An aging memory

So I was watching the kiddos last night and we were in the middle of bedtime, when I suddenly saw something. There was a cow puppet in the floor. This was not just any cow, this was a cow that I remember from when Max was a baby. Not just baby baby, he was probably about 6 weeks old the first time I saw the cow.

It was the first time I babysat for him, he still had that new baby smell and everything. Anyway, back then I used to sleepover and then my parents would pick me up in the morning. So, the first morning after watching my sweet new baby cousin Max, I decided to entertain him while I waited for my parents.

I came across a cow puppet, and decided to put on a puppet show. The cow was a superhero named Super Steak, and his secret identity was Mr. Cow (not creative, I know). Super Steak saved all the stuffed animals from natural disasters, evil mastermind action figures, etc. Anyway, this was pretty frequent for the first couple of years, and the memories are precious.

You can imagine my surprise when I saw that puppet on the floor, almost 8 years later. I didn't know that they even still had that. In a split second, all my memories of those Sunday morning puppet show for the infant Max came rushing back. Before he could talk, or sit up, or even hold his own head up. My baby! I looked at the 7-yr-old sitting in his bed, covered in Batman sheets, with his missing teeth and adult teeth trying to come in. He was no longer the little baby that I had made up those stories for. So you can imagine my surprise when I told Max the history of that cow, and he immediately said, "Ok, pick up the story where you left off."

I laughed.

I couldn't even remember where we'd left off, I was 17 when I last made up a Mr. Cow story.

I can't believe how much memory was attached to just one little puppet.

5 Fun Facts for June

It's that time again for another rousing round of fun facts! I decided that this month's facts will be tailored to the Summer season, as opposed to simply being random fun facts.

1. My favorite summertime treat is a cherry Snow Cone. Don't know why, just love it. I also really like having a super red tongue after I'm finished eating one. Snow cones remind me of July and fireworks, maybe that's where the red factor comes in.

2. I love flip flops. I'm currently trashing a pair that I bought at Old Navy for $5. Although, I'm very aware of how quickly wearing flip-flops can undo a perfectly done pedicure. I try not to over-wear them, just because I know that they're not as good for my feet as my sneakers.

3. June is my favorite Summer month, and I haven't the slightest clue as to why, although it may have something to do with the heat. I immediately think smoldering hot sunshine-y death whenever someone says July or August. I guess I always keep my fingers crossed for 70-75 degree weather in June before it shoots up to 90.

4. Sheldon's first road trip was this month. Meredith and I drove down to St. George to see The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn, something we'd been looking forward to since February.

5. I'm totally and completely obsessed with the song Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, although I equally love Boyce Avenue's cover of it as well. I think I just have a mad crush on the lyrical magnificence that is the song.

St George Trip

So this weekend was mine and Mere's big adventure to St. George to see The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn. We drove Sheldon down on Friday and we stayed with my Aunt Deanne. We saw the show, which was spectacular! Before we left the next day, we had brunch with Aunt Deanne and my grandpa. Here are a few visuals from our trip.

I loved this sign at the Tuacahn gift shop, so I just had to snap a photo.

Ariel's grotto on the set

The castle, and the beach on set

Me and Mere

Waiting for the show to start

The poster

We made a brief stop so that we could snap a pic of the St George Temple on the way back

Summer of Reading: Ask For It

This week, I read Ask for It: How woman can use the power of negotiation to get what they really want by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever.

This book was AMAZING!! I think every woman should read this book in their twenties, preferably as they are finishing college and trying to pursue full-time employment.

What Do I Need?
Likeable colleagues
Power and responsibility
Flexibility
Opportunities to learn more

What I Really Want

 What kinds of goals should I have?

Personal, Financial, Athletic, Hobby-related 

Self improvement, Material, Philanthropic, and Political

Now that I have a clear idea of the kinds of goals I should make, I made a list (of course!):

Personal- Read more books (check out the posts on A Summer of Reading)
Financial- Up my credit limit to $1000
Athletic- Complete in 10k
Hobby related- Finish a draft of my novel
Self improvement- Stop using the word 'should,' because it has no indication that a situation is changing
Material-Purchase good quality art supplies (brush set, acrylic paints)
Philanthropic- Donate to Westminster College's giving campaign that goes towards student scholarships
Political- Read Political Cornflakes everyday

...because I'm happy

Usually I try not to let a certain song represent my life, only because I think it is so cliché. Although, I'm willing to make an exception right now.

