The Pitfalls of Returning. . .

So I got back from vacation almost a week ago and man, what an adjustment. I didn't really realize until I'd been working several days that I literally spent my vacation in a vegetative state. . . literally. I read, I slept, I wrote a really long and arduously read blog late one night (sorry about that) and I played with my niece. That sums up the entire week.

Now that I've been a week back in my real life, I've thought of all of the pitfalls of coming home from a vacation like the one I took last week. They are as follows:

• Work. I know, you are shocked that this is first on my list. But work in Mexico consisted of walking up two flights of stairs on my way back from the pool or figuring out that daunting Sudoku puzzle that just didn't seem to come out right. That was all the work that I did for an entire week. Now, there is typing and emails and spreadsheets and oh, I'm exhausted even talking about it. I think I need to lay down.

• Speaking of. . . naps. I basically slept everywhere on vacation: in the chair by the pool, in my bed, on the boat, at the dinner table. . . really, wherever I was tired. Now, I can't seem to fall asleep anywhere - even in my own 'I can't get enough of how soft this is' bed in my own 'it is so nice to have carpet on the floor' house. I tried sneaking into the mother's lounge at work to nap for a minute during lunch. You need a key. I want to sleep bad enough that I'm thinking about a minor criminal offense (stealing said key) just to sleep. Sad? Yeah, I thought so too!

• Did you know that it's easier to work out on the elliptical if it is overlooking a golf course and a lake through a large picture window? Well, it is. Now when I run I just look at the female body builder right in front of me that has a really awkward posture when she runs. It's not the same. There is a lake. . . of sweat.

• I keep waiting for a bar maid to pass my cubicle and ask me what I'll have to drink. It hasn't happened. And when I asked the secretary to get me a pina colada, she said some things that were NOT very nice. Come on people. Where is the service? I was at the pool for an hour and was asked at least three times what I wanted. I've been at work for 5 days and no such thing has happened. What a crock.

• It's not acceptable to go anywhere in your swimming suit. In Mexico, that was completely appropriate attire for any occasion. Apparently it's not part of the "dress code" in the office. Whatever that means.

• Every day in Mexico, I had some form of hot breakfast - french toast, eggs, muffins, bacon, you name it. There were all sorts of good ways to start off your day. Every morning since I've been home I've gone to my kitchen and nada. No person saying "What can I make you?" followed quickly by "It's a pleasure." I'm making my own dang breakfast again. Ladies and Gents, I'd like to introduce you to my Quaker friend. He makes oatmeal. Oh wait, I mean I make oatmeal.

I'm not bitter. . . just sad that it's over. So if anyone is heading out any time soon, let me know. I'd love an invitation. . . and a pina colada.

Overcoming Weird Personal Boundaries

So generally, I would consider myself a "go-getter". . . for the most part. . . ish. Ok, in some things. Man, is this getting vague or what? My point is that on a general basis, I feel like I don't have a lot of boundaries that I haven't conquered (or at least attacked with some decent force) in my life. I feel pretty comfortable with the things that I've done.

What am I getting at? Sidenote: not once have I ever gotten to a point this fast in my writing so why in the WORLD are you expecting me to now? Let me tell you about some of the personal battles that I feel like I've conquered in my life (no laughing now, this is some serious business and in some courts of law considered highly personal :) ):

Carlee vs the Swing set: my brother used to try and get me to lay down under the swing with my arms by my sides and see how close he could get to my face while swinging without actually kicking me. The trick was that if I covered my eyes (as was a natural reaction), I would, inevitably, be kicked. It took a LOT of trust but I finally did it. He passed right over me (the first time) and I was proud.

Carlee vs the Trailer Park Bully: I punched a kid. Knocked him on his rear. But it was for a good cause. He was picking on a smaller, weaker kid. And when he pushed me, I punched him and he cried. . . a lot. I felt bad. But it was the first time in my life when I had to make a choice about what I valued - walk away and let it be (nothing happens to me) or stand up for what I thought was right and risk getting in trouble. I was proud, still am. Maybe I should have called this 'Carlee vs the Moral Dilemma'?

