Update. . .

In my "Picky, Picky. . ." blog that I wrote just a short time ago, I told you of a nasty hair clump that I located in my trail mix. Sick, yes? Well. . . I've been meaning to update you on the outcome.

So after a couple of weeks of waiting for a response from Kar's Nuts, I finally sent an email saying "Hello! Hair in my trailmix! Where you at, fool?" Ok, so maybe it was more like "Um, I was wondering if maybe you might have some sort of update. . ." as my passive aggressive side reared it's ugly head yet again when confronted with a sticky (or hairy, as the case may be) situation. I got an email back saying "Your refund has been mailed."

I don't know about you but my reaction seemed fitting to the sitaution and that was for me to say "What!?" audibly in my cube and immediately hit "Reply" on said email. Second email: "I appreciate the refund of my 75 cents but the bigger question here is what was in the trailmix? I think I should know because I was about to eat it and did, in fact, sonsume some of what was in the contaninated bag. Tell me that and keep your money." Pretty good, yeah. So I waited. . . and waited. . . and finally got a response. . . in the mail.


It's a letter basincally saying "Woops. .. sorry about the hair. We'll do better next time. And here's some money to shut up about it."

What is that you see? $2 worth of ratty bills? I'm pretty sure their HR person took it out of his smelly wallet so he could close the issue and make me go away. Here's what I have to say to that:

"Dr. Mr HR at Kar's Nuts: You not telling me what was in the package automatically leads me to think it was nasty enough that you don't want to tell me. . . so you didn't. You weren't even creative enough to say it was fibers from some sort of bushel or something? Come on!

So, I'm going to tell the world of bloggers that it was nasty rat hair in my trailmix. A big clump of it. Thanks for the $2 that you gave me from your swear jar on your desk but I don't accept hush money. In fact, the bills are kind of gross and I don't want to touch them so they will be pinned to my wall in their original envelope as a reminder that I won, you lost. Love, Carlee."

The battle continues. . .

Tag. . .

Ok, Sar!! I take your tag and I run with it!! My sister-in-law tagged me and basically challenged me to fill this out so here I go. I'll be tagging some others at the end so don't you worry!
These are kind of hard but I think I can hack it. I may be a bit embarassed once this is through? We'll see.

8 Favorite TV Shows
1. The Office
2. Grey's Anatomy (nobody hearts McDreamy like I do. . since he was in Can't Buy Me Love)
3. Best Week Ever
4. The Today Show (except during election season, boo for Matt and Meredith)
5. Real World/Road Rules Challenges
6. The Hills (its like a train-wreck. . . I can't look away even though NOTHING ever happens)
7. The Family Guy
8. Any type of volleyball being broadcast

8 Things I did yesterday
1. Worked a really long day
2. VOTED
3. Visits with the Stake RS presidency
4. Carpooled (this is a nod to me saving the earth, not an excuse for you to call me lame because it's on the list!)
5. Swimming with my mom
6. Caught up on a little tivo action
7. Wrote my last blog
8. Nearly froze when I went to bed so I cursed the snow!

8 Things I look forward to
1. The election being over. (agreed 1,000 times over. . . without the endorsement)
2. A night with nothing to do!
3. Olivia's first Christmas. (also agreed! Sar put this one and I can't wait for that too!)
4. Mexico with the fam early next year
5. Mediterranean cruise in April!! (Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia. . . peeing my pants!)
6. Nights out with the girls
7. BYU and Utah volleyball game (Friday the 14th at 7:00 at the U if you're interested)
8. Finishing my project at work!

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Red Robin
2. Applebees
3. Paradise Bakery
4. Crown Burger
5. My mom's house
6. Sarah's House
7. PF Chang's
8. Cutler's

8 Things on my wish list
1. A paid-off house!
2. A finished basement.
3. People to share my house with (aka a husband and some kids :))
4. To be happy at my job MOST of the time.
5. To be healthier all-around.
6. A maid.
7. More time.
8. More patience.

Ok, now the fun part. . . I tag Steph and Linds, Alisa, Mandy and Rach. Good Luck!!

We're Missing the Point. . .

So in general I try to keep my blog very lighthearted and generally goofy and full of nonsense because honestly, that's where I feel most secure and I think generally as a blog reader, we have the most fun. Right? Good, glad we all agree!

Every now and again I feel brave enough to step out of my goofy comfort zone to make a statement and this may be one of the most uncomfortable blogs I have written in my life because I have no idea what kind of banter and Carlee hating this may erupt. BUT, I will say that if you walk away from this thinking less of me then you are missing the spirit of what I'm writing and I'd ask that you take a breath and read again. Can we all agree to that as well? Good. Please know that no part of this is meant to be mean spirited but is, for sure, meant to bring up a point. That preface complete, here we go. . .