I'm happy.

Not just tra-la-la happy, but genuinely oh-my-gosh who-deserves-all-this-awesomeness kind of happy.

I have a job whose title I love, and responsibilities that I relish.

I not only got into the MACL program at Westminster, and my U of U  ELP credits all transferred in (6 down, 29 to go!).

I have a great group of friends who are off having their own amazing adventures that I get to hear all about.

I fulfilled my secret dream of becoming an artist, at some point I may end up spending more money on canvases than on DVDs (if you can believe it).

I just finished a complete draft of my novel Lindsey, Not Perfect and have already been inspired top write 4 companion novels.

I have a wonderful boyfriend who is seriously becoming one of my best friends.

My friend Emma and I are going to see The Last Five Years this week at the Babcock Theatre.

Meredith and I are going to see The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn in St. George this weekend!

So, back to the song. See the lyrics below:

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

The Greatest Man I Never Knew

I love Reba McEntire.

On one of her greatest hits CDs, there is a song called 'The Greatest Man I Never Knew.' I've been listening to it for at least a year on my iPod, and I've always thought that it was about a man who loved a woman from afar. It made sense at the time.

My dear friend Erica lost her dad recently. The day I found out, I was driving to visit my friend Victoria, listening to my iPod. That song came on, and I suddenly realized something. It wasn't about a man secretly loving a woman who lives down the hall, it was about a father who loved his daughter. The song talks about when the man dies, and how he always thought she knew he loved her.

The greatest man I never knew

Lived just down the hall

And everyday we said hello

But never touched at all

He was in his paper

I was in my room

How was I to know he thought I hung the moon

The greatest man I never knew

Came home late every night

He never had too much to say

Too much was on his mind

I never really knew him

And now it seems so sad

Everything he gave to us took all he had

Then the days turned into years

And the memories to black and white

He grew cold like an old winter wind

Blowing across my life

The greatest words I never heard

I guess I'll never hear

The man I thought would never die

S'been dead almost a year

He was good at business

But there was business left to do

He never said he loved me

Guess he thought I knew

I can't imagine losing my dad right now. Sure we fight, a lot, but I always appreciate him.

Erica and her family mean an awful lot to me, and have for about 10yrs now. I keep thinking about how great of a man her dad must've been to raise such an amazing daughter like her. She is a beacon of kindness, compassion, friendship, honesty, integrity, and a general kind of love that many people are lacking.

She helped me prepare to go through the temple two years ago, she brought me cupcakes when I was recovering from my colonoscopy, she made me a red hooded cape for Halloween one year, she frequented Village Inn with me on free pie night all summer one year, she hems my clothes so that they'll fit right, and she is an outstanding mom. I love her kids to pieces, and I know that they are so amazing because they have her to guide them.

So anyway, here's to Larry Barfuss, the greatest man I never knew; because without him, I wouldn't have Erica. Rest in Peace, sweet man.

Just call me Linds

You know, not a lot of people call me Linds.

I like it when people call me by my nickname, but it always throws me off. There are a few people I've gotten used to it with, such as my parents and some of my neighborhood friends.

A few of the professors at Westminster have taken to calling me Linds, as has my boyfriend's dad.

It makes me wonder how many variations of my name could also be my nickname.
For example:

Linz
Miss L
Z
Linny
L squared

etc, etc.

I guess you can just call me Linds and we'll call it good :)

Summer of Reading: Something Borrowed

This week, I read Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin.

I loved the film, mostly because the cast was great and I just love Ginnifer Goodwin.

The novel is good too! I love the narrative style of Rachel, how she is more about telling the tale via her inner monologues than with the spoken dialogue. I think it is great at capturing how even though we love our friends, sometimes they aren't good for us in several different ways.

My favorite part of the book was when Rachel realizes the little things about herself that are different from her friend Darcy, but how they are things that are good because of the differences.

The film follows the novel well, with the exception of a few small details, but I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever had issues with their best friend.