Crystal Palaces out of Specks of Nothing

It doesn't take much to build a crystal palace-- just a little speck of nothing. Well, I should say almost nothing, because a speck itself is something. You take that little speck and hold it in your hands ever so gently. The slightest wisp of air could lift it away forever, and it is easily damaged by just about everything. It is only fitting, then that it becomes a crystal palace-- glistering fragility refracting a thousand rays of hope and light. As it oscillates in the sun it is divinely beautiful, casting a special glow on all around it.

I am very good at making crystal palaces out of specks of nothing. Except, they aren't specks of nothing at all, just very small specks of something; they must be something if they exist.

Three just ain't my number

Well...... I guess I spoke too soon. There will be no three.




The end.

Misplaced...

In the past month or so I've had some issues with misplacing things... generally when I'm on dates. For example, I left my diamond ring behind on one date where we made cookies. I didn't realize it until a few hours later when all of a sudden my finger squawked in naked awkwardness during my enrichment meeting. Finally it settled down a little when I put a replacement ring on it, and fortunately the real ring was found and returned most promptly. Fast forward a few more days to another date... I had pulled out my cell phone from my purse while I was sitting in the car; my date was getting a movie at Redbox. He needed help choosing one since our first choice wasn't there, so I chucked my phone into my purse and hopped out. After I was home and getting ready to set my alarm I realized that my phone was NOT in my purse! Honestly, I was more worried about not waking up in time for my all day rehearsal than I was about missing phone calls. Yes, my phone tends to get more action as an alarm clock than as a communication device. Sad, but true. Thankfully, my date found my phone and brought it back while I was at rehearsal.

Having misplaced two rather valuable items in connection with dates, you must be wondering what I lost this time. I guarantee, it's great. Valuing in at thousands of dollars and several hundred pounds.... yes, I misplaced my car!!

Here's what happened. I had a meeting at the ASB yesterday as part of my new job responsibilities (ps I have new work responsibilities!! I got a promotion of sorts and am now a liaison between processing and the Financial Aid home office!) Anyways, I drove up to my meeting, then came down to my office in the Amanda Knight Hall, which is right across the street from my apartment complex. By the end of the day I was so focused on my date that I ENTIRELY forgot that my car was at work and I needed to drive it home-- across the street. My co-worker Brittany asked me about it when I got in this morning.... good thing or I might have forgotten it a few days more!

UPDATE: So I walked to my car after work to take it home (poor thing!) and found a lovely piece of lime green paper tucked under my windshield wiper. Yes, my slip of the mind cost me potentially $15 from BYU parking. Apparently, you can't park in that lot between 1-5 am. Obviously I had no clue I was parked there but... I have appealed the ticket, eating some humble pie in order to explain that I honestly forgot my car. Yes, I really am blonde sometimes. Let's hope they have mercy.

UPDATE to the UPDATE: The BYU Parking Office approved my appeal!! They either felt bad giving a dumb person a ticket for being dumb, or they got such a kick out of reading my appeal they had goodwill towards me! Either way, my ticket was reduced to $5. I feel like that is a fair price to pay given the situation.

Cold Date

Talk about a cold reception. It went from ice cream to ice skating... fortunately the sparks on the date were more than enough to keep us warm!! Haha, I bet I had you fooled with that opening line but NO-- only the activities were cold. Pretty much there's nothing cold about Aric. For date numero dos we ventured one on one so we could talk and get to know each other some more. What a fun time! We joked, teased, laughed, shared, and all around had a great time! I am happy to report that I did not succumb to gravity on the ice, and Aric only fell once when he was trying to do a trick. Hopefully I will get some pictures of us after our next date. Yes, he's asked for a third helping of Erica and I must say, a third chance to continue getting to know Aric sounds most fabulous.

A Sliver of Summer in the Winter

Syndey hugged herself against the chilly March breeze, gazing out over the frozen lake nestle amongst the mountains. She inwardly reprimanded herself for being rebellious to the weather and wearing flip flops... not the best type of footwear for mountains and wandering. What is it like to walk on a frozen lake?? She shrugged, mentally noting that she needed to come back and try that experience with appropriate shoes.

