1) When people save seats - could be at the movie theatre, could be at a school program, and the very worst is at church. And I don't mean people saving 1 or 2 seats because somebody went to get popcorn, or talk to the bishop, or the one person is running late but everyone else in the group is already there. What I'm talking about is when there's one or two people saving the entire row/bench, or when nobody is even there at all, just all their stuff (this does not apply for parades). If I get there before you, why should you get a better seat than me? Better yet, if I'm on time, and your late, why should you get a better seat than me? Why?! And don't hate me for saying this, but I find that people in Utah are the most guilty of this. I'm sorry Utah people, but it's true. The last time I went to sacrament meeting in Utah I walked in and saw several empty benches. I walked up the isle to the one closest to the front. It was being saved with the usual pile of coats, scriptures, etc. I walked back to the next one - taken. Next - taken. Next - taken. Our family ended up sitting in the overflow section, and watched as those other families came in after us to take their saved seats closer to the front - some even showed up after the meeting had started. This has NEVER happened to me in a ward outside of Utah. Just sayin'. Several years ago, in my parents' ward, the bishopric even had to address this issue because it was getting so bad. Honestly, I wish that more bishoprics would do that. And I noticed that a lot of the new theatres in Utah have assigned seating now. They obviously recognized the problem too. ***Update. I wrote this, but didn't post it, a week before a man was arrested in UT for fighting over saved seats at church. When I read that news article it made me laugh, and laugh, and laugh.
2) Any movie with John Cusack that is rated R. I don't watch rated R movies. They're just not for me. But I just want to see every movie that John Cusack is in, and I get mad if I can't. I don't know why, but I don't have this reaction with any other actor/actress, even though there are many that I like just as much as, if not more than John Cusack. I can't explain it.
3) Food that is assembled sloppily. A pizza that has a whole bunch of pineapple on one slice, and only 1 or 2 on another slice. A burrito that has a huge glop of sour cream on just one end. A sandwich that has three pickles stacked up on top of each other, instead of spread out. I am notoriously known for rearranging my food. I want each bite to be what it's supposed to be. I know, from having worked in the food industry, that it doesn't take any longer to assemble food correctly than it does to throw it together in a jumbled mess.
4) How lazy I'm being this summer. I had such promising plans for this summer (I always do - sewing, crafts, science experiments, reading, day trips, etc), but this is by far the laziest summer I've ever had with my kids. We've hardly done anything. I don't even want to think about it.
5) Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts. I realize this is like opening a huge can of worms, and some people might think I'm apostate, but there it is. I've said it. It's out there. I own it. Let me just start by saying that Joseph is in scouts, he likes scouts, we support scouts, and I don't see that changing as long as the church supports scouts.....but sometimes it's like fingernails on a chalkboard. My grievances? 1) The cost! If I had a dollar for every dollar I've spent on scouts, I'd be.....well, I'd have a lot of money back;) Seriously though, this is supposed to be the equivalent of Activity Days for the 8-12 girls, and Personal Progress for the 12-18 girls. Having been both Primary president and Young Women's president, I know that the budget for scouts far exceeds anything else. Plus the out-of-pocket cost for the parents is higher too. You buy a shirt, a bandana, a book and a couple of badges and BAM, you've just spent $70. Day camp also cost me $75 for a week of cheap crafts and lame activities (okay, there was SOME good stuff), and that didn't include lunch. I personally priced out all the materials for crafts, T-shirts, rental fee for the park, etc. and I was having a hard time coming up with $25 per boy, let alone $75. I'm wondering how much of that money went to the Boy Scout council. There's no overhead for Activity Days and Personal Progress. 2) Why is Cub scouts every week and Activity Days is every other week? Anyone? My daughters have asked me that, with no prompting on my part. They see the discrepancy, and they don't think it's fair. Have your girls asked about that? What do you tell them? 3) There is supposed to be a correlation between Cub scouts and the Faith in God program (the church manual says, "To maintain a gospel focus in Scout activities, leaders use the Faith in God for Boys guidebook as one of their resources"), but I have yet to be in a ward where that was actually put into practice like Activity Days. I've never had a scout leader ask the boys to bring their Faith in God booklet with them, or passed any of them off. The focus is on passing off scouting requirements, period. 4) FYI - If you know Joe and his 4 brothers, you know that they are smart, talented, successful, and honorable men. NONE of them are Eagle scouts. Just sayin'. I'm sorry if I offended anyone. That is not my intention. Yes, I can see and appreciate the good things that the scouting program does offer. We've had some great scout leaders that I love and appreciate. I'm just getting stuff off my chest. Still going to support the scout program;)
Okay, and now I'll counter those things with 5 things that I do like:)
1) My current nails. They're not perfect, but those black tips were dang tricky.
2) Watching my kids grow. I took this picture of Cora in a skirt I helped her make, and I was like, I can't believe how grown up she looks?!!! And tomorrow I'm taking her to her first girl's camp for Young Women. Exciting times:)
3) This series of super heroes and villains that Alex drew.
That last one is Lex Luther;)
4) The four seasons. I know a lot of people appreciate milder climates, like the one we have here, but I prefer a wider range of temperature and weather. That's why I like Utah so much, and that's why I like South Korea so much. I want to be hot in the summer and cold in the winter. I want sun and snow, and fall foliage and spring blossoms. I want fabulous rain storms, with thunder and lightning, - in the spring when it makes everything smell so good and clean, and in the summer when it's warm enough to play in. I want to delight at the beginning of each season, and complain at the end of each season so I'm ready to welcome in the next one, and so on and so forth;)
5) Good food. I've been having some dang yummy food lately, either made by myself (pat on my back) or at new restaurants we've tried. I tried a new recipe for pork chops with apples. I'm not usually fond of mixing meats with fruits, but it was good. I finally got Joe to take me to an Indian restaurant. He thought it was as good as I knew he would. And yesterday our family went to Phil's Fish Market and Eatery in Moss Landing. Partly because we heard it was good, and partly because it was featured on The Food Network, which we are big fans of. You can watch the episode (Throw Down with Bobby Flay) here.....if you like that sort of thing;)
Of course, I had to order the Cioppino, and it was very good, and so was the clam chowder bowl, and so was the fried squid and shrimp. It was all good. Apparently, a LOT of people think it's all good, because the line was out the door when we got there, and it was out the door when we left. A bit pricey though, so we won't be taking the whole family back....but definitely for a date;)
We definitely need to find and try more places featured on the Food Network:)
