks ago they were doing a give-away everyday for 2 weeks (heart rate monitor, cookbooks, exercise clothes,etc.). I entered everyday, not thinking that I would win anything, but I had nothing to lose, right? Well, they announced all of the winners on 8/28 and what do you know.....I was the winner of the GRAND PRIZE for the FITNESS Magazine giveaway. I just received my package in the mail today. Nothing too fantastic, but who doesn't like to win FREE stuff??
Along with a Free Subscription to FITNESS Magazine, I got a hat, umbrella, apron, notebook, massager, and cosmetic bag. (The other 2 fitness magazine winners just got the subscription).

**I am not trying to recruit people for this site, but feel free to check it out if you are interested.

BLIND AS A BAT

A follow up to my last post..............

Without contacts or glasses I am blind! I love contacts, but it is nice to get home at night and take them out....thus my need for glasses. Years ago there was a 2/$99 sale @ EyeMasters and my sister and I both got 1 pair (they let you use 2 Rx's).

Anyway, I decided it was probably about time to get some new glasses with my upgraded prescription, so at my yearly eye appt, I asked my Dr. for an Rx for glasses (their's are pretty pricey and I don't need anything real fancy to just wear around the house at night).

Well, once again a found of couple of places that had a special for 2 pairs/$99. This time I decided I would get 2 pair for myself. If I am going out of town and I am packing late at night, I am usually wearing my glasses, but want to take them with me and hope that I remember to pack them. I have also left them at my parents house a time or two. Therefore, if I have two pair I have one for my house and can leave one in my "travel bag."

The first place I stopped was the place referred to in my previous post. Not only was the girl an idiot, but she was not very helpful. Long story short. I know my Rx is bad and my lenses will be thick, but I don't really care and I have always just gotten the standard plastic lenses that are the least expensive. She didn't think that with my Rx plastic lenses would work and that I needed to upgrade. Anyway, the 2 pair of glasses in their cheapest frames (even with the 35% off) were going to cost me around $350. Ummmmm....I don't think so.

My next stop was EyeMasters were I learned it had not just been 2-3 years like I thought, but I was last in there in 2003! The salesgirl was wonderful! The 2/$99 sale included any frames that were $69.99 or less or you could just pay the $10-$20 dollars more or whatever the difference was in the cost of the frames. I looked around and found a while and found a couple frames that I thought worked, but then I didn't have Debra with me this time to give me her opinion. My saleslady came over to see how I was doing and helped me pick some good ones out and vetoed a couple. A couple of options she had picked out came of the "DESIGNER FRAMES CLEANANCE RACK - 2/$57". What a bargain! After she hunted down some other options that were overflow for that rack....we came up with 2 winners. A Steve Madden plastic frame and a Tommy Hilfiger wire frame. With the standard plastic frames I was getting 2 pair of designer frames & lenses for $57. Because I had planned on at least $100, I decided to upgrade lenses (and my Rx had gotten quite a bit stronger in 6 years), but I still got out the door with 2 pair of glasses (with the thin lenses) for $115....not bad, I say!

**Disclaimer: If you ask anyone that knows me well, they will tell you that I can't tell a short story. I guess I always want to make sure that I am not leaving out any important details?? For this I apologize, but understand that it probably won't ever change.

I AM NO MATHMETICIAN, BUT I AM A THINKER...

I published a post a while back that was similar, but another experience today makes be feel strongly that anyone applying for any retail job should have to pass a math test.

I was just at a optical shop looking to order some new glasses. The sales girl (very young) mentioned that because of my insurance I would get 35% off. She grabbed her calculator and told me that the lenses that are regularly $169 would be $59.15 with the 35% off. I might not have been able to do that calculation in my head in 30 seconds, but right off I knew that $59.15 was more that 1/2 of $169. I tried to explain to her that didn't seem right. I watched her plug some numbers back into the calculator...169*.35= $59.15. I then began to explain to her that her calculations were giving me 65% off. She looked really confused and wasn't getting it. She motioned for a co-worker to come over and I explained to him the question and he tells her that the $59.15 is the amount to be discounted, making the price $109.85....quite a bit more than the $60. To that she says, in a very blondish, ditzy tone... "Oh. I have been doing that wrong for a long time. You shouldn't have said anything." Even more crazy than that was when the co-worker just casually says, "oh, a simple mistake," and walks away.

***Are you kidding me***

Well, forgive me for being an honest person or people would continue to get a killer deal on glasses.

No wonder the economy is failing. It has nothing to do with the price of oil, or a stagnant housing market, but all of the business failures that are causing job losses, etc. should be blamed on employees that can't do simple math....EVEN WHEN USING A CALCULATOR. I would hate to know if this girl was giving people a 90% discount on a 10% off sale.

The problem with calulators is that they work really great if you know what and how to plug in your equation.

TODAY I LOST A GOOD FRIEND

A very good friend of mine died today. There was hardly a day that the two of us did not spend time together. This great friend loved me for who I was not for what I look like.....even if I was having a bad hair day. (Actually, on those bad hair days, I think he was partly to blame.

Okay.....so it was just my hair dryer, but still. This thing was a goer!

I could be wrong, but i think I purchased him (yes, it's a "him." ) just after my mission which was.....well, let's just say, OVER 10 years ago. One reason that I bought this particular hair dryer was a fancy little sensor that you could turn on or off (and it was RED). If you slid the lever down exposing the sensor the dryer would only work if your hand was over it......thus allowing one to dry a small section of hair, set down the dryer on the counter and it would stop without turning it on and off, then when you got the next piece of hair ready and picked it back up and your hand was covering the sensor it would start again.