Carlee vs Death: ok, clearly this wasn't a direct fight. No, you didn't miss something. I knew what death meant and how it emotionally effected me at an early age. I had three grandparents die over the course of one year when I was about 10. I've lost close friends in accidents, grandparents after long battles and several pets. I'm no stranger to it and I feel like after all of the practice with it, I understand it and can finally say that I have peace with the process and all that it means.

I could continue (you all know THAT for sure!) but I won't. My point is that in 26 years, I figured that I had run into a lot of the boundaries in my life - physical, spiritual, emotional and mental - that I really had to overcome. I was wrong.

Today I uncovered a pretty strong boundary that I don't even know I was aware of until it was right in my face. It all started at the spa. . .

I've gotten my fare share of pedis and manis and even had a facial last time I was in Mexico so I'm no stranger to the robe and the weird scents and the sheets and such at the spa. It's rather soothing. Today was my first go-round with hydrotherapy (you go from hot to cold to hot to cold, all in some form of water) and I loved it. Today was also my first go round with a full back massage. Enter the issue.

Did you know that in a spa, when they massage your back, they consider your "back" as the area that runs from the bottom of your skull to the bottom of your tailbone and everything in between? (I bet you didn't see this coming, did ya? you thought this was going to be a serious blog!) Well, I didn't know that. So you can imagine my surprise when little Teresa from Mexico pulled the sheet down WAY lower than I thought should would to go to town on my back. Sidenote: I am openly admitting that a 5'2", 110 pound woman completely kicked my trash today. Completely. I feel like I got in a fistfight and lost. Trailer park bully, you have your revenge!!

Anyway, when this happened, I had to keep from audibly saying "Um, do I know you? WHAT are you doing!?" Right then and there, all of my self-image issues rose right into my throat and I realized how uncomfortable I am not being clothed. The severity of this may have some religious ties. . . or it may stem from all of the books I've been reading about Afghanistan and women in burquas. . . but either way, it was a serious, in-your-face phobia! One that in my 26 years I am yet to encounter??? RANDOM!

So, as I laid there and Teresa started rubbing me down ( I know, awkward visual. . . and I'm sorry but that's how I felt, that phrase explains exactly how I felt!), I was completely uncomfortable and tense which completely defeats the purpose of the massage, right? I decided to have a little talk with myself about overcoming my phobia in record time and how being uncomfortable would get me nothing but a painful back rub and wasted spa time provided by my loving parents. What's a girl to do? I'm here, I'm on the bed, I'm not clothed, this lady could CLEARLY beat me up, where do we go from here?

I decided to take control of the situation and do it fast so I wasn't wasting any one's time. I adopted my new favorite saying which is "Carlee, it's only awkward if you let it be." (You can use it too but it won't be as effective if you use my name so you may want to insert your own there.) Guess what? It worked! Granted, it took a few minutes to really settle down but it happened and I made it through! Was it the best thing I've ever done? No. But now I know that next time it could be and that's where the win comes in.

So this overly exerted blog is to issue a challenge: do something that makes you uncomfortable and stretches you just a little bit. You may surprise yourself. I know there are plenty of "Tony Robbins" types out there telling you to do the same and maybe I'm harnessing my inner Tony but I'm telling you that a shock to the system is exactly what I needed to get back on the right path. Even if you "fail" (aka, the outcome isn't exactly what you thought or wanted) or it takes longer than anticipated (like me and my 5 minute freakout today), it's a good thing. Thanks Martha. Oh, and then report back. I want to know what you did (and I need ideas and challenges) and I'll keep you posted on my "brave" moments moving forward.

It's all about Mexico. . . or Olivia.

Hola and Buenos Tardes from beautiful Playa del Carmen. Right now, I am sitting on the balcony of our room and listening to the waves crash against the wall down below. Wanna see? Here you go:




I literally took that two minutes ago so you can see what I'm seeing! Don't you feel like you're right in the action? Ok, maybe my photography isn't THAT good but I tried. Can you see the parasailing going on above the second palm tree from the left? You can't tell but the parachute is a giant yellow smiley face. I guess they think the smiley face is less intrusive to the sharks below? Hahaha. . . just kidding. . . sort of.

