Christmas is almost here!

(not a great picture because I took it with my iPad)

This is my lone Christmas decoration! I don't currently own a Christmas tree and after all of the packing and unpacking I've done in the past few months this is the extent of my decorating this year.

The poinsettia and card are from the family ward. I was pleasantly surprised to see it on my door step last Sunday after I came home from a Christmas concert for a neighboring stake. Since I'm in a new place and don't know very many people yet, I've been extremely touched by the kindness of those that have made an effort to remember me. I've been lucky to get several Christmas cards from family and friends. A few people at work gave me treats (I didn't even think to bring treats for them...bad Ann-Marie!) and it has just meant much more this year when I'm feeling a little lost and lonely without my friends and family around me.

It has made me reflect on how I want to make more of an effort to seek out those that are a little lonely or forgotten. I have learned in the past month or so how important it is to look for those that are new and to fellowship them right away, not wait for someone else to do it. There is a family in the family ward that I'll be attending that has been so sweet to me. They've had me over for dinner, checked in on me during the Hurricane, and invited me to watch the First Presidency devotional with them. They are even taking me to the airport tomorrow. So this Christmas I'm extra thankful for the kindness of those around me and am committing to being better myself in including those that need a friend!

So this one time I moved across the country...

Now that I've been in Virginia for a little over a month and am starting to feel more settled in, I thought I'd try to revive the blog. I know that my aunt Tammy still checks every so often to see if I've written, so if nothing else...this one's for you Tammy!

My cross-country trek went well. It was a long time in the car filled with laughter, a lame book on cd (which we gave up on after a while and switched to a less lame one), snacks, and almost being left at a gas station.

What's that last one about you ask??? Here's the story:

I drove the first day (all 18 hours, yuck!) with my best friend Sariah. We left her house in Heber about 5:00 in the AM and drove all day long. I did the last few hours by myself and was tired and cranky by the time I got to my parents house a little before midnight. (Mostly I was cranky because I couldn't see the sign for their gravel road and went past it and had to turn around).

The next morning my mom and I took off for the second half of the trip. We stopped at my sister Shelly's house in Iowa for a few hours before getting on the road again.
     **By the way...if you are stupid like me and leave your car window rolled down with lots of your possessions inside, be sure to do this when you are in Iowa. And also when you have said your morning prayers. Because I'm pretty sure that's why no one stole anything out of my car when they had plenty of opportunity and time to do so. I'm was extremely blessed on this trip!**

Anyway, so that night my mom and I stayed in a hotel in a small town in Ohio. The next morning we got back on the road and not to long after starting out we stopped at a gas station. When you are driving on the Ohio turnpike (a giant toll road) they have these service stations with gas and food courts every so often. It's nice because you don't have to get off the freeway and pay the toll again.

So my mom was driving and we stop for gas. I get out, swipe my credit card, and get the gas going. Then I go into the service station to use the bathroom. When I walked outside again, I see my mom pulling away from the gas station and it looks like she's going towards the on ramp for the freeway again. Then she circles around the pumps and starts for the parking lot. At this point I notice that she hasn't even put my gas cap back on or closed the little gas door.

She's driving around and I'm not sure where she's headed. So I start running after her and waving my arms. I'm thinking "What is she doing? Is she going to leave me here at the gas station? I don't even have my phone with me! My mom's taking my car with all my stuff and leaving me!!!"

Finally she pulls in a parking spot, but then pulls out again. I had no idea what was going through her head! I caught up with her and once my car was in park, I asked why she was driving around erratically and why she hadn't even closed my gas tank. I guess she thought that the bathrooms were in another area, which was why she was driving around like a crazy person, but after that I took the keys for a while and drove myself. She claims that she wouldn't leave me at a gas station, but I wasn't so sure in the moment!

Moral of the Story: Always carry your phone, you never know if you're mom will try to leave you stranded in Ohio!

More stories to come soon, for now take a look at the pretty new library I'm going to be in. It will open at the end of February, but hopefully I'll start working out of it in early January!

Oh Facebook

This Facebook ad caught my attention this morning and made me laugh. I didn't go to the site, but I'm guessing that it's probably not as great of a deal as the ad makes it sound!

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday was my 7 year anniversary of working at the Library.

It was also my 5 year anniversary of being endowed in the Nauvoo Temple!

My Summer (so far)

Wow can you believe it's almost July??

It's already been a busy summer.

I've had 2 teen activities at the Library. For the first activity we made Supernatural Trail Mix and other yummy treats.

