Extracted Extracts

So don't be fooled by this ever so innocent looking little box of vanilla. I've learned now not to take it's powers for granted. No really, I thought I'd just share a rather ludicrous and quite humorous occurrence at our local Provo Macey's (a grocery store) this past week.

Since I've started making Robin's recipe for granola by the ton (thank you so much Robin and Autumn for passing it along. It has truly changed my life!), I've been using my vanilla extract a little more than usual, and hence was running low and put it on my shopping list. Whilst at Macey's, I found myself scanning the baking aisle for the desired little brown bottle (mine didn't look like the pic, I go for the Western Family crap). Anyway, after going up and down the aisle at least 5 times I threw my hands up and said, "Could they have moved it??" Enter taller, and in this case, more observant Abram who noticed an orange sign on the uppermost shelf. "Hey look! It says that all extracts are now available only at the Service Desk." What? So we continued with our shopping, puzzled as to why they were moved. After we had collected all our desired items from the regular part of the store, I walked to the Service Desk and asked for my vanilla, which was promptly handed over, no explanation given. I wasn't asked for my ID or anything. So I walked to the check out to join Abram who was already in the check-out process. Suddenly, the curiosity got the better of us and I asked the checker, "Why is this behind the Service Desk now??" He smiled slightly and said, "Oh, that? Well, some of them contain just a little bit of alcohol. We were having problems with people taking them off the shelf, drinking them, and putting them back. So we moved them to the desk." Drinking them??? First of all, I cannot think of a more disgusting way to raise one's blood alcohol level by insiginificant amounts. Secondly, all I can say is, only in Provo. So next time you're looking for the powdered sugar, don't fret, it's at the Service Desk!

P.S. I do realize of course the darker, more serious side to this tale, that is, people with serious problems. This light-hearted rendition is in no way designed to make light of that. Thanks for reading!!

Ode to Netflix

So I haven't blogged in at least 2-2.5 million years, so I decided to make up something to blog about. Perhaps it won't make too big of a difference considering no one will likely read this having given up after waiting 1.99 million years to see something new, and finally giving. So I guess I'd like to start by thanking all my hardcore fans for coming back.

So in our new apartment we decided to ditch paying for cable and have invested in a new and dear friend, Netflix. For those still unfamiliar, it is a rocking good way to have the mailman bring you something several times a week! It's like my new version of vendo-mania, for those of you that remember those days. Our most recent faves would include the following:

The Office. The whole world has been talking about this show for a long time now, and we finally just started watching. I confess it to be an addiction of sorts, but of the best kind. For those that work in an office, you'll find someone in this show who reminds you of some nut at your office. I do however find it ironic that I use a spoof on work to unwind from work. (Sigh)


Seven Samurai. This is a must see. I've been apart of many a Kurosawa discussion in my days at BYU, mostly seeing snippets here and there. But finally, for the first time ever, I have seen one of his films. Kurosawa captures a story on film unlike many others can, and the fact that he was making these kinds of films in the 50's when Americans were making sugary musicals and other leave-it-to-beaverish themed entertainment. While set in a more ancient time in Japan, Kurosawa mirrors the hardship of life in Japan in a post World War II world. This film was also the inspiration for the 1960 American classic, The Magnificent Seven.


The Dirty Dozen. Okay, I know there's a number theme going on here, but I'm glad to say that I've finally seen this movie. What started out as dim curiosity stemming from one of the better scenes from Sleepless in Seattle, (and yes, there is certainly room for tears at the end of the film), turned out to be a great experience. I have Abram to thank for this one. He loves old WWII films. It is both humorous and terrifying, not to mention how young and skinny Brian Costello is. (Donald Sutherland for those that don't get that one). I was surprised to find so many moral questions lacing the subtext of the plot. The choosing of the dozen was shady at best, their mission was a questionable one, and how they ultimately carried it out would seem to challenge the glow of the purity of goodness that is so often the portrayal of the American Army. Anyway, I would recommend this to anyone. And it's not a hard old film to watch. In fact, it seems to maintain a very timeless quality, as if it could have been released in my life time.

So there you have it. This has turned out to be more of a copy-cat edition of B&D cinemabon blog (which we all do enjoy), but I haven't much else of excitement in life right now and I think the camera is still packed somewhere. So farewell fearless readers. Good night, and good luck!

The Quintessential Query Queen

Enter your choice, Airie…..

