Ugh, dating.

Day 3: Your idea of the perfect date.

I hate dating. Truly, I do. Especially in the Mormon culture when everybody seems to expect me to get married two years ago. And when I haven't been on a date since September. And when I haven't actually been asked on a date since July (September was a blind date). And when . . . well, you get the idea. There's no need to make myself sound any lamer.

The point is, dating sucks, and talking about dating sucks, and writing about dating sucks. So I don't like this day of the challenge, but I'll do it anyway.

Truthfully, I don't have a clear idea of a perfect first date. I don't think there is one. I can go on the most well-planned date with fun activities, but if I don't get along with the guy, it's going to be awkward. I mostly have ideas about what a perfect date definitely would not be. Marathon dates are awkward. Movies aren't good because we can't talk. Dinner alone can feel too formal and stuffy.

I think a good first date is simply ice cream. Yes, just ice cream. It's short and simple, and it gives us the chance to talk and get to know each other. Then, if it's really awkward, we can call it good and go home. Or, if things are going well and my date has planned ahead, we can extend the date and go do something else.

Bowling and miniature golfing are great for first dates because I have to get out of myself a little bit. I suck at both, but that's kind of what makes it fun. I have to get over any insecurities I have about how bad I am and just enjoy myself. I am usually the most fun to be around when people force me out of my comfort zone—that's when I just loosen up and forget about whether I look stupid or not.

And that's really as close as I can get to a "perfect" date. I just think it is all so dependent on the person I'm on the date with. Different people shine in different situations, so there's a different perfect date for everyone, depending on who they're with. (I don't think I could more perfectly avoid the question than I did with that sentence right there.)

PS: Cora has joined in on the blog challenge fun. Chiggity chiggity check it.

A Typical Lunch

Day 2: A photo of something you ate today.

This is a typical lunch for me: a sandwich, a water bottle, and a book. 

I was running late this morning (as usual), so I didn't have time to make a lunch. When lunchtime rolled around, I didn't want to spend money on food, so I headed home. 

I live about 12 minutes away from the office. With my hour break, I get about 30 minutes at home for lunch. I burst in the door, throw my stuff on the couch, make a sandwich, grab my book, and read while I eat. It's a pretty nice way to spend my lunch break. Except on those days when all I want to do is stay at home and not go back to the office. Then it's not such a good thing.

I kind of wish I had more to say on the subject, or that I could say it more eloquently. But I don't, and I can't, and there is an end.

A Blogging Challenge

What better way to start the new year than with a challenge? I stole this from awesome Laura's blog, and I'm definitely doing it. I'm a couple of days behind Laura, but that's all right with me. It's a 30-day blog challenge, which means another solid month of daily posts. You ready for this? Because I certainly am.

Day 1: A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

My day was utterly average. I was running late this morning, so while I actually did my hair, I skipped the eye makeup (minus the mascara—I will never skip mascara; blond eyelashes are scary). Then I headed to work, where I edited all day. As is usual.

I did go to Marley's in the Riverwoods for lunch with Mindy and Karly. I had never been before, and it was pretty awesome. Sliders are fantastic. (Sliders are mini burgers, if you didn't know.) And I always like leaving the office for lunch—I often need a break from staring at a computer screen for eight hours.

One story of note from work: The company I work for is growing quickly, and is now at nearly one hundred employees, which meant switching from small employer insurance to large employer insurance. To spare you the boring details that I don't even know, that basically meant everyone had to sign up for insurance again. And in the process, SelectHealth managed to lose my information—which was sent electronically. (Don't ask me how you lose an electronic file.) So I can't fill prescriptions (which I found out the hard way last night) or go to the doctor until they figure it out and send me my insurance cards. I guess I'll be rescheduling my dermatologist appointment for next week.

On my way home, I jammed to some awesome songs, like "Tell Me Why" by the Beatles and "Black Sheep" by Metric (from the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World soundtrack [that movie is awesome, by the way]). "Black Sheep" is a new obsession—it's so catchy. Plus, it makes me think of my three-year-old niece Adeline, who knows every word and rocks out every time she hears it. It is the cutest thing ever.

For most of the day, my brain has been preoccupied by one person: Jimmer Fredette. This kid is sick. crazy. nuts. ridiculous. un-effing-believable. I spent over an hour tonight trolling the interwebs for any and all national attention Jimmer is getting after drowning Utah in his 47 points last night. What a game. I now have tickets to Jimmertime x2, at home against SDSU and UNLV. (By the way, you'd think that I would have had opportunity to run into Jimmer—I mean, we've lived in the same town for almost four years now. Alas, no such luck.)