Well, so far, the trip has been a-to the-mazing. I've done exactly what I wanted to do which is sleep and sun. . . and sleep in the sun. . . and get in the pool. . . and sleep some more. I don't think that I realized how tired I've gotten lately until I got here and have basically slept for three days. Don't worry though, I have had the energy to get dressed and walk down to the pool before I nap so I'm getting a really sweet sunburn while I'm here! Oh, and I'm doing some great reading between naps - A Thousand Splendid Suns. Love it. For those of you that are aware of the New Year's Resolution, this will be book number 5.


The trip has been so relaxing and a perfect time with my family. They are a blast to vaca with. It's Olivia's first time out of the country and the people of Mexico LOVE her. She's a little flirt and I'd expect nothing less. I got the surprise of my life on day one when I opened our hotel door and she came walkin in like she owned the place. . . that's right, my baby girl has joined the ranks of the walkers! I'm so proud.


Needless to say, we've had a blast having her here. Here are some pics of her adventure so far:

She has pretty much spent most of her time on the cold floor. I don't blame her. . . it's hot here!
I got a flower from the front desk on our arrival. . . she made quick work of that.

This is exactly why I love her. . . this face. . . she's the happiest girl EVER!

Olivia quickly discovered that she is a pool efficianado! She is basically a Phelps in training.

And yes, she attracts some great audiences. . . great, great audiences. :)

Anyway, I figure there are enough pics of the baby to keep the fam happy for a while. I haven't taken too many pics of anything but the view from our room so I'll drop another one in here of what it looks like at sunset:

We've been out shopping and really, literally at the pool 90% of our vacation thus far which means all of my expectations have been met. Nothing too crazy (which is odd for me as anyone who knows me can attest that I am the queen of weird things happening) but that's to be expected when you're sleeping all day. I am having some funny dreams though. . . :) Oh, one weird thing did happen:

I got kissed on the cheek by a drunk, too-old-for-my-mom, Mexican salesman last night so that was an adventure. He was trying to sell my dad some Cuban cigars and trying to sell my mom on the fact that he was going to be the newest member of our family. Note to the audience at large: if you plan on calling my mom "mother-in-law", there are a couple of things you should know: First, you may want to check with me first because there is only one way left into this family and I kind of need to have a say. We're not in the business of arranged marriages (although sometimes I think that might not be a bad idea. Can you see me selling hair braiding and booze in Mexico for a living?) so please include me first. Sidenote: this doesn't mean that I'm picky or really that I'd even refuse the offer under most circumstances, it's just a sign of courtesy for heaven's sake! Let a girl feel like she's important. Second, make sure that you don't have hard tequila/cigar breath when you call my mom "mother-in-law" for the first time. Third, don't hit on me while simulateously trying to sell me a "Foach" purse. That's just a major disadvantage to you because I WILL be distracted by the purse and it will probably win every time. And by "probabaly" win, I mean it WILL win. Final take-home tally? Purse: one. Men: zero. Wah, waaaahhh!

With that, I must bid you adios! More adventures to come. . . I hope. I'll try and do something besides lay by the pool before the next update!

Click, click, click. . .

Dear Toilet Texter,
I can hear you. There are only two stalls in this mini bathroom so the only two options of me not hearing you (more toilets that can flush to cover up the clicking sound of your keyboard or far enough distance between the toilets that I can't hear you) are dead. I hear you in the next stall over, typing away like texting in public is a sin and you don't want to be caught doing it in the hallway so you'll just have at it during your lunch bathroom break. It's audible. . . and echoes ever so faintly in this tin can.

Two things I wish:

First, that whatever you were texting was really, really important because not only did I hear you but so did the other three people waiting in line to use your stall. (They looked like they had to go, by the way and you really held them up).

Second, that no matter my own telephone circumstances or eventual cell phone demise, I never inherit your blackberry. Gross.

Oh, and PS, if you are texting people in the bathroom and they are responding, don't put your vibrating phone on top of the tp holder. If you are trying to inconspicuous, you really just blew it.

Thanks,
Carlee

Um. . . Funny. . . but maybe only to me??

