karma

When I was a kid I remember hating church...maybe I only remember the times that I can recall throwing a fit, or never wanting to give a talk in primary (mom you'll have to enlighten me on that one), but I don't remember being the good little kid that loved to go to primary. I still remember Bro. Hand when I was in the CTR class because when I didn't pay attention he would squeeze my hand REALLY hard until I about cried. Another teacher in a different year came to our house to speak with my parents about how disruptive I was in class, I don't remember being that way but I guess I had to have been pretty bad. Then there was the traumitizing baby sitter and pre-school stories that Joel and I still remember to this day. I can never tell that story enough when our family left us for Mexico and the lazy babysitters made us eat water with our cereal, and Joel thought he was going to die of an ear infection and the babysitter told him to quit crying. In pre-school, Mrs. Jenkins asked me what kind of sandwich I wanted for lunch and of course I wanted PBJ like all of the other kids, but she said I had to eat a bologna sandwich or I couldn't go play outside with the other kids. I remember being strong enough to sit there at the table until Mrs. Jenkins left the kitchen...I threw the sandwich away and bolted upstairs to hide under the sink until my mom came to pick me up. Every time we went to her house to eat after that I refused to eat anything she made...she probably thought I was a spoiled little brat but I remember feeling triumphant that I stood my ground.
So maybe now you ask whats the point of bringing up all of the childhood trauma? Yesterday Joni and I were called to teach in the primary. We are actually pretty excited about it, but I can't help but wonder if God has a sense of humor and this is payback time. We don't know what age we will teach yet, but we will definately be sailing on uncharted waters this time. God really does have a sense of humor because after all those years of picky eating, not only did I serve a mission in which I had to try almost everything imaginable, but I married a dietician. So whatever it is that you think you may be getting away with in your life right now, just remember that someday karma will come back to get you...I have been watching way too many "My Name is Earl" rereuns lately. In the end, who knows, it may be the best calling I have ever had, at least I know marrying a dietician has worked out pretty good so far.

conversation

Word of warning: this may be a very confusing blog. Joni and I are very bored and it is midnight on a Friday night so we are going to try and have a conversation. I am the blue writing and Joni is the green. If this is as stupid as I think it will be, it should not be read...but we thought it would be fun to type to each other instead of talking (Joni just made that rule)...we are super nerds and not on any type of drug.

Hey Paul, what is your favorite slurpee flavor?
I definately like coke slurpees with a little bit of cherry flavor on the top, I hate mountain dew slurpees. I like slurpees...you want to go get a slurpee?
Um no Paul - remember how we just got back from 7-11 5 minutes ago and you bought a snickers icecream bar and I got chocolate? What is your favorite movie with an animal as the main star?
That is a VERY good question Joni (we don't usually say each others names like that every time but I feel like I am on stage right now). I remember lots of movies that my dad used to rent about dogs. I wonder if I was a kid growing up these days if I would like Air Bud...I used to like "Benji" and "Digby". I like lots of movies with animals...horses and stuff. What about you?
I'm not sure I've ever made it all the way through one. Does Gremlins count? Or Critters? Critters was scary.
Maybe like animal sci-fi, but not "animal". I remember when I watched "The Horse Whisperer" I lost 4 pints of blood from a bleeding ulcer, it made me not like that movie very much. What if that was the last movie I saw before I died?
Hmmm thats no fun to think about - how 'bout another question. What's your favorite skittle combo (choose 2).
I don't eat as many skittles to know what each one tastes like. I think I cram a bunch in my mouth. I could never eat one at a time unless I ate a whole bag and there was nothing else to do. This is a hard game. What smell do you like/dislike the most?
Oh good one! LIKE: After rain, oven smells like bread, apples.
DISLIKES: glue, dog breath, Gas passed from complete strangers in a line, gas that smells like food, any part of a group of single guys' house/kitchen/bathroom, vomit, used floss (at the dentist office where I worked and had to throw that stuff away - sick), coffee breath, and mechanic shops.
lol, maybe I should stick to yes/no questions. You'd think we would do really well at one of those newlywed games because our conversations are seriously like this, but I will have forgotten all of this by tomorrow night. Then Joni will ask me a month later what her favorite skittle combination was, and if I don't know, I will be in trouble.
Oh, and sweaty feet. But seriously about the skittles - red and anything (but orange) is great. And ANY three colors are good.
Sweaty feet is a good one, but what about sweaty feet with dirty bum? Sometimes when I am sitting at the computer after work and I take my socks off, mixed with my after lunch smells, I think I could pass out. What if it was someone else? I would die I think.
Okay, I think we could have all gone without hearing that. I still love ya though - stinky socks and all. Remember last week when I teasingly threw my post-run sock your direction and it hit you in the face? Sorry.
Yeah that was pretty mean until I got you back with my socks...I win. What has been your favorite thing about Dallas?
Definately the veiw of the city when I turn the last corner headed to work. The trees clear and all the sudden you see all the tall buildings reflecting the morning sun. That and the brownie parfait at Baylor cafeteria. What about you?
I love the food.
Yeah, food.
lots to choose from
I bet no one makes it this far into the blog. Lets be done soon if you want.
What are you saying you don't want to talk to me anymore? because I could just leave and go to bed if that would make you happy. Would that make you happy?
I think this is a trick question - but I am tired so I'm going to sleep - I get to sleep in tomorrow. Yesssss.
Hey everyone! Joni sleeps with a teddy bear and he has a name. She also has a little baby blanket that she sleeps with...If you just saw Joni's reaction you'd think I am sleeping on the couch tonight.
No comment - I like my bear.
Isn't that a comment?
ah crap.

