Creative Coma

As spring approaches (or as mother nature teases us with glimmers of spring) I realize what a drag I have been recently.  Oh, and by recently,  I mean the past 5 months.  I'm not sure what it is, but for the past few winters  I end up thinking that I won't make it out of winter alive or at least not with my sanity.  I used to looooove winter.  Snow days, snow forts, sledding, boarding, cozy fires. All those things now seem to bring on the anxiety that keeps me hidden in my bed for the better portion of November through March.  I don't know what it is.  I crave light, warmth, flip flops and t-shirts, the freedom to drive anywhere without wondering if my poor honda civic will make it from point A to point B without sliding to my death.  Not that I don't enjoy sliding around in the snow every now and then,  I just wish it wouldn't last THIS long.  Seriously though,  isn't five months a little on the long side?  Can't it go from, oh I don't know, December to January?  

Maybe it was my mission that did me in.  I spent two winters in southern Spain with southern california temperatures and although I thought I would really miss a white winter,  guess what folks? I didn't.  Not one bit.  Terrible isn't it?  I know!  I should care more about winter!  The snow covered mountains, the awesome ski resorts, the... k, thats all I can come up with, sorry winter lovers.  

There ARE some things that I do LIKE about winter.  I like it when it snows on Christmas,  I like being up at my cabin in the winter with friends, I like snowshoeing and I even enjoy myself when Ben forces me up to Alta to ski.  I did grow up skiing.  My parents met skiing for crying out loud!  My brother desperately wanted to be Johnny Moseley for awhile and my sister was a sponsored snowboarder!  not to mention I married into a die hard family of skiers! Great!  I did learn to ski when I was six and was forced into going up there a million times a year until I was about 15 and I started having soccer and bball practice on Saturdays. And, I do ENJOY skiing when I get up there, but  I always find myself up there, sitting on the ski lift, wondering when it will be warm enough for me to take the boat out and start waterskiing again.  I am never waiting in anticipation for the ski resorts to open up.  

Bottom line is:  I am a summer girl.  I wave buh bye to winter with a little chip on my shoulder... not to mention with tighter pants and some pasty white skin. Woe is me.  I also leave winter behind with some new found goals (on the positive end)  My newest goals include:

1. Getting myself into race shape (this could be a toughy):  I plan on heading to the SL running company for some new duds to go pound the pavement in (as soon as my next paycheck comes... and after I pay all of my bills, of course.  Responsibility really blows).

2. Redecorating:  I have become obsessed with updating my house and giving it a funkier feel.  I also have to do this on little or no money.  I am going to be refurbishing a lot o crap.  No worries, I have all my DIY mags dog eared and ready to go! 

3. Falling back in love with new music:  I used to peruse the internet constantly for the latest and greatest sounds and up and coming artists.  I think I made Ben a new mix almost once a week when we first started dating.  I am going to start that up again.  

4.  Rock Climbing:  This has been something I have wanted to do forever and really enjoy.  I spent about a year rock climbing with some buddies a few years back, but then I ended up dating one of them, breaking up with said person, and needless to say, we are no longer "climbing buddies".  Thus ended that stint.  Come to find out that Ben has a bunch of gear and wants to do it with me! Yay!  new hobby.  I may need some lessons first...

5.  Traveling:  I am a travel junkie.  As I have stated in earlier posts,  if I had it my way I would be here in Salt Lake for six months of the year and traveling all around the world the other six.  My goal is to take Ben to Spain before the end of the year... If I can get him away from work long enough.

I'm sure new goals will arise, but here you go for now.  Here's to sunny days and 70 degree temps!  

Sweet Eleanore

I had the pleasure of heading out to good ole' Erda last weekend w/ Ben to visit my teeny tiny Grandma Hale, the cutest Grandma you have probably ever seen.  My granparents lived in Logan for over 40 years, but when my Grandpa past away in late 2006, my Grandma got lonely and it was too hard to stay in her home by herself.  So, she headed down to my aunt Jane'ts ranch in Erda (for those of you who are wondering where Erda is, it lies just beyond the great salt lake near Toelle, way out west) for some r and r and to live in a cute little upstairs apartment above the garage next to the house.  That way my aunt can check on her often and someone is always nearby should she need it.  My aunt has several horses and two ponies at the ranch and my Grandma likes to sit and watch the horses next to the Oquirrh mountains. 