I didn't always use the sensor and there were several day where I didn't notice that I have moved the switch and my hair dryer would just quit. I kept thinking.....this is it.....I have had this hair dryer forever. It was bound to happen. Then I would notice it was just the switch.

Well, it died for real this morning. Luckily I had a back up. I have a bag full of everything I need to get ready (with the exception of my make-up, because that can get old) that I use when I go out of town. That way I don't ever have to wait until my hair is done, etc. to finish packing my bathroom bag and worry about forgetting something that could be very important in my "getting ready" process.

I will be off this weekend to shop for a replacement.

**Does a posting about a dead hair dryer give you a even a tiny glimpse of how incredibly exciting my life really is? (sarcasm intended, in case you didn't catch that).

PULLING A "KIRSTIE ALLEY"

Okay, so for anyone who cares or has been watching (Debra)...For two Saturdays I was out of town and did not weigh myself, hence....no posting of gains or losses. Then this past Saturday, I came out exactly the same as I was 3 weeks earlier. I suppose this isn't bad, but it isn't good either considering I am on a quest to shed some pounds.
So this last weekend I was reading a PEOPLE magazine that had an article in it about Kirstie Alley*. The article talked about how much weight she has lost as the spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, but that now she has gained it all back plus some and she is determined to lose it all again.
I often feel like this is what I do.....I do really good on eating well and exercising and get rid of some of my weight, only to slack off a bit and and gain it all back and some.
After reading this article AND seeing some of the pictures of me from our recent family vacation (where I look like a potential candidate for The Biggest Loser) I really NEED to stick to it this time. So once again....I am re-dedicating myself to this goal.
*No disrespect to Kirstie Alley was meant by this post. (It could have been Oprah, or any of the millions of people who struggle with this). She just happened to be the topic of the article I read. In fact, she is part of my motivation. If that lady can gain 85 lbs. and then take it off, why can't I lose 1/2 that amount. Also...how horrible would it be to have your weight loss challenges documented & advertised nationwide (including pictures)!

HOME ON THE RANGE

I spent last week in Island Park/Yellowstone with the WHOLE family. It isn't very often that we are ALL together. There are 15 of us and my dad rented a 15 passenger van so that once we all arrived there we could all travel around together.

My sister Laura and her family (The Albrechts) flew in from Oklahoma on Saturday. Debra and I met them and my parents at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple to attend the Open House.

Then Sunday morning my parents and the Abrechts picked me up in the "poligy-van" and we stopped at temple square where we wandered around and toured the Conference Center including the gardens on the roof. Although I have been to the Conference Center many times, I didn't know there was so many neat things there that I had not seen before.

My favorites were The Book of Mormon picture room that houses the original paintings by Arnold Friberg that are in the paper version of The Book of Mormon and the HUGE picture of Joseph interpreting the dream of the Butler & the Baker that was once owned by Napoleon Bonaparte.

From there we headed North to Idaho Falls where we had dinner at Angela's (The Maddocks) house and then continued onto our final destination.

We rented a cabin out on Bill's Island in Island Park. We especially enjoyed the hot tub & the fire pit.

Here are some of the highlights.....

The Wildlife

Old Faithful & All the Hot Pots

Rafting Down "Big Springs"

The Cutest Kids in the World

And last, but certainly not least.........Mom was happy because she got her FAMILY PICTURE!

THE GOOD WITH THE BAD

Last week I was out of town for the 4th of July and totally spaced weighing in, but this week I am up 0.7 lbs.
As much as I love to post losses, it was inevitable that there would be some gains. I have to post them too and recommit to do better this week.

I WANT A BABY!!

My BFF from high school blessed her baby today. I hadn't yet met cute little KATE. She is adorable and such a good baby. After the luncheon it was my turn to hold her. Most everyone had gone home by then I had her all to myself for a long time.

I think I need one of those! HOWEVER ...... I have heard that the preferred method is to find the husband first, so I guess I need to work on the "Two little lovers sittin' in the tree....K-I-S-S-I-N-G" part before we get to the "baby in the baby carriage" step.

FUTEBOL (AKA SOCCER)

Saturday Night I attended my first REAL soccer game. My cousin has season tickets and along with his wife he invited me and his sister to join them. We had a great time.
It didn't hurt that the weather was PERFECT and they won 3-0!
The half-time entertainment was great complete with drill team action and the practicing of some fancy foot action by the players AND one of the ball boys.

We even had a player go down that was taken off the field via stretcher. He was back up and walking around so I think he will be fine, in case you were worried.

Then there was the crazy fan that was sitting right in front of me. (I am sure that everyone has been to some sporting event with a crazy, ultra-loyal fan that really gets into the game. He came complete with "THE BELL" that he would ring for about 5 minutes with each of the 3 goals that RSL scored. Let's just say it was LOUD!

Speaking of soccer.......congrats to Brazil on beating USA in the FIFA Confederations Cup. If we didn't win it, my next pick would have been Brazil. While on my mission in Brazil, where they are very passionate about the game, I was given many soccer lessons. I even was forced to pick a team and was often asked who "my team" was. My team was the Sao Paulo Futebol Club only because they played at the Morumbi Stadium that was right by our mission president's apartment.

After last nights game, I apparently still have a lot to learn about soccer, but I had a great time!

Thanks guys for inviting me to tag along!