20 Years of Snow

Trying to catch up. It's barely winter and we're moving into our fifth storm of the season... Here are a few photos from the first, when shoveling was still fun and snow seemed a little more enchanting. {1 Dec 2007}-Regina Spektor-

I'm Actual

Do you ever have those moments when you read something and think, "Wow, that's really interesting," or "That's so profound; I need to remember that," or "Man, I wish my life was like that." And then you realize that you were actually the one who wrote what you are reading? In that moment of realization, it's like this massive fissure starts to form between 'you' and 'former-you' and you can see yourself waving, arms flailing to be rescued, as the gorge deepens and the camera pulls away from image of 'former-you' so quickly that you just become a single pixel in the grand landscape now before your eyes. And then sometimes you're thankful for the seemingly solid ground upon which you now find yourself. And maybe for a moment you get a glimpse of your life as a journey of becoming, and realize that in the tiniest of pixels in your life, you became.

Or maybe it's just me.

-The Format-

After All

I like to make yearly goals around the time of my birthday rather than at New Years time. It just makes more sense for me. I did it last year, and have to be accountable for my progress (or lack thereof. Here are my goals from last year.

1. Run five races (I ran two)
2. Run a half-marathon (included in the five races) (I tried several times, but it never happened...)
3. Get a "real" job (done!)
4. Save ten percent of my income (please...10% was a wimpy goal)
5. Drink no soda (I did pretty well, but can't say I had a 100% soda free year)
6. Travel to at least one place I've never visited (Hmm... I can't think of anywhere. Sad. Have I officially arrived at adulthood?)
7. Read more books (done and doing! I'm in the middle of ten or so right now...)

This year my goals are similar, but still important.

1. Run a half-marathon
2. Run a 5K
3. Run a 10K
4. Make a quilt (finish the one I started)
5. Knit a new something...
6. Read at least one book each month (that may not sound like much, but life gets so busy!)
7. Finish a Blurb book
8. Save money
9. Take a class for fun
10. Travel to somewhere I've never been

-Sondre Lerche-

The Dangling Conversation

A few weeks back Anna tagged me to reveal six things about myself. I was hesitant to do so a)because I feel like there's not a lot that's interesting that people don't know about me that they might want to and b)because I was lazy. But I've finally gotten around to it. Here goes:

1. I spend a lot of time planning but I like to live spontaneously. Ideally there are lots of known options, but a choice is made with just enough time to get excited but not so much that the build-up becomes overkill.

2. I'm pretty sure everyone I've ever lived with has called me Sarita except for my family.

3. When I was seven all I wanted for Christmas were tools. I remember being so delighted with my little toolbox, hammer, screwdrivers, etc. I counted every nail and claimed that I had gotten more presents than anyone else or ever before. I still dream of being like one of those girls on HGTV that restores fantastic old houses, tool-belt and all.

4. I try desperately to make up words in Boggle almost every time I play. Later I usually find out at least a few of them really are words. (I knew it.)

5. My favorite way to sit at the computer is with my shoes off and my legs crossed. Or sometimes with one leg tucked and the other knee up and foot resting on the chair. Sometimes it's a little embarrassing when someone walks into my office and I am sitting like this.

6. I've recently started listening to audio books on my way to and from work each day. Today I couldn't figure out why the book I was listening to was just not making sense, until I realized after about five tracks that my stereo was on RANDOM. Oops.

-Simon & Garfunkel-

Poster Girl

More poster love. For Like Ever available at village for $35. {a new take on the "Families Are Forever" cross-stitches of the past} Manhattan print available December 1 from ORK for $25. {even cooler because I lived there}

-Backstreet Boys- yikes

Confirmation

Remember back in January when I started my job and I was convinced that I worked for Michael Scott? Well it's been confirmed on more than one occasion, like when we've taken clients and prospective employees out to lunch at Denny's. But the announcement of our company Holiday party at.... Applebees has been the crowning jewel of the most Office-like experience of my life. I can only hope. Too bad I'll be out of town for the Megster's wedding. I might have won a Dundie.

-Manhattan Transfer-

River

Last year at this time this was pretty much all I listened to. Ah, sweet, crisp memories of lovely Belgium.

Something about this time of year just makes me want to curl up on the futon with hot cocoa and orange rolls every night in a pile of fleece and down. Or skate away on a river.

-Sarah McLachlan-

If Work Permits

I just found a job listing for a company that shall remain nameless in a location that shall remain unknown. But I was really excited, because this is their description and it kind of sounds like me:

Are you your friends’ go-to when they need a favor, directions, or a restaurant recommendation? Is your sock drawer organized by color and thickness? Do you love making long-range plans but feel just as comfortable doing things impulsively? Can you bring order to chaos — but you really don’t mind chaos? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be the person we seek.

The only bad thing is that they are looking for local candidates, and while I would love to live there, I just don't right now.

-The Format-

All I Need

It was so nice to get away and spend the weekend in Portland. I think that one of the important things in life is figuring out what we need to do to rejuvenate our souls. For me, weekend trips are one of those things. Especially weekend trips to places I love, to see people I love, with people I love. My favorite things about the trip were Mothers Bistro & Bar (definitely a must when you're in the area), the light at the Rose Gardens, the leaves in the Columbia Gorge, the layers of sand blowing across the ground at Cannon Beach, the rain that started to fall each night as head hit pillow, the sunshine that feathered every daytime moment, talking on the way back from the coast, sweet new baby toes, eating The Whole Bowl, and seeing old friends. There are way too many images to share. Here's a visual snippet of my experience.-Radiohead-

The Reminder

-Feist-

Pick Me Up

I've decided that I really love email. I have always enjoyed it, but until recently still held fonder affection for handwritten letters. You really don't want to get me started on how technology has destroyed certain intimacies of human interaction.... I could write a thesis on the subject. (A good summary of how I feel was written by Jackie.) Don't get me wrong, I still prefer handwritten letters... but with the advent of texting, chatting, facebook, myspace, even blogs, it seems that good old fashioned hand-typed meaty emails are becoming a thing of the past. So here's to my new preferred -- and slightly more realistic -- form of communication.