The 2nd activity was a lock in from 7-11 pm on a Thursday night. I had 126 kids come! Good thing I planned for about 70 kids eating 3 slices of pizza each, so in actuality each kid got at least 2 slices. By the way...have you ever paid over $300 for pizza?? I now have :) It was a fun activity and I think everyone had a great time. Here's a video of Kat teaching part of the Michael Jackson Thriller Dance!


I only lost 1 kid out of the 126. Those are pretty good odds I think! I have seen the kid since, so I know he is alive and well!

Yesterday I was able to spend most of the day with Ally Carter (author of the Gallagher Girl series that starts with I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You and the Heist Society Series). She was so fun to hang out with and then she spoke and signed books yesterday evening. I dressed up as a Gallagher Girl for her presentation.




I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have an awesome job!!

Besides hiking the Y and hiking in Bryce Canyon, I've also gone to a Richard Marx concert and tonight I'm going to the Utah Arts Festival. I have plans to go to a rodeo and demolition derby too by the end of the summer.


What have you been doing this summer?

Spring Cleaning

Last night I was entering in my brothers new number into my phone. I started looking at all of the different people I have saved in my phone. Some people I've known since I lived in Rexburg, several I met while I was in Nauvoo, and I had people in a variety of wards and jobs that I've had over the years.

It was fun going down memory lane! Then I started deleting those that I haven't talked to in years and probably don't even have correct info for anymore anyway. There were a few people that I just had first names and didn't even really remember who it was.

I should do the same with my e-mail contacts too. It felt good to streamline!

Memorial Day Weekend

Monday I went hiking in Bryce Canyon with Anjie and Kelly. We had a great time!

Here's a link to my photo album I made on Facebook. Enjoy!

This is too good...

I was reading through my American Libraries Direct newsletter today (it's compiled by ALA) and came across this blog. It was too good not the share.

Hot Guys Reading Books! Check it out!

Also, have you read Catalog Living? It's one of my favorite websites to browse from time to time!

I particularly liked this post. And this one. And one more. Those are just the recent ones I liked. You'll have to take some time to get a real feel for the website.

You're welcome!

Found at BYU

I was on campus tonight mailing a package and saw this as I was leaving! (As a side note: I love mailing things from the pack and ship in the basement of the bookstore because it's open until 8pm and you don't have to deal with a line. Unlike the post office that closes the same time I get off work and there's always a line. Win, Win!)

Front

Back

Random Thought

I was thinking the other day how much it would stink if you were in the drive thru of a food establishment (ok, so I was in the drive thru of In-N-Out at the time) and your car broke down. What would you even do? The people behind you would be mad and there's not much you could do about it.

Just some food for thought!

I know I'm so punny! :)

Your Face

I really like my job, but some days it is just plain awesome. Take yesterday for example, I got paid to have a make over. Who does that?

We had a skin care and makeup class for teens and I got to be the model. Also the teacher gave me some samples of what she used. It was pretty sweet!

So when I came home I had to take a few pictures, right? It is hard to take a good self portrait. Here are a few of the out takes that weren't too hideous!



I thought the picture in the bottom left corner was the best. So while I was at it, I changed my facebook profile pic to that one!

Blog Stalking

Occasionally, I blog stalk the blog http://teachinfourth.blogspot.com/. The author is a 5th grade teacher and it's really fun to get a look at what happens in his classroom as well as Mr. Z's personal interests in photography and other media. I love his Moments with Joey posts. They are touching and often laugh out loud hilarious!

My most recent favorite though was this post. Oh Baby! It found me giggling at my desk at work and put a smile on my face for the rest of the day. I'm not a big Bieber fan, but there's something about listening to a bunch of 5th graders unabashedly belting out a song that just made me happy! Enjoy!!

The Book is NOT Dead!

Last night I had the incredible opportunity to meet Markus Zusak! He is most well known for his book "The Book Thief" which is an incredible read! (I actually was lucky enough to go to lunch with him and some other co-workers in the afternoon.)

He spoke to a packed ballroom (with about 450 people) at the library at 6:00 and began signing books at 7. I don't know how many people got books signed, but I would guess it was over half the crowd.

I didn't get home until 1:30 am this morning! He wanted to spend a few minutes with each person and there were just so many people! It was worth it though. Everyone left with a smile and we were all slap happy by the end of the night/beginning of the morning :)


It made me happy to see so many people eager to meet an author and got me thinking that if we ever go completely to e-books, book signings will either no longer exist or be vastly different. I loved the feeling of community as people talked with one another as they waited in line, as they shared common interests. How often do we talk to our neighbors and to strangers? Not very often. Last night was an opportunity to meet other members of my community and I had a great time chatting with lots of different people. One couple who ended up being the last people to get their books signed said that they had gone to see a movie while they waited their turn. They saw The Chronicles of Narnia, and that's not ever a short movie! People left and came back with food and games to entertain themselves as they waited.