Taking a tenuous seat on an obliging fallen tree, she inhaled the stiff mountain air and reflected on life. What a conglomeration of experiences it had been thus far! She never imagined that her journey would have led to this current moment, a moment filled with excitement for the future, yet unsettling doubt as well. In a leafless tree near her, a beautiful bird whistled a simple tune. He bravely opposed the winter, though his musical whimsy seemed far more effective than her silly shoe rebellion. She watched his movements for several minutes, enjoying his hopping and whistling in the tree as he filled his world with a warm sunshine yet lacking from the day.

What a world of memories that bird opened for Sydney as she contemplated her situation! He seemed to have known her forever, the way he cocked his pert head as he whistled; he accepted her fully for the imperfect and faulty human she was.

"Bird, do you know me? I think you do. You were there last time, months ago, when I couldn't find the strength to go on anymore. Circumstances made no sense and I felt like I had been hidden in an avalanche of cold, unfeeling snow. Somehow your song reached me and threw a sliver of summer hope into my desolate winter. How do you do it?

I think you were there again, in the days of my youth when life was a perpetual spring, overflowing with possibilities and novel adventures. You shared my joys and whistled resplendent songs to match my fearless moods. What fun times those were together!

Near and far, I think you've always been watching my way. Oh my bird, if only I could make you as happy as you've made me! I have no special song to brighten your day, the way you brighten mine. I can only try and hope that somehow I've shared something with you."

A closing car door abruptly interrupted Sydney's thoughts, and she smiled to herself. She glanced towards the tree. With a bob of his head, the bird flew away, towards the frosty mountainside. She stood up and began walking, a hint of warm air on the breeze now.

So we had a work conference this last week that focused on personal enrichment and seeking after good gifts. One of the sessions I attended was about Simple Gifts, and another was about finding stories in our lives. This little fiction piece is a study in a simple gift in life. It is amazing how many small, simple gifts in our lives affect us and change us.

Blind Date

So tonight I had a blind date. And, interestingly enough..... he's actually blind! Color blind, that is. Hopefully my effect wasn't lessened by potential lack of color. I spent my typical hour getting ready (shower, makeup, hair, clothes), and I even plucked my eyebrows last night in hopes of cleaning up my look. I won't comment on the frequency of that activity..... let's just say it falls under seldom to rare. But I was quite pleased with the final product (see above)! I was so pleased that I took a bunch of pictures of myself, with varying degrees of success. This one is by far my favorite.

It's been quite a while since I've been on a blind date, so I was a little nervous, but it all was so natural I didn't need to worry at all. It helped to have Jackie and Jeff there too, but Aric was super nice and great and easy to talk to. We went to Nicolitalia for pizza, then Laugh Out Loud, then to Maestro's for gelato.

I'm not quite in my storytelling groove... perhaps I'll give more details after we go ice skating Wednesday.

:)

Epicurean endeavors

Decorating Valentine's cookies-- homemade cookies and homemade frosting.

Yum!!

Veggie Pizza and my favorite knife :)

The Incredible Veggie Pizza, much loved at Julie's baby shower

I don't suppose any man has ever understood any woman since the beginning of things.

H.G. Wells (1866-1946)

My Wild Irish Rose

My Grandpa Price plays the harmonica. During our family reunion in 2006, shortly after my return from Ireland, we had a talent show, with each family presenting a talent. I represented my family, performing some newly learned reel steps from Ireland. When it came to Grandma and Grandpa's turn, Grandpa got up, put on some goofy glasses, and pulled out his harmonica. He played a song or two, then for his third song he dedicated it to me. That is one of my favorite memories of Grandpa... something special between the two of us.

Time for a change...

After at least ten years without bangs... I have them back!! I got my hair cut on Friday and absolutely love it! Interestingly, almost everyone has asked if I dyed my hair. I guess deep down at my roots, I really am not blonde. Here's some pics!




I'm still training them. So much fun! Plus there are layers coming down from the bangs too. I'll try and get a picture of those too. Fun fun!!