-The Format-

A Good Start

There are some things that amazon just doesn't sell. But I still love them. Lots of art lately. I love these two prints from a guy I just discovered.
Cabin by Christopher Silas Neal. $24.99 at Thumbtack Press.
The Greyboy Allstars Poster by Christopher Silas Neal on his website for $30. (It goes perfectly with the quilt I'm making!)

-Maria Taylor-

Heima

Recently (like within the last 42 minutes) I've been thinking that it would be really fantastic to live in Iceland for a little while. Or at least visit. But many of my experiences have taught me that to really taste the flavor of a place, you've got to call it home {heima} for at least a little while.Oh, and before I forget... Go here.
-Sigur Rós-

15 Step

{another cinquain for autumn}
apples
caramel covered
biting, dripping, sticking
chocolate, sprinkles, full and pleasant
eaten

-Radiohead

Fall Apart Again

{cinquain for autumn}

Pumpkins
Bright eyed smiles
Faces of irony
Confusion from reality
Hidden

-Brandi Carlile-

Have You Ever

As a student of advertising at BYU, I was well aware that something was brewing that was going to change the face of the LDS church to the media. To change the whole system: the ads were to take a stand, make bold claims, open the doors for research to be done, and for members to share. Campaign ideas came and went. Story boards were reviewed. Concepts were softened. Professers sought student's opinions; students sought professor's opinions. Meetings with church leadership were a thing of frequency, as were the highly-anticipated updates of their response in classes like Media Planning, and Account Planning. Regardless of how much each was involved, we all felt very much like a part of the process. I think it's because we all felt like there was so much at stake. And I think it's safe to say that we can all feel good about the final product.



I think one of the coolest things about these ads is that it really is the voice of converts and investigators. The questions they ask or asked before coming to know the church. The TV ads are not scripted. They are not actors. They are converts talking genuinely about their experiences. Cool.
-Brandi Carlile-

Cold Brains

My brain will never be cold again.... now that I've finished my first knitting project!Presenting the two-hour hat. It only took me two weeks (about three hours). This is only the beginning.

-Beck-

By & By

There's a park near my house that is an autumn wonderland. Leaves cover every surface.
And days go by and seasons too
In time our love may digress with the words we can renew
I'll tell you that I
I love you by and by
I don't know if I'd survive
Without a friend like you in my life

-Brett Dennen-

To Be Surprised

On Saturday Spencer and I saw a sneak preview of Dan in Real Life. I had wanted to see the movie ever since I saw the trailer a few months ago, and I wasn't disappointed. It was refreshing to see Steve Carell in a real-person type character, even as much as I love him as Michael Scott. One of the best surprises of the movie though, was the music. I am going to get the soundtrack soon because it's fantastic! Sondre Lerche sings alone and with Regina Spektor, A Fine Frenzy covers "Fever" and listeners are also treated to a catchy cover of Pete Townshend's "Let My Love Open the Door." Having never heard of Sondre Lerche before 'Dan,' I'm feeling a need to do some more digging in Scandinavian Europe for more treasures like him. Some of my best finds in the past few years have been from that region.

-Sondre Lerche-

New York to San Francisco, So Many Roads to Ease my Soul

Guest Blogger: Spencer (because there were too many good pictures to post in my account of San Francisco)

I’ve always felt a special connection to San Francisco, beyond the literal connection of Interstate 80 that passes through my hometown of Salt Lake City and ends at the Bay Bridge. It’s a city that has been the setting of good times spent with friends and family. It has been a stop over on the way to family reunions, a destination for baseball games, new years road trips and long weekends with friends. I’m drawn to the hills, the ocean, the architecture, the bridges, Sutro Tower, Bart, Alcatraz (a first on this trip) and the assortment of people to be found (except for a few on Eddy Street that took special interest in my new pair of Steve Maddens). It was the birthplace of the music that accompanied me through my youth, the hometown of the once mighty, now deceased, Southern Pacific Railroad . And finally there’s the In n Out on Fisherman’s Warf. But the few days spent there with Sarah top my list of Bay Area memories. She posted some of her favorite pictures, now some of mine…
-The Grateful Dead-

Pillar of Salt

Interesting/Disturbing: What do Utahns Google?

-The Thermals-

In Rainbows

Radiohead's new album is available today.For free.

Two words: best ever. {possibly}

Three more: go get it.

-Radiohead-

Sweater

I have a new hobby.
-Weezer-

We Are Family

Conference weekend was extra special this October since we had spontaneous visits from Amanda and her family and Mollie and her family. It was fun to see everyone and watch the cousins play together. Whenever I am in town with Mollie+Sam+Harrison+Noah, I get recruited to shoot their family photos. I don't consider there to be much skill involved, mostly luck and the result of shooting a lot of photos (there's bound to be at least a few keepers that way). Anyway, here are some of the standouts from what I shot this weekend. Sorry, there will be a lot.
Post photoshoot, we celebrated Harrison's fourth birthday and played outside.-Jackson 5-