Wacky weather...wacky thoughts

Yesterday the craziest thing happened. At 4 o'clock it was 88 degrees, 3 hours later it was in the low fifties...talk about your cold front. I guess it isn't that wierd because Logan used to do that a lot too. Come to think of it that isn't very wierd at all, sorry everyone. I guess I am used to the nights not cooling off and now that it finally cooled off at night it has been really wierd. Joni's sister Andrea got here last night to visit for a couple of days, I am starting to think that weather follows some people wherever they go. The cold front is supposed to be here until Sunday when Andrea leaves, then go back to normal...wierd. You can only imagine how people around here were freaking out, you would have thought it was the end of the world...just with everyone wearing beanies and coats instead of burning and dying...that was an inside thought.

Have any of you ever started writing a blog or anything for that matter and then you realize that you don't know why you are even writing and then you want to erase everything and forget about it? I wish sometimes that there was no such thing as backspace or delete so that you could know exactly what people are thinking without having thier writing edited. I bet there are some pretty funny love letters out there that were thrown away before the "real deal" came out. Joni wishes she knew poeple's thoughts sometimes just to hear some of the funny things they think that no one knows about. Ever since I have known Joni she always asks me what I was thinking about at the most random times. At first I didn't like it because I am a private person and sometimes I like to keep thoughts private, but then I started saying some of the thoughts out loud when she asked and it was really funny to hear from another person's perspective how random you can be. Come to think of it, I think everyone should say what they really think more often. It might be kind of scary at first but it actually feels very liberating sometimes. It's also a good way to offend people but hey...no one is perfect. It is funny too how certain thoughts are repeated more often than others. I found out that I think a lot about different super powers. I came to the conclusion that having the power to transport anywhere at anytime with anyone is a pretty tough one to beat. Believe me I have thought this one through a lot...try to beat it. Flying could be cool but what about when you don't want to travel? And what if it was cold? it is COLDER up in the air. I guess that is why I like Joni's sister Andrea, being around her reminds me how funny it is to other people when you speak your initial thoughts out loud. I was trying to post a picture of them but for some reason it won't work, so I apologize for another pictureless blog. I could change the color of the words like last time but it doesn't do the same thing. Maybe next time.

Got Insurance?

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Freddy Mike today and Joel yesterday. I would have sent you a present dad but the money you sent me for my birthday was used towards the postage for your card I sent this morning. I feel bad because I really don't know everyone's birthdays aside from my brothers and sisters...but I don't feel so bad because you probably don't know mine, if you do then I am truly sorry for forgetting. One of my old high school buddies called me to wish me a happy birthday a couple of birthday's ago, and I felt cool that he remembered but then I felt bad that I didn't know his. But then again that was the only time he called in five years so maybe he has birthday touretts syndrome...that was mean.

I wanted to let everyone in on a secret...Utah drivers are no longer considered the worst drivers in history (by Joni and I anyways). Dallas drivers are by FAR the worst drivers I have EVER seen. Even the cops speed and swerve around without using their blinkers. In Utah a yellow light means speed up before it gets red, in Dallas a yellow light means, "oh pretty honey, the light is changing colors", and red means," is it already that close to Christmas?" I think if the language barrier is so bad that you can't read a stop sign then there is a huge problem...and a LARGE percentage of the population is not insured, nor has ever even heard of driver's ed. I think the general consensus here is that if you can reach the pedals, or have previous experience driving a tractor of some sort (including lawn mowers), then you are good for the road. I can't remember but don't you need a drivers license to get you car registered or have insurance? Well not here, I think drivers licenses here are so that when someone finds you on the side of the road, they know that it is truly YOUR wallet they have in thier hands and where to drop you off in case you are hurt. I don't want to share any personal experiences for fear of scaring any small children from coming here, but it is unbelievable how dangerous some people can be behind the wheel. Maybe I am getting old and cranky behind the wheel and I just never noticed it before...nope, thats not it. Speaking of stupid drivers, Joni's brother had someone crash a truck into thier family room a couple of months ago, so maybe I am not the one to complain about bad drivers.

