Mormon Bloggers

Today I listened to a How Stuff Works podcast entitled “How Cremation Works.” A bit of a morbid topic, especially for a girl at a desk so far from the windows, but fascinating nonetheless. Also, keep in mind that I am very weird and intensely curious about everything. So, there you go. Here are some interesting things one can do with your ashes: 1. Put them in a fireworks display. Pros: pretty awesome, and Hunter S. Thompson did it, and he is awesome. Cons: I am terrified of fireworks, so it would be kind of pointless (or maybe just too ironic?). 2. Have them crushed into a synthetic diamond. Pros: Wearable, inheritable. Cons: Until the Resurrection. 3. Have them mixed with ink or paint and made into a comic book or painting. Pros: It has the word “comic book” in it. Cons: What if the painting sucks? And of course you wouldn’t want it to be a painting of YOU. That’s just obnoxious. 4. Have them sent into space. Pros: Maybe your ashes would travel to an... Read the rest of this entry »

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier Part of my “banned books” series. I am surprised that I had never heard of this book before, considering how famous and controversial it was in the 1970s (it was even made into a reportedly mediocre movie). This was a really great read, but I could also see why some parents would get their panties in a twist over their teenagers reading it. It’s got violence, corruption, bullying, masturbation, loss of innocence, all that bad stuff you think your high school-aged children know nothing about, but actually do. The ending is a Cormac McCarthy level of downer. Highly recommended for misanthropic mood days. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen So I read The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen not too long ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. This was before I learned that every Sarah Dessen book appears to be the same. Read one, and you’ve read them all. I kept getting distracted throughout this book (which is about a girl’s addiction... Read the rest of this entry »

Raise your hand if you remember this show: I don’t remember it super well either, frankly. But I do remember that I had a Jem Girls lunch box. I wish I still had it … it’s probably worth money. As it true with lots of pop music, all of Jem’s songs pretty much sound the same. The other night, my pals and I were hanging out in our pajamas, eating sugary cereal and watching 80s cartoons (you wish you were this cool). While we were watching the first few episodes of this fabulous show, we started discussing the incredible music videos that punctuate each episode. Sometimes two or three per half hour! Bob: You realize that someone actually sat down and WROTE these songs? Me: I can do that. Bob: Could you? Me: Give me a topic and I will write a pop song right now. Bob: Before the end of this episode? [note: the episode was nearly over] Me: Sure. Bob: OK … um … the Burmese conflict! I finished it while the credits were rolling. Thelma, I dedicate... Read the rest of this entry »

Tonight I did an inventory of my life. I do this when I start to feel bored or annoyed with my goals and accomplishments, which honestly, isn’t super often. I don’t share the whole list with anyone because it’s too personal and even (especially?) those of you who love me the most would judge me for it. But, allow me to present a numerical break-down. Years I have lived: 25 Years I will live according to this website: 105 (Word of Wisdom, biatches!) Years I have left: 80 Goals I have: Total: 82 Accomplished: 12 Goals that require me to be married or close to it: 5 Goals that require me to have children: 2 Goals that I can do whenever the hell I want: 63 So you know, there’s that. If I start talking a lot about Scrabble tournaments and hot air balloon rides and travelling to the East China Sea,* you’ll now know where it’s coming from. *These are all actual life goals. AKPC_IDS += "238044,";Popularity: unranked [?] Read More →

As most of you know, I had been contemplating whether or not I was going to do the 5K run this year at our small town in southern Utah.  I have been nervous and stressed about it for the last 3 months.  It’s one thing to run on my own outside or at the gym, but to actually be racing with other people REALLY scared me. I have never ever been one to run anywhere.  I’ve told you all before that I grew up hating running and I never thought it would change.  But this last year it did, and I wanted to test this new body and see just what it could do! If I was going to do it, I was going to run the whole way, no walking!  That was my one condition if I was going to do it, and I would not give in no matter what.  But my problem was, I wasn’t sure if I believed in myself enough to keep that promise.  I had been really tired the last few weeks and couldn’t even run a mile the week before I was so tired… so 5K (3.11 miles)... Read the rest of this entry »