So today is a HUGE day in our country's history. In what can only be considered one of the most important and most heated elections of all time, the country will decide what values are important and elect the man that they think can get the job done. I'm not here to plug either the conservative war vet or the extreme liberal because for a girl that finds herself wavering between the extremes, it's really a selection of the lesser of two evils.

What I would like to talk about is the second most heated debate for the election now and that is Proposition 8. For any of you living under a rock for the last many moons, it's the piece of legislation on the ballot in California that would change California's constitution to not allow gay marriage. Everyone from extreme political activists to those who are yet to have a political opinion have some sort of view on this. In fact, this very morning I sat in my cubicle and listened to a 30 minute conversation about how there are better uses for money than to push Proposition 8 and how people are intolerant and the like. Good for America that this is getting people to pay attention to legislation. Bad for many of us because in reality, I think we are missing the point.

The injustice in all of this is that the crux of this and many legislations like it has nothing to do with human rights. Now before you go all crazy on me, listen for a second. I grant that Proposition 8 in and of itself has everything to do with human rights but this is now how the debate over such oracles began. The bottom line to all of this debate has nothing to do with gay rights or straight rights or blue rights or purple rights; the main debate SHOULD be over who is allowed to make such decisions. The courts have ruled on more than one occasion that homosexuals have the right to be married and are entitled to all rights and privileges that a married couple enjoys. My question is is it the court's decision to make or should the legislature, the voice of the masses, be responsible for such a decision? That's the debate and that SHOULD be the issue.

As an LDS woman my personal views on the topic relate heavily to the conservative but that speaks nothing as to my love and appreciation for people who are living an alternative lifestyle. I may not agree with that lifestyle but I do love them just the same. Some of the brightest and most incredible people I know chose such a lifestyle in fact. But I do adamantly oppose the people that are preaching that anyone who is for Proposition 8 is some sort of bigot or hateful. I certainly have none of those feelings. But I do feel (as does the majority of this country, mind you) that it isn't up to the judicial branch, a court in any form, to make the decisions on the legality of such a union but it should, in fact, be left to the legislature to make these decisions as representatives of the masses.

It is really sad to me that the true issue behind all of this is masked by calling people haters and bigots. That's not the case and frankly, I think we're missing the point.

Halloween!

So I've talked for years about how crazy my work gets on Halloween and this year was absolutely NO exception. In fact, it could have been one of the best years yet. Here's a picture extravaganza to show you what I mean. We had group costumes coupled with cubicle decorations and some really cool stand-alone projects so I'll try and walk you through in the best order I can!



A yard blow-up toy in the office. . .

A fortune teller's cart. . .
Morbid??


A freak show circus. . .

Scooby Doo. . . and a mysterious smoke coming from the door?

And last but for sure not the least - the ode to Toy Story. . .

It was such a fun year and there is so much more. . . but this ought to serve to tell you how crazy this place gets! Happy Halloween all!!

You know what I love???

My niece. . .

Sweet Seattle. . .

So it's October. . . and it's a large testament to how fast the year went. What happened?? Good grief. I was thinking about how fast the year went and realized that I never blogged about my trip to Seattle in July. Although I did write a little poem for my girls a couple of blogs ago, I never documented the trip. I got some STELLAR pics and some good videos that must be shown so rather than talk my way through it, I'll show you! Ladies and gentlemen. . . welcome to Seattle!

Steph and I walked around the Space Needle while Linds had some errands to run. I made my best attempt at taking a "postcard shot" of the towering needle. How'd I do??

This is me in front of the Ducks building. That's right, the Ducks. What's a Seattle Duck you may be asking? Well let me just show you!

The ducks are a car/boat/booze cruise that takes you all around Seattle and eventually into the bay. The captain is weird but a decent tour guide, all things considered. The concept is a bit off-center but the view from the lake. . .

Pretty spectacular, eh? Man, the city is absolutely amazing!

Um, Grey's Anatomy anyone? We also saw the place where Derek is going to build his house with Meredith is Isaquah. (Is that right, Linds or Steph?)

Steph and Linds humored me and took me to the Farmer's Market. . . you know, where they throw fish? I didn't put the fish throwers on here but I did add a picture of a donut tosser below.

Looks a little crazy but he was a great donut tosser. . . and the donuts were pretty delish.