I still remember the first time I drove, I was two or three years old. Somehow I got the car started and going backwards with the doors locked. I was having fun until I saw the look on my brother's face as he was banging on the window telling me to stop. I ended up driving through the garden right into the horse pasture fence. The best thing about the whole ordeal was that we had a perfect little hole in the fence afterwards that we could walk through without the horses getting out. I think I just figured out the whole bad driver thing here...Nascar is HUGE down here, and that explains everyone sitting on thier front porches. I can hear the guy in his rocking chair now, "look Clive, here comes that crazy lawyer in his fancy car again...woooooo!"

Aside from everything I seem to complain about and joke about all of the time, Dallas is a pretty fun place. There are no plans to stay here long term by any means, but I think I am feeling a bit more at home now instead of like I am on some extended vacation.

Downtown

Yesterday Joni and I decided to go downtown and walk around for fun. Dallas is an interesting city, it is VERY quiet. It made me realize how incredibly unique New York City is. I remember Chicago being similar to Dallas but with a lot more history and taxi cabs. There are quite a few tall buildings but all in all, it is like a ghost town because nobody was outside. There is a cool historic west end that we want to check out sometime, lots of restaraunts and clubs that are only open at night. I noticed there is a whole block dedicated to the baptsit church, kind of like temple square but not even close to as pretty. They have a neon sign and a huge conference center where I imagine they have thier televised broadcasts every week. I was watching one for fun the other day on my lunch break and this big black guy was yelling and screaming with sweat pouring down his face, babbling in an unknown language and everyone was dancing around an crying...to be honest it was kind of creepy.

Our favorite place so far has been the grassy knoll, we took some pictures a while back but they didn't turn out, so we did a "drive by" yesterday but the pictures aren't posting, I'll try again later. I really want to go the museums around that area too. The cool thing about the grassy knoll is that there is no monument to commemorate President Kennedy, all there is is a sign saying that this spot has historical significance, and there are two X's painted on the street where the President was shot. The 6th floor window of the book depository is still open and the building is now a museum. The interesting thing is that no one around here ever mentions this spot, probably not something Texans want to be proud of. There are no directions to get there, it just popped up out of nowhere when we first got here and the only reason I knew what it was is because I recognized it from all of my studying in history about that time period. Sorry everyone, I guess the boring history buff slipped out of me for this blog...maybe I should give him a name like Glen does with his sleep walking alter ego...nah.

The book depository building

Dallas World Aquarium...and something in my mouth.

Monday

I found something to do now during the days when I work night shifts and Joni is gone to work...at least temporarily. Joni and I rented the show "My Name is Earl", it could definately be up there with one of my favorite shows now. It is on right before "the Office" so I always catch the end of it but I never really saw the whole show. I was laughing so hard by myself that I would start coughing...maybe I am getting sick...I don't know. Maybe the show just hits so close to home since we are in Texas but who knows, it's really funny. Laughing really is the best medicine sometimes. Last night Joni and I went to Walmart to buy some "safe tread" shoes for her work, we ended up taking almost an hour to get there because of the rediculous freeway traffic at all hours in this city, but it was fun because we had some good conversations on the way there. Joni is a pretty funny and goofy girl, her personality along with her genuine kindness and regard to everyones feelings is what really drew me to her. Its funny how growing up the littlest things can influence you. I remember in fourth grade my mom picked me up from school and we gave a girl I kind of liked a ride on the way home. This girl ended up making fun of one of our neighbors because of some boots that she wore when she was fishing, I could tell my mom was just grinding her teeth...needless to say I stopped liking that girl pretty quick. I guess it's not really what you say sometimes, but how you say it.

I don't know if it was how we were raised or what, but I have never been able to understand people who pick on those who are different. For some reason I always felt a close bond to the kid who was picked on, or the kid who was different. I really feel for the first time in my life that I am headed in the right direction in my career, going into human resource management. It is funny how everything falls into place...I seriously picked it out one day because of a school counselor I was talking to, she gave me a magazine to read and told me that if I liked it, that I should look into hr as a career. So here I am, having never taken a class in human resource management, but I know it is what I want to do. I have been working a little bit each week learning the ropes with my hr manager just to get some experience and it is awesome to feel like I finally belong somewhere. I love the idea of playing "police" when the big shot business man tries to do something shady, or being that intermediary between the employee and the law, or hiring, interviewing and training new employees. I sound really boring but I think I found my little place and it feels good.