What a crazy week this has been! I guess things always get a bit out of control when a big holiday rolls around.  Many of my challengers update emails this week confirmed that!  ”Had a family reunion this week… didn’t get many miles in…” or “We were traveling around, and didn’t get much in…” and it seems like at least 5 of them are moving, and moving can DRAIN every last bit of energy! But all in all, it was still a great week! I have some fun news!  Our little Fat Butt Friday Challenge here has caught some attention!  The housing here at the college we attend and the someone in the dietitian department wants to help out and be a part of what we have going here!  I don’t know all the details yet, but I couldn’t be more thrilled to get more involved! We had such an AWESOME turn out with this 120 mile Summer Fitness Challenge, and I have heard from lots of other people who wished they had... Read the rest of this entry »

I got my life plan. (weheartit) Inquire within for details. AKPC_IDS += "218449,";Popularity: unranked [?] Read More →

Sorry, guys. Apparently I took the “sloth” thing a little too far yesterday and forgot to post. Fail. To be fair, I was helping my aunt clean her house and then walking around Greenlake with Judith, so it’s not like I was lazing about getting fat. Anyway, I thought about posting this one retroactively but I think I will just post twice today. Consider this a day of many sins. Were you mad that I didn’t post yesterday? Probably not. But if you were, that’s a sin. The sin of wrath (which is basically anger) is one of the SEVEN DEADLY SINS. I assume that righteous anger is not a sin, however I also assume that only Jesus has truly righteous anger. What do you think? In honor of wrath, here are some things that really piss me off. 1. Bad parenting. 2. Bland food. 3. When people lend my stuff out to other people without asking me. 4. Being asked about my finances by adults I don’t know. 5. Overly aggressive salespeople. 6. People who... Read the rest of this entry »

I hope everyone had a great week of exercising!  I know I did!  I put myself to the challenge of working a little harder and pushing myself a little farther to achieving a new personal high!  You may have seen my post this week: “Running in the Rain.”  Or… maybe not.  Doesn’t matter.  Anyway, yesterday as I was adding up and updating everyone’s miles, I started to feel like maybe I could have done better.  You know, run a little farther than what was required of me.  I had been feeling pretty good after my 2 mile routes, maybe it was time to try something a little more challenging… So I got on Google Maps and mapped out a 4 mile course for Ben and the boys to go with me.  The plan was to run 2 miles then walk 2 for a total 4. But things don’t always turn out the way you planned.  Sometimes, they turn out BETTER!  Now when I made out the map, I took notice of where the 5 K mark would be.  I... Read the rest of this entry »

I know this is a little obvious, but it’s too good an opportunity to pass up. I would much rather watch Man of the House (Tommy Lee Jones’ best role, in my humble opinion) than write a fully-developed blog entry right now. So, there you go. AKPC_IDS += "216046,";Popularity: unranked [?] Read More →

I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do with this week’s theme–if it should be a reflection on a specific example or a list, or just a free-write. So, in the seat-of-my-pants spirit that birthed blogging back in the ’90s, I am just going to start writing and see what comes of it. I think I am about as greedy as the average American. I don’t care as much about having nice things as some people, but I would like, for example, an iPhone. I don’t even know why. Wait! Yes I do! Because of the Google Maps app. Anyway, I also buy clothes at thrift stores even when I probably shouldn’t. Right now I cannot afford to be greedy because I have lots and lots of medical bills. However, that did not stop me from buying a six-dollar book today. I shan’t tell you what book it was. Greedy also has a non-acquisition connotation, I suppose. Of all the Deadly Sins, Greed is the only one that relates directly to coveting, which is one of the... Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been out of town all day today, and I really wanted to get my run in before the boys had to go to bed.  Peeking out the window, I was a little worried that it was going to rain.  It had been on and off light sprinkles all evening, but nothing serious.  I thought, “well, if it just stays like it has been for the last few hours, I could hurry up and run my 2 miles and be back in time to put the boys to bed on time.”  So I hurried and dressed the boys in their Superman P.J.’s, and tucked them snuggly into the jogging stroller with fruit snack in hand — key to a non-stressful and peaceful run. So off we went… I started out strong, the weather was cool and breezy, but not too chilly that I had to wear a jacket, and I was feeling good!  Then about a 1/2 mile into the run, all of a sudden, with no warning it started to pour down.  The thought crossed my mind to turn around.  I could slip and fall… or catch pneumonia again,... Read the rest of this entry »