So I went on a trip yesterday to visit one of our clients in sunny So. Cal (sidenote: oh my gosh was it warm! Like 80 degrees and I didn't need a coat and I was in HEAVEN! As opposed to right now, I'm sitting at my desk with my coat on, wishing I had a space heater, and hoping that my fingers don't fall off as I press the keyboard!). It was a good day and we were very productive and yadda, yadda. It was good.

My work trip is not the point of this blog because if it were, you would all stop reading. The point was to tell you that I was in the airport yesterday. . . early. Not too early but right at that point where everyone else was in the airport so it was mass chaos and people were everywhere! Let me outline a couple of things that were happening in the SLC airport on Tuesday this week:

Military transfer day. Yeah, a bunch of Marines (sidenote: God bless each of you) were being sent off to do field training and such. I sat next to one on my flight that was on his was to Camp Pendleton to do training. . . and behind one. . . and diagonal. . . you get my point. There were lots of them. We had maybe 15 on our flight ALONE and the plane held like 50 people so that was a pretty good ratio! Anyway, there were about 200 of these strapping soldiers in the airport yesterday - what a site.

Missionary Drop off Day. For anyone who has been to the Salt Lake airport on a Tuesday, you know that it is the LDS Missionary day where they all triumphantly leave the MTC and venture to their assignments near and far. There are always a ton of them and they look so nervous and sweet and kind of act like they have never been to the airport before BECAUSE they are so nervous and sweet. It kind of inhibits the rest of us from getting through the line quickly. BUT, they are good kids and again, selfless act of service. Good work!

Sundance. So even though the crowds aren't near what they have been in the past (thanks Mr President for the largest inauguration/coronation in the history of the world), there are still a LOT of people that are here for Sundance. Not just A to D list celebs (which are fab, by the way. . . mainly the D list ones. . . go Kathy Griffin!) but also the average Jo's that fall into one of two categories: 1. They are from California and want to be "part of that" and come out here to hob nob and ski with the celebs and locals and prove how cool and how "California" they are (sidenote: most of these people do make more in a year than I will see over the course of my life so I can't really badmouth them when I want to be one! :) ) or 2. Smaller town folks who do love to ski but are really coming hear to catch a glimpse of the aforementioned celebs in their natural habitat, like they are the freaking Crocodile Hunter (sidenote: these are the same people that buy the maps to the star's homes in California, hoping to see them taking out their trash and then they happen to be invited in for a deep conversation about their last movie and then shopping and lunch on Rodeo. "It's very Pretty Woman. . . except that whole hooker thing." I can't really make fun of them either because I AM one.)

Wow - what a rant! Anyway, it is this last group of airport carnivores that I wish to address because it's the subject for my excitement! The Sundancers. So I mentioned that I love D-list celebs, yes? Well I do. They are the ones that you are either sure you've heard the name before but can't put a face on it, have NEVER heard the name before but you know them once you've seen them or finally, my favorite group, those who are known for something really ridiculous.

Examples: Last time I went to Sundance, I held the door for Andrew Keegan at a pizza place on Main Street. Who? That's what everyone says. But follow the link and you'll see that not only is he hot but you recognize him. Name? Nope. No idea. Face? Yup, how could you forget that? That would qualify him as a type 2 D-lister.

So now that I've given you a novel of a background. . . I had my second D-lister run-in at the airport yesterday and it was SO fab. As I walked through the lobby, trying to squirm my way through the missionaries, I looked to my left and saw a familiar face (sidenote: unless at this very moment you agree not to judge me, you can't continue reading because this is putting me in a very awkward place by admitting that I know who this person is because he is famous for a very weird thing that I in no way, shape or form have ever seen first hand but I DO watch TMZ on occasion and I pay attention, ok? Gosh. Don't judge.). Who was it? Ron Jeremy (I am not linking you to his profile because I can only imagine and frankly, I don't want to imagine so if you want to see him, look him up yourself). SO GROSS! He's basically a 70s/80s porn star who is super gross and super unattractive which leads me to wonder how he got into the industry but that's what he's known for which really, qualifies him for a type three D-lister but for a lot of people, he could be any of the other categories as well. He looked JUST like he does when he does interviews on television (see how careful I was when I worded that? :) Seriously, don't judge.) which is old and gross and frankly, a little bit evil. Can you hear me talking really excitedly and fast? I was - hence the run-on sentences! Sorry.