Utah State finally won behind a freshman quarterback who was the local high school hero last year, it takes someone from the Cache valley to understanad the lack of respect the football team has, and deservingly so, but maybe he can turn it around.

Broncos tonight! feel free to call me and update me even though I will be at work, and I don't have ESPN...I listen to messages. Even though it is Monday it is like my Friday today, tomorrow is my first day off from both jobs in about 4 weeks, then back to the grind.

ramen and meatballs

Just another midnight post. I get working so hard on my late shifts that when I get home it takes me awhile to settle down. Last night our friends Josh and Amanda stayed here with thier two little girls on thier way to Houston, where they will be living for a while. It is cool to not feel so alone out here in the "lone" star state...now we have freinds from Logan in Texas, even though they are still 4 hours away. I want to see how many people we can cram into our one bedroom apartment, so everyone is invited at a future date. Last night was the second night we actually "hung out" with another couple since moving here, the last time was when we had dinner with a girl in Joni's internship and her husband who is studying to be a baptist minister.

Anyways...I have been hearing about everyone deciding what they wanted to be for halloween and I am getting a bit jealous. The lion and the lamb ideas are already taken (I want to be the lamb, Joni can be the lion), my e-wok costume is long gone and probably too hot here anyways, I have already dressed up like a woman too many times so I can't do that anymore, and Meg already has dibs on the "queen of the devils", so I am squandering for ideas now. Last time Joni and I dressed up I was Zorro and she was my hot latin lady. I thought the mask would be a good diguise but everyone recognized me at the halloween dance. probably because Zorro couldn't hide his double chin, or his big goofy smile because he thought he was really Zorro. It was funny because I grew the real mustache and soul patch but I had to use mascara to make it look better, then every time we had our picture taken I couldn't keep a straight face...I can't smile like Zorro I guess. By the way, don't tell me to dress up like white trash because everyone around here will ask why I am not wearing a costume. Joni took me to a monster truck rally a couple years ago...I wore a camo Ford hat and a flanel with the sleeves cut off, and I bought Joni a "Gravedigger" shirt and we fit right in...we still have those costumes by the way. We are trying to keep them all so that we can have a chest full of costumes like I used to have as a kid, those were some good memories. So I have my own little recipe I want to share with everyone...healthy or not it is my new pre-bedtime snack (it actually sounds more like a meal than a snack). I cook ramen noodles, but instead of using the little packet for flavor, I drain the water and put the noodles in a frying pan and drench them in teriyaki(had to look in the fridge to spell it) sauce. Then I add my favorite little meatballs (from a bag) and thats it. You cook it just long enough until the noodles are sticky from the sauce. It works out great because Joni likes to drink the sauce packets I don't use as a broth, so everyone is happy. Just don't use too much teriyaki. I need a name for it now, just don't tell me ramen and meatballs because that is its temporary name until we think of something cooler.

the fair

Ever heard of fried coke? that's what I am popping into my mouth. It was actually pretty good. Coke flavored batter in coke syrup with whip cream and cinnamon. Joni got a fried snickers...some of the other fried choices were fried cheesecake, peanut butter and jelly with banana, oreos, pickles and many more. Joni and I decided to go to the Texas state fair this weekend to have some fun, it was the most gigantor fair I have ever been to. It was really fun but REALLY hot. 96 degree Texas heat when you are outside for over four hours is nuts. I don't remember fairs being as expensive as this one was, maybe it was because my mom always gave me money. We were really excited when we had a little book of coupons to do whatever we wanted with, until we realized that each ride was like 500 coupons a piece. We ended up going on the famous 215 foot ferris wheel and that was about it. We ended up getting a lot of exercise though from all of the walking...when it was all said and done, a fair is a fair anywhere you go...fun to experience until you remember when you told yourself last time you probably wouldn't go again. The fried stuff was definately the highlight.

View from the ferris wheel, the cotton bowl is off to the right. My "crazy" weekend turned out okay, I called in sick one day because Joni finally had a free weekend and I wanted to take advantage of the rare time we could spend together. It is funny calling in sick when you are not really sick, I hadn't done that since school days. I always feel like I owe a lot more to my work than I really do so it was good to fake it once. When in doubt, use the "I ate something bad" routine...it never fails.