Fresh flowers like a girl couldn't even imagine!!! Lilies that just made my entire day!

My girls at the Farmers Market. That was by far one of my favorite things!

Both major league fields in Seattle are RIGHT next to each other.

Look familiar? Name that movie. . . the toll under the bridge!

Now we're talking!! Steph is learning to play the guitar and this was her rocker pose! I discovered some new musical favs after Seattle, one of which was the highlight of this livingroom concert - Jason Mraz.

And Linds' rocker pose! Don't hold back ladies, show me what you're workin' with!

I didn't have a guitar but I did try to go grunge. Hat from a the trendy outdoor grunge store, check. Aviator glasses, check. Seattle attitude, double check!

OK, to finish off this picture party, I thought about showing you the video of the crazy old lady dancing in the park (it's a goodie) but no, no, I needed a more appropriate tribute. So, in hopes of spring-boarding their Internet music career, I give you Steph and Linds singing one of my now favorite songs. Thanks again for a great trip ladies!

Picky, Picky. . .

"Hello Again!" (Good movie. . . any of you that have seen it realize Shelley Long's acting prowess in said movie and for those of you who haven't but do love shows like Cheers and movies like The Money Pit, check it out - she's just as zany!) SO it's been a few weeks but I have a valid excuse this time because things have been busier than ever! I just moved into a new house (Sidenote: blog and pics to come but I haven't been able to take pictures of said house yet because there are still boxes!!! I'll get there though, I swear. . . by the moon and the stars in the sky. . . I'll be there. . . I mean I swear I'll take pictures and post them!) so things have been crazy with packing and cleaning and closing, oh my!
Also, before I go any further I have to draw your attention to a new blog that's linked on What in the Heck was I Thinking? It's Dall and Sar's blog (my fam) and you can clearly see that I have what can only be thought of as the cutest niece ever. I'm only sending you away from my blog so you ca see her cute face. I hope she knows how much I love her by this simple act!! OK, go. . . go on. . . go look. . . but come back because I have so stuff to talk about!!
There. . . wasn't she so adorable? Just as a sidenote, she loves JT and tries drinking out of big kid cups (picture on the blog of that too!) and that makes me extra proud.
OK, so the name of this blog is "Picky, Picky. . " and I bet you are wondering why. If you aren't, go ahead and stop reading because I'm about to tell you:
There are a few things in life that are a "must" for me. First, I must have a clean bathroom. Hygiene is important, especially in the place where you are performing hygiene! I like a nice, hot shower and a toilet which is why I don't do well on things like Pioneer Trek where outhouses are a staple and you can shower if you wash your head under a cooler faucet! Second, don't ever mess with my bed so that it delays my sleeping. A person's bed is a sanctuary that should not be violated in even the most extreme circumstances. I love jokes but putting stuff in a person's bed that takes time to clean or dry or whatever is not a joke, it's uncalled for. So for those friends in close proximity that have some access to my bed on occasion that think it would "be funny to see what she does. . ." I'll stop you right now and tell you it's not funny. I won't laugh, I'll get angry. Unless you short-sheet my bed and that's kind of funny. (thanks mom and dad for teaching me such tricks!). Third, don't cost me unnecessary money or time. If I loose money or time (which really are the same because we all know. . . TIME IS MONEY!! Hahahaha, couldn't resist that cliche!) because you do something stupid, I will not be OK with that. I know that sounds uncommon but think about it. . . seriously. Happens all the time.
Anything beyond those three things are pretty much fair game because I think that common sense should rule and reign at that point. Sidenote: common sense should really rule and reign BEFORE the time and money thing but I'm throwing that out there as a freebie in-case your meter isn't working!
I guess my point is that I don't require much so when I get disappointed, I really get hosed. Some of the weirdest and most frustrating things happen and I wonder what kind of giggle fate is getting at my expense. Am I harder to please than most people? Maybe. . . but I don't think so. You tell me if these wouldn't "tweak your melon"! (Name that movie and I'll buy you an ice cream or something!)
One morning I was running late leaving the house (as usual) and I didn't have time to grab a granola bar. So, upon arriving at work completely famished (OK, maybe a bit of an exaggeration), I decided to make my way to the vending machine to purchase a Pop-Tart. I was setting myself up for the fact that it would be Strawberry because that's what always happens to me - the brown sugar one is one 75 cent purchase back but I can't bring myself to purchase two packs of Pop-Tarts so I have to settle for the front-of-the-vending-line strawberry. Well, to no surprise, "strawberry fields forever. . . ." no brown sugar in site. So, that morning, against better judgment, I took a stand against the vending machine hoaxes and decided not to purchase the tarts, not today. I was going to live dangerously and opted for trail mix instead. I was feeling pretty good about my decision as I made my way back to my desk. I cracked open my mix and took out an M&M and popped it in. Delish! Dually noting my satisfaction, I dumped a little of the trail mix into my hand, ready to partake. As I looked down to snag a raisin, I gasped in horror at what I saw. That's right folks, my trail mix must have come STRAIGHT off the trail because there was a big ol' hairball in my trail mix!
After nearly convulsing to death and swearing off vending machine trail mix forever, I composed myself enough to write a letter to the company to file a former complaint. That's right, I did! I was so disgusted and I let the company know that I had Gephardt on speed dial so they better return my email. Who finds a hairball in pre-packaged food???? Crimanetly (that's my new word lately, you like?)!!! So, I waited. . .
After about a week I got some canned crap email about "thank you for submitting your inquiry. . ." and just as I was getting fired up about getting a general response, I saw a personal note that went something like this: 'Carlee, Sorry about the hair in your trail mix. That's gross. Send it in and we'll look at it and see what happened. Oh, and we'll send you more trail mix. Love, The Trail Mix People".
WHAAAT!?! Not only was that pretty "whatevs" about the whole situation but MORE TRAIL MIX? I'm pretty sure the last compensation I want for puking up trail mix is more trail mix. PAAAllllleeeease!
I know you are probably thinking "Who would save hair-infested trail mix for a week to send back in?" That's right, I would! So, I packaged it up with a little note that said "Don't bother about the replacement. Probably won't eat it again. So gross. I'm telling everyone. Love, The Almost Hair Eater".
Time that it took to write the letters, package the stuff and mail it back in: 20 min. Cost of postage: $1.00. Cost of Trail Mix: 75 cents. Telling anyone who will read my blog about hair in vending machine trail mix: Priceless.
I just couldn't let it go! I know, shocker.

