She Tagged Me!

So, I actually really wanted to be tagged. No surprise, as anybody on my email list would know. I love stuff like this. So, thanks Beth! Anyhow, the rules of the game are as follows.

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning. B. Each player answers the questions about themselves. C. At the end of the game the player tags 5 people, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 years ago: I was finishing up my senior year of high school. Just finished applying to colleges and was probably day dreaming about my fabulous four years I was planning on spending at BYU- Hawaii. I was also doing nutty projects for my Western Civ class, like water color paintings of the Happy Field of Food and writing a song on the guitar about Nicholas Copernicus. I was probably doing a play and hoping I didn't fail Math Analysis -- which I didn't. Barely.

5 things on my to-do list today: 1) Test drive cars. 2) get a job in Salt Lake, 3) wash & straighten my hair tonight or tomorrow. 4) Make a treat and bring it when I visit my newly released bishop and his wife, 5) watch the season premier of Lost with Ben.

Snacks I enjoy: Beef jerky, Creamies ice cream bars, cookies, chocolate (especially white), pickles, bread & cheese and Kashi Crunch Bars. Yum!

I would do if I were suddenly a billionaire: Build my dream house, buy a diesel 4wd car, take a 3 month vacation to South America and learn Spanish, fund my new business, save a village or two in Africa, and put money away for the future (for mine and any progeny that should show up). And buy my brother the family property in NJ. And send a couple people to college. Maybe even send myself to law school.

3 of my bad habits: 1) Picking at my lips. I'm terrible. I'm surprised I still have lips left. 2) Interrupting people while they are speaking. I've never had anyone say anything about it to me, but I notice I do it a lot. 3) Speeding. I thought I would calm down after I turned 25 and not be in such a rush. Apparently not. I just can't seem to help it. I'm really just relieved I still have a license.

5 places I have lived: Red Bank, NJ, Provo, UT, Moscow, Russia, Orange County , CA and Salt Lake City, UT.

5 jobs that I have had: Program Manager, Policy Analyst, Executive Assistant, Case Manager and Group Living Staff.

5 things people don't know about me: Hmmm.... I always consider myself a pretty open book. But let's see if I can think of anything... 1) I can obsess over smooth surfaces -- thus why I pick my lips unrelentingly. But any smooth surface I'm near can be the object of my obsession -- hair on the back of a sweater someone's wearing, fuzzy lint on a skirt at the clothing store, wood chipping off a desk top, paint chipping on a wall.... whatever. 2) I have a hard time transitioning from one activity to another. If you start me on something, I get in a zone and won't want to leave it for hours, whether it be cleaning, dancing, working, web surfing, playing games, sleeping, running.... doesn't matter. I just like to keep going with something once I've started it -- for ridiculously, unreasonably long periods of time. I sometimes wonder if I have some kind of condition because I think it's so weird and extreme. 3) When I was in the 6th grade, I was a total potty mouth. As bad as it gets. No joke. 4) I still think about getting a tattoo. I haven't, of course. Yet. But I really want one. 5) I'm very good at doing my laundry. I never let it pile up. I don't always put it away immediately, but I wash it very regularly.

5 people I tag are: Emery, Katie, Anne, Holly & Adrian.

Colors

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Green

You're green, the color of growth and vigor. Good-hearted and giving, you have a knack for finding and bringing out the best in people. Green is the most down-to-earth color in the spectrum — reliable and trustworthy. People know they can count on you to be around in times of need, since your concern for people is genuine and sincere. You take pride in being a good friend. For you, success is measured in terms of personal achievement and growth, not by status or position. Rare as emeralds, greens are wonderful, natural people. It truly is your color!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/rd/50651/color/index.jsp?testname=colorogt&resultid=C

Change

Yesterday was a day of great change. I had to work all day (it was the last day of Sundance. Thank goodness it's over), but that didn't stop things from changing. For one, they released the bishopric in my ward. Having grown up in the church, I should be used to this. The role of bishop was always changing hands from one friend of my parents to another. This one makes me really sad though. For one, it's the first ward where I've really worked closely with the bishopric, having served as the R.S. President for a while. It's also the first ward I've stayed in for longer than 6 months since I left my home ward in NJ. And the bishop, Bishop Ashby, was just the coolest, most down-to-earth, nonjudgemental, caring, wise and admirable person. I really adore him. And his wife. I was her visiting teacher for a long time. What a great couple. They're great. And now they won't be in the ward anymore. How sad for me. And though the new bishop will do a wonderful job, I'm sure, I am anticipating having a very hard time adjusting to the switch. I just feel a little robbed.

In another change of leadership, President Hinckley passed away yesterday. It's a bit silly that he was 97 yrs old and I still didn't see it coming. I saw it coming last year when he gave what sounded like a goodbye speech at General Conference. But not this year. And then it just happened, just like that. But I'm not quite as sad about that. I feel a lot like my sister-in-law mentioned, in that I am sure he is delighted to be reunited with his wife. He seemed to really miss her. You can't help in delight over a joyous reunion, even if it's your loss. He and his excellent handling of church affairs and all his wisdom will be missed. Sometimes I have mixed feelings about the policies of the Church and don't know quite what to think when the Church makes some kind of announcement about its opinion on various political issues. As a whole, however, I would have to say that I believe President Hinckley has lead the Church marvelously in a very tricky time.