And thus it has begun, finally. It has now been about 4 weeks since the dreaded CONVERSION, and I have finally used DIAD for real, for the first time. Yeah, real thrilling. It’s actually not too bad, but since we’re changing all our processes, people are looking for any excuse to unload responsibility. People in the building I’ve never even met before are now giving me their stuff to do. Apparently, anyone can claim that a problem should be handled by Queries. (I still say Rejections, btw). Anyway, it’s become an interesting study in human nature as I receive more and more things to do. If it can somehow be correlated to the phrase “this needs fixing,” it lands on my desk. Ah, well. We can’t all. We’ve been coming up with some fun acronyms for DIAD. Here’s a few:
Don’t Inquire Again, Dummy
Delicious Inconvenience And Drudgery
Did I Appreciate DOS?
Do Invertebrates Agonize Daily?
I invite you all to submit your own if you wish. It’s kinda fun. ;)

A Most Humble Ode to KSL Classifieds

So in the last 3 days, our lives have changed dramatically. That's right, my friends. No more hand-washing dishes. No more mooching off Autumn for laundry service. This post is an expression of undying love for ksl.com classifieds. Though craigslist is a fine friend, ksl really came through for us this time. For $150 (total) we now have a functioning washer, dryer and portable dishwasher. Oh my yes!! Here's a pic (not ours specifically, but it looks just like it) of our new dishwasher. I used it yesterday, and it was one of the single most thrilling moments of my life when I opened it up to find all my dishes sparkling clean and I didn't lift a finger! Ah, the wonders of modern technologies. My life has changed so much!!!

La Casa Nueva!

Howdy! Just a quick little post to announce that we are moving this week! YEAH!! We found a cute little apartment in a little red brick house just a few blocks from here. (815 W. 300 S. Google it and you can get a great street view.) We're very excited about the new place (not so much about the move, ha ha). We like that we have big wide windows and a huge basement room below us for storage and laundry. Speaking of which, if anyone knows of a cheap washer & dryer available, let us know! We're in the market! We're planning on getting moved in by this Saturday. YEAH!

Trip to Portland!!

So Abram is finally home!!! HAZAH! We spent a delicious four days in beautiful Portland. The weather was nice and cool compared to Utah and we had a great many adventures!

Day 1: We slept in :) and later went to see a movie with Barlow (Abram’s brother). We saw WALL-E. It was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! A MUST MUST see if I do say so myself. I won’t say anything to spoil it. But go see it!! We then went to go and watch fireworks with the Barkers and their neighbors. Quoth the Talmage: “WOW!” It was good fun.

Day 2: Portland. Abram and I went downtown to Powell’s first (as you can see, we’re keeping our priorities straight.). We picked up the newest Pulitzer for Fiction: The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, which I’m very exited to read. It’s about a Dominican kid in New Jersey. :) We also picked up Guys and Dolls a series of short stories by Damon Runyon that the musical was based on. They are delightful!

Powell’s was followed by a now traditional trip around the corner to Sushi Land where we enjoyed some good sushi, miso soup and edame (soy beans), which has become, interestingly enough, one of my favorites.

Then we went up to the fabulous Portland Rose Garden. I have a slight addiction to taking flower close-up shots. I won’t tell you how many I took overall, but here are a few of my favorites:

Then it was up the hill to a very peaceful and relaxing visit to the Japanese Garden. I think I liked the koi pond with huge irises and the rock garden the best. Here’s some pics of the Japanese garden:

Day 3: We went to church with Barlow, and then spent the evening with Briton, Robin, Talmage and Sydney. I’m hating myself for forgetting the camera!! But I think Robin took a few. She made a fab-oo roast for dinner and we ate peas from the garden and some amazing rolls. Then we played with bubbles on the back porch and read some fun car (and other topics) books. FUN!!!

Day 4: Gooney-ville!!!! (aka Astoria) We drove up to the tippy top of Oregon to Astoria. I'm not sure if they filmed the movie there. Perhaps the town stuff, because it looked a lot like it, but the beach stuff I think was filmed on Cannon Beach. Anyway, we visited the Maritime Museum, the Column (lighthouse) and went to the shore of the Columbia at a place called Steven's Point. My favorite part (as you will see from the following photos), was the big gun...hehehe.

So we had a fabulous time (and a long drive home yesterday). And even though it’s not so fun to be back at work, it IS great to finally have Abram home again!

The Fruits of My Labors: What happens when DIAD doesn't work.

So, we've been experiencing some major hickups in our new old system. Hooray! Not really. But it's means coming in and having not so much to do. So what have we been up to this morning? Well, we discovered a fun little website that you can check out if you want. Here are some of my creations:

Ta-dah!!! I'll bet you can guess who is being protrayed in each of these little nuggets. You can try it out for yourself if you'd like: http://www.sp-studio.de/. Don't tell the boss (who isn't even here today!) "She's a gem, Banister. She's unbelievable!"