So there I was, surrounded my new missionaries, recognizing an old man who is known for being gross and a porn star and I didn't know what to do! Do I ask him for his autograph and give it to someone as a really funny but inappropriate joke or do I go tell the missionaries that there is a man by the wall that needs a serious talking to? I stood for for literally 2 minutes debating and then realized how ridiculous this quandary was and went through security. As I sat and waited to board the plane, I laughed to myself about my little debacle and how flustered I got. Man that was funny, but maybe only to me.

Snack on This. . .

Hello again! yeah, yeah, it's been a while. I know. Apologies to the two people that read my blog. . .hi mom.

So for the last six weeks (that's right six) I have been getting up early to go to the gym. By early I mean before 6:00 which, for ALL intents and purposes, is "early" and even misses "really early" by only about an hour. I'm pretty proud of my stick-to-it-ivness on this go-round of working out. . . especially in the morning. I think it's almost made me sort of a morning person. . . ish.

What I don't love is the results of this whole thing. I've been eating better (with the exception of my treat frenzy in Seattle last weekend! But it was worth every calorie) and working up a massive sweat everyday and guess what? I look the same. Six weeks - you've got to be kidding me!

So, in honor of my six weeks mark of being healthier and not seeing much difference, I've decided to share with the world (or my two readers) the things I notice about this process. I kind of consider myself an expert since I've been on some form of diet my entire life. Commentary is welcome so bring it on!

"Things" about Getting Healthy

1. I can now efficiently go 30+ minutes on the elliptical trainer without feeling like I will die a certain death when I get off. I might look like I'm going to die with my Hamblin red face syndrome (it almost does look purple some mornings) but I feel fine. So, I can breathe better after intense cardio but WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE SIZE OF MY PANTS? Nothing. So I don't care. And telling me that it shows that I'm getting healthier doesn't help. I want to shrink.

2. Diet food sucks. . . even when it's regular food. I eat chicken all the time, on or off a diet. But when I'm on a diet, it's extra dry and lacks flavor even if I cooked it the same as normal. My mind plays the dirtiest tricks to get me to cheat! On the flip side, chocolate has never smelled or looked so tasty.

3. I get the hiccups when I eat white rice??? What kind of weirdness? And I've been eating it every day with the previously mentioned dry chicken for lunch so I'm hiccupping for a solid 30 minutes per day for a while now. Does hiccupping burn calories? I hope so because by the time I'm done, I feel more exhausted than when I go 30 minutes on the elliptical.

4. What is with the girl at the gym that wants to look like a man? It's scary and frankly, a little weird and gross. And she has a squirly husband that she probably can bench press. She should never run in front of me at the gym because I giggle at her wide, man I have a stick up my bum, stance and I'm afraid one day she'll hit me and it will all be over.

5. I am hungry all the time. All the time. Like I can't stop being hungry whether I eat carrots or a chunk of meat. Always hungry. The awkward part of that is that people probably always see me eating and then they think "Um, she should go to the gym and not eat so much. . ."!!! See! How do I win? I'm trying people! Gosh.

Ok, I have to go to a meeting now so I have to stop this thought process but there you have it. I'm I completely thinking wrong? Have the Dieting Devil grabbed hold and made me bitter? I think I'm just in a slump. . . that better not last another 6 weeks or I swear. . . :)

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.

Who I am. . .

Hey folks! It's maybe been a little longer since my last blog than it should have been - heaven knows I've had plenty o' time over the holiday to write down some thoughts and/or inspirations that have struck me since my last rant about Christmas music. . . but I just haven't. The holiday has been relatively quiet and there hasn't been a whole ton to write about so I've kept my peace - except that I CAN now tell you that I got a new waffle maker for Christmas and that makes me pretty excited!!!