Boys II Men. . . Ba, Ba, Boys II Men!

That's right folks. . . in case the title of this blog left anything to the imagination. . . I may have made a rousing trip to Orem last night to meet my childhood, aka Boys II Men (I know that you are just like me and can't read the name of the band without muttering "ABC, BVD" right after. Admit it, you're a fan). Should I be ashamed of this little concert gem? Some might say so. I say a resounding NO WAY! In fact, the very people that made fun of me for going to this very concert, without fail, spent the 5 minutes post-harassment singing at LEAST three Boys II Men songs. Note to self: If you are going to make fun of me for my musical tastes, don't follow it up with quoting and/or singing the songs yourself because you know what that means??? That's what I thought. . . :)

I've added a little pic for you to see that the B2M (I need to abbreviate or my fingers might cramp up) haven't changed much. . . in fact, not at all. . . with one obvious difference: there is one boy/man/boy in the process of becoming a man, that is missing. Sad, eh? I think I heard scoliosis? He can't perform. I thought at first that they should just have him sit on a stool but the Temptations-like moves that I saw last night made me understand the performance debacle. So, 3 it is!

The concert was at the Scera Shell Amphitheater in Orem. That's right, Orem. So you can imagine the long-shorts, clean R&B music kind of fan base that they were able to draw. We were far enough back in the amphitheater that we were nearly on the downward sloping side of the hill that creates said amphitheater. And when I say nearly, I mean we were on the downward sloping side. Sidenote: I think it should be a commandment or something that airlines and concert venues shall not over-book seats. I get really angry that the amphitheater sold too many seats so that at least 100 people could barely even see the stage, if they could at all. Grass behind the side of the stage = not a seat. Grass on the back of a hill = not a seat. Room on a later flight = not a SEAT! Come on people, work with me.

Anyway, the concert was packed and "good times were had by all." B2M not only busted out some of my favorite older stuff but some classic Motown tunes. It was like I was literally back in the days of the hard-core, talented boy bands. They danced with their mics, handed out roses and basically did some sweet electric slide moves across the stage. I couldn't help but scream like a 4th grader at a Hannah Montana concert. . . not that I really know what that sounds like!

Best part of the night (other than the double take of Motownphilly)? My buddy Jordan got invited to the meet-and-greet (which, subsequently was held in someone's backyard? Not surprising seeing as how they got ready in a cheaply fashioned lean-to at the venue) and was able to score me two, not one but two, autographed photos of the band. That's right, they signed my pics. Maybe if you're nice and stop making fun of me for going to the concert, I'll let you see them!

How long has it been?

