C 'Est Si Bon...Simone Simone!

I had a brilliant weekend, which is every weekend when I don't have to work. But it was raining, pouring or trickling the whole weekend. Hey Weather God it isn't April yet can you wait on the showers already?! I really wanted to play and play, laugh and just be with my friends. Ok that may be retarded but is me I love being with people that I love and lately I felt a little deprived of that. Maybe this will be a long blog and I'll include a few other recent activities as well instead of making a separate blog of them. Yeah that's the way I am efficient.



Friday kinda blended with Thursday since I worked Thursday night and slept for 3 hours on Friday. I woke up, grabbed my purse, maybe an apple and granola bar as well, and headed out to get a petite facial (meaning a mini not the full blown more expensive version). The story behind that will be in another blog because it is something too special to share just here. I love pampering myself, since no one else does and I work so hard being on my feet for just about 12 hrs. A facial with a hand and feet treatment by a brilliant woman Barbara. Afterwards I felt so silky smooth and younger with the healthy glow in my face. A new goal for the year to look 21 again, not that I look old or anything but I am 26, yikes!



Hours later I got dolled up to go bowling. Why would I do that just to do bowling? Well I work in the hospital hence I where scrubs everyday and rarely get the opportunity to dress up so I take advantage of my other items on my agenda. Kelly, a few of her friends from HS, JZ, and Peter (who I was surprised came at all. every time I invite him anywhere he is always too busy). I really stink at bowling. At one point in time I wasn't so bad but now I'm just bad, bad, triple bad. But let the good times bowl baby. I had fun! JZ and I (who I picked up from the metro station) headed out to get custard at a delicious place called Dairy Godmother, but it was closed. Another time.

Cherry Blossom festival...which brings back memories of when I really officially starting blogging, one year and still going! Such a crappy day but remembering correctly it was freezing cold last year. It was a blissful day! I was reunited with a long lost friend, Adam. Him and I worked in Alaska driving the big phat motor coaches for Holland America during our BYU days. After that life was a whirl and now we are once again living in the same place. He flew my beautiful lady bug kite to perfection giving tips to those like me who never really flew kites as a kid. But I must say Taylor, a new friend of mine, was a natural. I was all muddy, which we compared the cuffs of our pants. I won for the dirtiest (I didn't roll up my pants and they are really long). We walked among the Cherry Blossoms, listened to some great live music(which we got a free CD!), and went to the opening ceremonies where I watched the Washington National Ballet dance to a Nutcracker song. It doesn't get better then that.



A potential missionary moment came and went unfortunately. There was a cute boy, Mason, flying a homemade kite right by us. He was giving me the eye so I knew he thought i was cute. And I take every moment in life as a missionary opportunity. I went up to him and started talking to him. He did make an impressive kite from a Safeway plastic grocery bag. I thought we could chat, I could invite him to go with us, and then exchange numbers and with the potential of hanging out with my LDS friends. I envisioned a baptism... Okay he was cute but I wasn't into him that way and just to clarify all I wanted was a cool friend. I always want to share the gospel with everyone because it has made me so happy. Anyhow, this new friend we'll call him "R" for the sake of this story walked up to Mason and I. He basically cut off the conversation I was having with Mason and directed a zillion and one questions to me, and talked all about himself. In any other situation I would have been chill and went with it but R was ruining my plans. So there ends my missionary moment and friendship with Mason. It was really awkward moment for me.



I guess I'll have to continue this on another blog since I have to head out to work right now...

Since I live only 4 hrs away from my brother and sister-in-law, Josh & Cindy, I visit them frequently. If not once a month than at least once in 6 weeks. I love hanging out with them and playing with the most adorable nieces and nephew. My last visit was the first one since returning from SE Asia. I missed them so much, and was excited to give them the souveniors I carried around with me for weeks. Cynthia and I took the kids out to the park to play, we made several dishes of Thai food- Pad Thai, Cashew Chicken, and Papaya Salad with a little middle Eastern Baklava (which is so delictable I can't get enough of that stuff). One afternoon Joshua was on call so he came out with us but had the pager in case he was needed. The kids always now that when they go there mommy always stops at the ice cream place for a free ice cream. This was a special day, Customer Pajama Appreciation Day, whoever came to the window wearing their PJ's got a free waffle cone. The girls behind the window let it fly that I wasn't really in my PJ's. I got their approval when I overheard them talking about "Twlight" and chimed in. I thought it was going to be an itty bitty cone but when I was handed the cone I was surprised. AND the ice cream was better than Ben and Jerry's. We joked that we'd go again after dinner to one closer to our house. Bedtime rolled around and what did we do, get everyone in their PJ's, baby included, and head out to get ice cream. We discovered this time that Emil is a huge fan of ice cream. We could see the desire in his eyes just after one sample.