Anywho,  we ran out to take her some delicious shrimp alfredo, listen to Frank Sinatra and chat about old memories like days in the camper, fresh raspberries and cream and playing games in Grandma's basement.  

I love the little moments with her.  

Introducing....

I must apologize for forgetting to introduce the latest addition to the Curtis clan.  Please welcome :  LEONARD, a.k.a "Lenny".  He is adorable.  He is hilarious.  He is a big personality in a teeny tiny body.  Take a look for yourselves:  

family nap time with the latest addition

I'm pretty sure Ben thought I was nuts when I said I wanted another dog, but I think he has warmed up to it just fine :) (he Loooooooves the dogs)

I took one of Ben's old Hoven socks and cut out places for his head and legs to go. Voila!  A teeny weenie sweater.

Molly, a little unsure of Lenny at first.  I don't think she knew he was a dog.

Jack is obsessed with the fact that he is "sooo tiny mama!" 

Now best friends

all of my childhood dreams are becoming a reality. Two dogs?  My mom would have never allowed it.  I asked for a dog every Christmas, Birthday and holiday from the time I was five until I was about seventeen.  It took my own house and back yard to make it happen, but boy have I ever made it happen!

I knew I was a goner when I saw that face

Leonard.  Awesome.  Stop by for a visit to see the little stud.

'twas the season...

That's right.  Because I am a terrible blogger.  These photos come to you mid-January/post holiday season, but they come with love... and a fat headache.  Someone needs to have a chat with blogger about making it easier to post photos. 

Anywho, here is a recap of the past month or so, including a trip to the solomon center in Ogden for some surfing and skydiving.  check it out: 

The annual Christmas Sweater Soiree brought to you by Miaken and Kimmy:

We were into the plaid theme this year

The fake laugh friend pose:  always funny.

The guy next to me in this photo, Dallas, won best sweater of the night.  Obviously.  It was pink with fur and even the reindeers on the sweater had sweaters on, not to mention it was a little on the tight/short side.  I didn't stand a chance.

At the Solomon Center in Ogden on Christmas Eve day.  Ben, David and Keto decided to hit up the wave rider for some surfing. 

Keto "shreddin' it" on the boogie board

When I said "surfing"  earlier,   I really mean just getting on the board and biting it REALLY HARD  every 2 1/2 seconds. Love this shot of David:

Ben got the hang of it by the end and managed to show everyone up

The boys decided to make a day of it and blow the rest of their dough (my dough)  on indoor skydiving.  I was the designated money handler/photographer/key holder

Christmas Eve at the Hale household

We spent New Years weekend at our cabin in the Uintahs with the Fam.  Here I am with the nieces and nephews kicking back to catch Kung Fu Panda

Tara and Jackers sledding

Poor Halle had to be in a pink marshmallow suit.  She looked like the kid from A Christmas Story:  " I Can't get uuuuup!"

I forcefully put Jack's hair in pig tails.  You can tell he is thrilled about it.

Testing out our new snow shoes 

Ben hitting jumps on the snowmobile

Out "bilin" with the family.  It was so cold that day Ben got frostbite on parts of his face!

It was a gorgeous day.

And there you have it.  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 

Photo update

Here is a little photo update for those of you just DYING to see the latest of B & D... and by dying, I mean if you are bored at work and have already reached your facebook stalking quota for the day and have nothing left to do but actually work OR check out the latest post on the blog of yours truly.  Here is a plethora of pics from the past couple months:

Just in case you missed our halloween costumes...

we went as each other.  It didn't turn out so well (obviously).  You can imagine in your own minds what you think we look like.  I'm not writing it here.

The fabulous crew (sans the moustaches)

At T foxes birthday/turned moustache party, thanks to Kim's fabulous "moustache kit" bday gift...

Miaken's bday extravaganza and all of the madness that came with it:  Hiking Bald mountain, random indoor helmet wearing, excess amounts of food (and apparently nose picking) and way too much laughing.  My favorite photo is the fake laugh pose with our sparkling cider.  My friend Gentry has the best fake laugh face ever!  Kim comes in a close second.

Reincarnation Requests

I am making a request that, if I am reincarnated, I want to come back as this:

Me. Zebra.  Got it?

In our court...

Amidst our nation's complete economic implosion.... at least we have one thing to look forward to.  I'll take it.