To Buy Now or Buy Later. That Is The Question

So, I got Pam fixed again. It was a painful penny. Many pennies, in fact. After my mechanic broke the news to me about the bill, he had some other news to break. I love my mechanic. I am so lucky to have found him. He doesn't try to give me services I don't need, he's never overcharged me for anything, and he is kind enough to level with me, despite the fact that I'm female.

And so he dispensed his advice to me a couple days ago. In summation, he said, "Sharon, for the kind of driving you do, you need to get rid of this car. You need a Honda CR-V or something like it that can handle the canyon every day. Trade Pam in at a dealership and get a new 2007 so you get a slightly cheaper, new car. And then you'll have a warranty for a couple years, should anything come up. And buy at the end of this month."

WHAT!?!?! Do you KNOW that that Honda CR-V costs over $20,000? Because I've been looking, and they cost AT LEAST that much. And the one that I want, which would have leather seats, would undoubtedly cost a lot more than that. Hello!

But, you know he's right. I just keep thinking that it would be more affordable if I could wait even 8 months. In actuality, that's not true, because I'm not going to be any richer in 8 months. I'll probably be poorer and Pam will be a few thousand miles farther along on her death march. AH! Besides, I could probably get a $0 down for 12 months deal, which would make the amount of money I have today compared to 8 months from now very inconsequential.

But I really don't want to go into debt for a car. I could foot a good chunk of the bill, but not all. And I really wasn't saving my money for a car. It was for the studio! I don't want to use it for a car! I have a hard enough time as it is catering to my expensive taste on a nonprofit manager's budget without having to buy new cars all the time. Honestly!


What a quandary. Any advice? Car preferences? I also thought about a Toyota RAV4. Male keeps telling me they're both small cars. And he makes it sound like a bad thing. Can anyone recommend a better option?

Taking into consideration I've been driving a VW Beetle for the last 5+ years, which is slightly larger than my VW Rabbit I drove before that, I have a hard time understanding what Male means my "small". To me, that's a WHOLE LOT OF ROOM! I'd have four whole doors! Four! Count 'em! And I could seat 5 whole people, as opposed to 2 people and two mini-people without heads in the back.

To be honest, I've wanted to have a roomier, more substantial car for a while (and I wouldn't mind if it had leather seats... that were heated.... and a moonroof.:)) So, I start to get all excited about it at first. But the cost involved in getting it just makes me sick to my stomach. So does working with a car dealer. So does the thought of selling Pam. And so does a monthly payment. Maybe April would be a better time.....

A New Blog!

So, Jefe and I have been in the very beginning stages of our business plans. To commemorate the beginning of a burgeoning business, and to chronical our flubs and successes, I started a blog. So much has happened and so much of my thoughts have been wrapped up in that lately, and I think it may continue that way. So, it seems best to just give the venture it's own blog address. If you're interested in reading about it, you can find it at www.thesartorialfreshman.blogspot.com. If not, don't bother and just keep visiting me here. :)

Little Thoughts

Funny things I used to think when I was little:

1) people divorce by taking off their wedding rings
2) gum stays in your stomach for 7 years
3) if you swallow the seeds, almost anything can grow in your stomach
4) my family had perfect genes: no cancer, diabetes, no nothing. only other families had "gene baggage." ( I don't know where I got that one.)
5) I would grow up and look perfect, and I'd just naturally be that way, effort free.
6) adults knew lots of stuff. Everything, actually.
7) rules were immovable. Negotiating never crossed my mind.
8) When in doubt, look to the tall person for wisdom. (I still believe that one, actually)
9) everything bad in my life was someone else's fault, and most often my brother's.
10) hiding in clothes racks at the store is the most fun ever.
11) If you do something wrong, just give a blank stare and don't say anything and maybe no one will notice.
12) everybody knows something I don't.
13) all candy and ice cream are only consumable if you eat them in one sitting, regardless of the quantity. Otherwise, someone else will consume them before you do.
14) Beds are made for storing your stuffed animals.
15) It was cruel of my parents to make me go on family vacation at a resort in France for 3 weeks every summer, away from all my friends and with only my siblings to play with. Why don't we ever go somewhere cool, like Cape May, the Poconos or Myrtle Beach.

A Notable Occasion

Today marks an unusual day. Just moments ago, as a matter of fact, I experienced something that hasn't happened in many moons, ... possibly even a year or so.

Let me set it up for you. See, I was hungry, but had already eaten lunch. I haphazardly decided my hunger was substantial enough to warrant action. So, on my way back to the office, I stopped at 7-eleven to see what might appeal to my unsatiated appetite. And then it happened.

Suddenly, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the glass-encased shelves in the front of the store. It almost never happens, so the attraction came as a complete shock to me. But it was also undeniable. I, sharona, who has tofu tastes and fears saturated fat and deep-fried anything more than a child fears Chucky or Freddy Kruger on Halloween, wanted a donut. So I got one. It was a white donut with white icing and sprinkles. I think I would have liked it better if they had just had a glazed one, without the icing. But it was delicious.