Wow, this is a long and probably boring post. But I'm just following the challenge. And I will end this day by watching the Jazz (hopefully) put away the Knicks (yes, I do like sports—you should know this about me by now) and reading my awesome book. (This is my life—sports and books. I am aware that I am boring.)

And for your viewing enjoyment, here is Jimmer's fan-flippin'-tastic buzzer-beater half-court shot.

Happy New Year

I'm ringing in the new year from my bed this year. Why? a) Because I didn't really have anything to do tonight and b) because of a nasty headache that's pounding at my temples right now.

I'm not complaining too much, though; I really, really enjoy sleeping.

Sick Day

I hate being sick. Especially when it keeps me from doing the normal things I do everyday, like working. I would much rather use my PTO for fun things than for being sick.

But I do have to admit that I don't mind quite as much when taking that sick day keeps me inside and out of this:

 

Lovely, isn't it?

I Love Christmas

Christmas is probably my favorite time of year. I know a lot of people say that, especially little kids, but I still love Christmas. And as I have gotten older, I have realized that I love it more for different reasons. As a kid, I loved Christmas because of the presents (of course). Let's be honest, that's the reason every kid loves Christmas. However, I also loved the feeling that I got around Christmas. I don't think I fully understood what that feeling was, but I loved it nonetheless.

Dad always puts Christmas lights on the house. He loves making the house look festive because he loves this season just as much as I do. When I was little, I would fall asleep looking at the window, where I could see the red and green lights on the roof glowing through the blinds. I absolutely loved Christmas morning. Matt and I would usually be the first ones awake. We would go and wake up Chelly and Ben, then we'd go to the Christmas tree, which was always lit with white Christmas lights. It was dark outside, and we wouldn't turn on any other lights, so the living room was lit by the tree alone. I loved opening my stockings by the light of the tree.

Then, once we couldn't take it anymore, we'd finally get up the nerve to wake up Mom and Dad. They'd stumble out of bed (or tell us to wait twenty more minutes) and we'd all gather around the Christmas tree, wrapped in blankets. Dad would hand us gifts one by one and we'd unwrap them one at a time. As it grew lighter outside, the piles of gifts next to each of us kids grew larger, until we finally opened the last and biggest gift from Santa. Then we'd eat Christmas Morning Casserole (the only day of the year Mom ever makes it), play with some of our gifts, and, after opening more gifts at Grandma and Grandpa Brown's house, watch a movie or two.

I love these memories. I love remembering how I felt as a child and letting the excitement of Christmas engulf me again. I no longer wake up before dawn on Christmas morning or scour the house for gifts that Mom and Dad have hidden. It no longer feels like the month of December lasts an eternity. (Instead, it passes in the blink of an eye.) I no longer sit on Santa's knee and tell him what I want for Christmas, nor do I leave cookies and milk for Santa to eat. But it seems that no matter how old I get, Christmas is still special. I love Christmas lights and decorations. I love nativity scenes and advent calendars. And I still love seeing wrapped presents under the tree with my name on them.

But most of all, I love thinking of Christ. I love being able to mention Christ's name often, and to hear his name spoken often. I love knowing what this season is about. I love watching the excitement in little kids' eyes when I ask them what they asked Santa for. I love listening to Christmas music and feeling the importance of this time of year. I love singing in Christmas programs and feeling like I've contributed to the spirit of Christmas.

There is nothing like the feeling at Christmas. It is such a wonderful and peaceful spirit, and I only hope I can keep it in my heart all year 'round.

Busy, Busy, Busy

This week has me super stressed. I have articulation tomorrow morning, which basically means I have to memorize a bunch of stuff. Tonight. (Don't worry, I've been working on it other times too. I just have to cram some tonight.)

Then there's the company party on Friday. I don't know why, but things like that stress me out too. Plus, it's semi-formal, and I need a couple of things to finish off my outfit, so that's just something else I have to get done.

Then I was asked to sing in church on Sunday, so I have to get ahold of the accompanist and find time to practice. And when I said I could sing, I completely forgot that I also have to teach in Relief Society. I have to teach a lesson that I haven't planned yet. So there's one more thing I can add to my to-do list this week.

I can't wait until the weekend. And it's only Tuesday. Fantastic.