I enjoyed Markus's remarks. He too talked at the end of his speech about how thrilled he was to see a ballroom full of readers with books in their laps. That too often our world is plugged in and doesn't talk to each other enough. He was so gracious as he signed books for 6 1/2 hours. He seemed to love talking with each person.
Also after hearing Markus speak, I determined that I need to find me an Australian man, because wow I could listen to anything if said in that Australian accent!

I gotta say, I look pretty good at 1:30 in the morning. I never knew!
I'm always asleep at that time!

[Photos courtesy of Adrienne ]

Random Conversation with a Library Patron

Today I had this random conversation with a 20-something guy at the library. Here's how it went down:
Is your name Trisha?

No

What is your name?

Ann-Marie

Do you want to go out sometime?

No, I’m good.

Are you married?

No

Well I’ve just seen you around. Have you seen me before?

Maybe, I see a lot of people all the time.

Well you’re pretty.

Thanks!

I just didn't even really know what to say to him. The conversation was so out of the blue, and I honestly haven't noticed him in here before. I don't even know his name...

What if I just turned down my soul mate??? :)

Post Edit: 3 Things
1. He came back and again asked if my name was Trisha. Again I told him it was Ann-Marie and again he didn't introduce himself. He wasn't bad looking, but maybe not the sharpest tool in the shed.

2. Regardless, the interaction totally made my day and I laughed about it all day long.

3. Should I be worried that my gut reaction was to say no? :)

One more thing...My co-worker Megan went to Panda Express for dinner that night and donated her fortune to me because she thought it was applicable:
Accept the affections offered to you- They are sincere!

Stuff

Here are some video's I've seen lately that I have liked. What do you think?


Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

I thought this was beautiful and really creative.



My brother posted this on Facebook and my boss also mentioned it to me. Don't bug me when I'm reading a book!

Sweet Mashups!

Bad Blogger

I know I've been a bad blogger! I've done lots of things lately that I want to blog about, but haven't yet had the time. But look soon for pics from my awesome trips to Seattle and Hershey, PA, as well as my first roller derby.

For now, a fall post:


Fall leaves = Golden light outside my door.

When I came home the other night and unlocked my door, I noticed that the beautiful yellow leaves on the tree over my entrance makes a lovely golden light outside about 5:30 pm.

White Trash Summer

(Sorry the picture's so small, I forgot to bring my camera and took it with my phone)

So my friends and I decided to have a White Trash Summer. We were going to go to a rodeo, roller derby, monster truck rally, and demolition derby.

Well, it's the middle of August and so far we've only done one. But we are going to continue the theme into the fall and go to a roller derby in September.

On Saturday we went to the Juab County Fair in Nephi and saw their demolition derby! It was so awesome! I loved it. The people watching was great (apparently it is all the rage for the teenage girls to crimp their hair, however they only crimp it half way down, why? we don't know!) and I was really entertained by the cars smashing into one another. I'd love to go to another demolition derby!

Call me Bob the Builder

Look what I built today!


A cute little table and 2 stools for my new apartment. More pictures will come when I'm actually moved in and settled.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

(Group shot inside the balloon! Me, Katie, Jessica, Kaylene, and Melanie)

This last Thursday (July 15th) I went on a Hot Air Balloon ride. My old roommate Katie and I have been talking about doing this for years and we finally did it! Two of her roommates and a friend of one of her roommates came with us.

We camped the night before in Midway (it's beautiful up there!) and went to meet the balloon people at 6:15 am. They took us in their van to the Heber airport and we got to watch them get everything set up. First they blow air into the balloon with a fan and then attach it to the basket while the basket is laying on it's side. Then they further inflate the balloon with hot air after setting it upright.

We climbed into the basket and were off! It was really cool because you were flat on the ground and they just slowly lifted up. The highest we got (at least the highest the pilot mentioned to us) was 1600 feet. It was a beautiful morning and we didn't have any turbulence. It was so surreal to just be floating in the air and so cool!

I would love to go in another hot air balloon sometime, it was so much fun!

Here are some pictures and videos from my adventure.






This is called milking the balloon, they basically wrestle the air out of the balloon so they can pack it back up.

Look what came in the mail yesterday!

It's official I'm graduated and I have the diploma to prove it!