Ummm. . . probably 4 months or something completely insane like that. I was actually telling someone today how fun it was to blog and then I looked down and saw "Captain Hypocrite" on my shirt with a subtitle that said "it's been longer than you think". What in the heck was I thinking? Needless to say, I need to get back into the game so here we go.

Why not start with a little poetic ode?

Summer, oh summer. Where did you go?
Oy yeah, I was working, and boy did THAT blow.
It wasn't all bad news, I did have some fun. . .
I swam some and chilled some and burned in the sun.
I went to Seattle and saw my good buds.
They told me to blog more and called me a dud.
So this poem's for you, girls. I hope that you love it. . .
Lame poems have replaced every last ounce of my whit!

Seriously, good times in Seattle. I rode The Duck. That's right Seattle locals! I did it, and admit it. Cool city, highly recommended. I also did some concerts this summer (Martina, John Mayer, etc.), some river rafting in Jackson and stayed in a "cabin". Sidenote: I say it's a "cabin" because it's really more like a giant house that happens to be made out of logs that probably could really be on Cribs, as stated by a gent in my ward when he walked in. Really, the summer has been fab and I have no complaints really. . . other than I'm exhausted!

Anyway, here and now, making a semi-public declaration that I'm going to try harder. I enjoy this too much. I'm coming back. . . with a vengeance. . . ok, I hope!!

That's why God made Mexico. . .

Thanks to Tim McGraw for the blog title and for the inspiration (sort of) to write this blog. Ok, ok, so it's been months since I've entertained myself by doing what i love - aka, writing in this blog-o-sphere of mine.I feel like I can legitimately say that I've been super busy. I used to take my lunch at work and pound out a blog or two each week and over the last few months, that hasn't even been a possibility so my apologies to my reader - aka, my mom, for not keeping up. Haha. Ok, I really have been hounded by a couple people to get going on this and I've finally found the time; who knew I would have to leave the country in order to find it??!!??
The sad thing about not keeping up is that it's been a fun few months in the life of Carlee and not record to prove it. (If you can please take my lack of blogging as a sign that I'm enjoying my life, I'd really appreciate it!) Things have been good for me; work's busy, social life is good, I got a new niece a couple of weeks ago and I'm loosing my best work friend to Seattle, all of which are very blog-worthy topics and I have failed to write my feeling on said topics which makes me sad. Now comes the inspirational music and my fist of conviction raised high in the air with a goal to do better.
Right now I'm sitting on the patio/porch/lanai of our room at the Moon Palace in Cancun. I'm here with my parents for the yearly Hamblin family vaca. It's been such a stellar few days (other than the radical sunburn I mysteriously got only on the right side of my neck?) that I'm thinking of opening a taco cart and moving here. Oddly enough, I'm pretty sure there are more actual 'taco' carts in downtown Ogden than there are in all of Cancun. I haven't seen that many so I think I could make a thriving business here. Heck, even the Costco here sells pizza and hot dogs! A good slogan is really all I need. . . like 'It's actual meat, I swear' or 'We don't use our water' or something catchy like that. All of the Americans will love it and I'll be rich!! Mwahahaha. (that was my weak attempt at typing an evil laugh, you know, like Dr. Evil?)
Really, I say I could move simply because not having to work has been bliss. I didn't realize how taxing it had been lately and frankly, wore me out. Props to my team who are back crunching through month-end while I sit here but I promise, we're all better for it. So, if I had to get a job here (which I would because from what I can tell, there are no wealthy men living here so I couldn't find a sugar daddy to live off of), I may die because I don't know if you know this but Cancun is 5 million degrees. I know what you're thinking: 'Carlee. It can't be. it would be as hot as the sun.' Well surprise to you all, it is. We went to Tulum yesterday and I literally think if I would have caught all of the sweat that came off, we would have been measuring in gallons. I know, gross visual, but it's true. There is a reason that us fair-skinned folks live to the north. You know when people get SO sunburned that they start to look purple? Well I've seen some of those since we've been here and it isn't pretty.
Anyway, back to getting a job in Mexico. The only way I could run a taco cart would be if I didn't have to stand over a hot stove and it was an air conditioned cart. . . like maybe more like a Winnebago? And I could keep it running all day because down here, gas is $2.00 per gallon. That's right folks. How come we can figure out air conditioning and they figure out oil? Air is important but I think it's time to admit oil defeat and ask for some help from our neighbors to the south! They don't hate us, right? We could strike a deal. Like we'll air condition your country if you'll sell us cheap oil. Look at that, problems solved. Man, I should be president. And if I were, I wouldn't need a job in Mexico.