Even though the holiday has been relatively calm, these last couple months have been doosies for me. Since October, I've been through the gauntlet and, at times, have been left feeling like the gauntlet did in fact, win. It's been a total experiment in faith for me and trials of (what I consider to be) epoch proportions. . . ok, nothing THAT dramatic. But it's been a tough go at it for me - big decisions, large changes, all the goodies. I think I can safely say that I've come out the other end of this mess smelling a little more like roses than I went into it - one can only hope anyway or what's the point!?!

Anyway - on to the point. The one thing that really made a difference over the last couple of months for me was taking the time to figure out who I am and what it is that I really, really want in life. Yes, a sports car would be nice but it's not (as I figured out) necessarily at the top of my list. I think that the only true way to make the most correct decisions for yourself is to know what it is that makes you tick. So that's what I've done.

In similar fashion to so many bloggers before me, I've made a random list of some random things about me - things that are really important and some things that well, may not seem to be to the untrained eye (how silly is that) but do show a little bit about who I am. Hold on to your seats - it's going to be a bumpy and potentially awkward ride!

1. I live in a ridiculously small house. It's drafty. It's old. But it's mine and I love it. It's one of the biggest things I've ever done and I'm proud that I bought it.
2. I love to write and hope that one day, I have enough to say about something that I can publish a book.
3. I don't like the winter and the thought of scraping ice off my windows makes me sad.
4. My parents are proud of everything that I do and that helps me make good decisions.
5. I don't like hot cinnamon. At all. It makes my mouth burn and why would someone do that to themselves?
6. I sing and dance (limited, of course) in my car. If a song is THAT good, I just can't help myself.
7. I hate driving home from work.
8. I know that prayer works. I love when I can have less faith in that because I KNOW that it's real.
9. I love my family more than anything and they make that pretty easy to do.
10. My favorite color is red.
11. I like to work. I may complain about it (a lot) but it makes me feel fulfilled.
12. I am a total hugger. It's genetic (thanks mom) so I can't help it. I hug everyone - a lot. And, just so you are aware, there is such a thing as a bad hugger.
13. I have the funniest friends on the planet, no contest. They would out-whit anyone. We can have a contest.
14. In reference to the point above, I'm mildly competitive. . . haha. But nobody makes me more competitive than my brother which is weird because nobody supports my victories more than him either!
15. I am a total daddy's girl. He'll do anything for me but I try not to abuse that fact. . . too often.
16. I don't do fantasy very well. . . . maybe because I think reality is exciting enough??
17. I'm a sucker for flowers. I hate that I'm a sucker for anything. But I am a sucker for that.
18. I was THAT kid in high school - the one who did the group projects and the extra credit. Again, the competitive drive rears its ugly head! Most of that continued over into college.
19. I grew up playing sports - soccer, basketball, softball, karate. I grew up changing uniforms in the back of the car. I'd like to think that I'm ok at all of them, but a superstar at none. My love for sports continues into the now!
20. I love to laugh more than anything on the planet. It makes me feel so great.
21. I have loved a lot of people in my life but I don't think I've even been "in love" per se.
22. I play the piano - poorly - and I wish that I was better at it.
23. My mom loves me more than anyone. She always says that and after all of these years, I think she's right.
24. I like my hair and I hope I never loose it!
25. I'm stronger than I think and I really believe that most people are.
26. The biggest misconception of me is that I'm intimidating and completely independent. While I am pretty independent in some ways, I love being taken care of. It feels great.
27. I'm a total worrier. I worry about a lot of unnecessary things. Again, I think it's genetic? haha.
28. I am a Broadway junkie. I love musicals most.
29. I have been a radio DJ and done play-by-play sports broadcasting on the air. I loved it.
30. I like to read - mostly church books which may be nerdy but I don't really care. It's what I do.
31. I have a great life - one that most people would classify as "easy". While they are probably right, I've worked hard to make it that way.
32. I believe that people make their own "luck".
33. I've had to fire someone before and it was one of the hardest things I've done.
34. I don't believe in quitting at anything. . . except smoking and everyone should do that!!! :)
35. There are people in life that can understand you 100% of the time. I've met only a couple.

Ok, I think that ought to do it for now. 35 is a pretty good list, right? A lot of this list contains pretty random things about me but they all play a part in who I am and what I do. Just because I wrote this down does not give permission for me to be mocked relentlessly!!!