I'm looking to strike a deal

Any single mens out there looking to merge?

Today as I looked over the new health benefit prices (thanks to budget cuts) it seems that the "employee only" will have to pay almost four times as much a month where as the "employee and spouse" will only be twice the regular cost. So instead of complaining about this not being fair to the single people, I decided to take advantage.

So, if you're interested, or know someone who might be, please have them submit the following:
1. current cost of medical coverage provided by their employer (if applicable)
2. resume and a few letters of recommendation
3. chocolates to sweeten the deal
Thanks so much!

10 on Tues.day-mother

10 things I learned from my mother-

1. My mother taught me to hold myself responsible for what happens in life.

2. My mother taught me to look for the good in others because "are we not all beggars?"

3. My mother taught me the value of a home cooked meal (on the pocket book and in a family.)

4. My mother taught me that sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh at yourself.

5. My mother taught me that love is shown in more than one way you just have to look for it.

6. My mother taught me that friends will come and go so cherish them when you have them but don't fret when they are the fair weather type, change or disappear, more will come.

7. My mother taught me that doing what everyone else is doing isn't always what is right for you (or me.)

8. My mother taught me humility and patience and how they really don't work without each other.

9. My mother taught me that it is great to do what you love but it sometimes you can't so you learn to love what you do.

10. My mother taught me that serving others not only allows you to forget yourself and your own sorrows but that it brings happiness because as we serve others we serve Heavenly Father.

A long weekend

Dear friends,


I realize that I've been absent since Thursday. Well, that's because I haven't stopped since then. It all started because I went to the midnight showing of Ironman 2 after having worked all day and then having an activity for church. Friday I worked all day also and had a training session that night. Saturday was a fun day where my ward went to the Gila Valley which is about 2 and a half hours away from Chandler.

Here is my friend Jordy picking up some breakfast on our way... gotta love him!


Here is the temple and me attempting to take my picture with it!




I could have done it the way Ginger and Romeo did it...




Again, I love Jordy:)

It was a wonderful trip with my ward... aren't we cute!? (I'm looking for a bigger one)


Sunday was a good mother's day, it just went so quickly.

Back to normal... let's hope!

Finger Nails

All I have to say is that if one wants to clip their finger nails, it is best done:
A) while doing general grooming... usually done in the privacy of one's home/bathroom.
B) by a professional, in a special place for such AKA a nail salon.
C) if worse comes to worse, in the most private place possible ie a dark corner, just outside the door.


AND NEVER:
A) during a professor's lecture in a class of fewer than 15 people, with the trash can secured between your feet to hopefully catch the flying clippings.
B) during any sort of group meeting be it professional, religious or familiar.
C) on a date.


Also, could we get some people a tissue... personally, snot is not my cup of tea and I don't care to know if it is yours because it really only makes me dry heave.

Those who complain but don't contribute...

IN GENERAL...I just wish that those that don't even attempt to state their opinion or contribute to the decision making would keep their disgruntled-ness to themselves. I once read something in a team building type book about how if you want to have a strong team, you need to give everyone a chance to share what they would choose etc. It has helped in almost every situation and even those those that are in the minority, unhappy as they may be about the outcome, are still more willing to support the final decision because they were given a say. If you don't say anything, we cannot help you. I still have yet to figure out mind reading. I also think that it might come from people being unwilling to accept the outcome. If I learned anything from volunteering with kindergartners is this "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit." Taking things as they come has always served much better than not... the end. (This of course does not include severe social injustice, deep moral issues and matters of the heart.)

Soap-boxing

I felt inspired by some dum dum today that called my house to make this weeks posts a daily soap box.

Today's is about phone etiquette. Some guy called my house phone from the bank where my mom keeps track of my grandma's money stuffs. He's called before I'm sure and it seems like they are on a familiar first name basis because when I answered with "hello" he said, "Noelle?"

Me (irritated already): "Nope"
Him (quietly): "Ummm do I have the wrong number"
Me (same): "Nope, you just guessed the wrong person"
Him (catching on): "Is she there"
Me: "Nope"
Him: something about calling her back... blah blah yadda yadda yadda

Seriously, is it so hard to ask for someone by name, even if you know that they will most likely answer the phone?! And it was a land line. For real.

Yes, I might have been short with him and yes, I could have been more helpful and forthcoming with information and yes I know that my mother is the only one who usually answers the phone during the day and I do sound just like her... but I don't care. If you are calling in regards to business on a phone line that is not a personal line for that person, ask for them. It is just polite. Or use a full sentence. "Is Noelle there?" or "May I please speak with Noelle?" I would have even been okay with "is this Noelle?" but I guess I just need to be more patient.

The highlight of my weekend

I was not the happiest camper having to get up Saturday morning to go to work by 6:45 AM so this might have cheered me more than it normally would have but regardless, it brought a smile to my face. The synchronized swim team practices on Saturday mornings and this time every year the team ads a routine to the show that has their dads in it. I walked out of the guard room imagining I would see the normal sized legs sticking out of the water but the hairy, man legs of some of the dads. I was so impressed and intrigued by the sight that I sat and watched... and obviously took a picture. LOVED IT!