My next visit is next week. Marta is turning two. She tries so hard to talk but just can't quite get out what she wants to say. She is extremely stubborn, but her cute little facial expressions can melt your heart.

I am not an Idol watcher but the other night I turned on the tube while giving my patients their bath and this happened to be on. I never realized how many songs I really like of Smokey Robinson. "Tracks of my Tears" was definitely my favorite of the night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XpISZJsRBU (can't view it from the feed, it was disabled but you can still go to youtube and watch it)

This is kinda of late in the publishing but it is of interest to me since I am pursuing interests in gardening, more produce and herbs than flowers. I don't have the time for all of it. My little story about produce begins when I first moved to my current abode in Springfield. The owner, dear Damla, had a beautiful vegetable garden during the summer but at the time of our move it was the beginning of November. Upon checking the garden we didn't find any red delicious tomatoes but green ones. My roommate and I decided to have a little experiment with one of these green tomatoes. She picked it off the vine and brought it into the house. Would this green little tomato ripen off the vine? As ridiculous as the question was and looking back on it seems even more ridiculous we went forward with our experiment. This little tomato plant became a fixture on the window seal in our kitchen, but it wasn't getting any sun light through the window because attached to the back (a more recent addition to the 1940's house) is a sunroom which blocks any natural light we might get.

Days went by into weeks, and then a month. Little by little I noticed a slight color change until it became a beautiful red tomato. Now thinking upon this for a moment I it came to my mind that growing up my dad would pick all the tomatoes and even some fruit early and it would slowly ripen off the vine. Why didn't I catch that one before? Silly me.

The difference now between a naturally ripen fruit and one picked from the vine early. Well have you had a fresh ripe tomato plucked straight from the vine? Compare that to the flavor of a ripe store bought tomato. This is relative to any fruit or vegetable that has any amount of flavor. If you pick it early you lose lots of flavor and it sadly to say doesn't taste all that good...like store bought produce.

So if you can, GROW IT!

A random fact. I called my father last night to wish him a happy birthday. I got the spiel of his day, going on a long walk, having really delicious mancotti for dinner, and the best of all Carrot Cake (one of my favorites) for his birthday cake. He noted that he only had a small piece. Then he informed me that eating makes you die faster! "What?! Right dad." "Well I learned that by eating less than 2,000 calories per day a person has the probability of living 10 yrs longer." After which we discussed not eating at all and merely drinking our nutrients through all the health drinks and powdered stuff out there.

So there you go...eat less and live longer!

I have really tried harder this year to do the things I've always wanted to do, to reach for the stars and achieve my goals and fulfill my dreams. I have always wanted to learn how to draw and use the creative side of my brain. My father dabs around with oil painting. I've never been artistic in any form, dance, music (singing or instruments). I can't sing (although one day that will be my goal for the year)but I wanted to learn and so here I am in my second week of drawing class. I love it! Although I'm not quite good at shadowing right now with time I will get better. Here is somethings I have sketched:

Just about a week after I got back from the beautiful amazing beaches in SE Asia it snowed. I used a quote on facebook at that time that is a reflection of my opinions and insights:

"My life is my BEACH, and the beach is my temporal paradise!"

I really enjoy my life, where I am heading and what I am doing. I believe that there is a paradise yet unseen to the mortal mind that will be an eternal paradise for everyone. I love the beach therefore I love my life and all things in it! Oh happy day!

Sometimes we fight through the regret and remorse of our mistakes, our malice and our jealousy and the shame we feel for not being the people we were meant to be. And that’s when we find our way to something better

So this is belated since I left soon after the new year. I include this now a few months later in retrospect. Year 2008 was an amazing year, difficult, heart-breaking, inspiring, full of joy, opportunities, broken dreams and new ones developed. I wouldn't have traded it for a different experience I learned things about people that I wouldn't have otherwise, and myself. I look forward to 2009 with trepidation, faith, and trust.

Top Lessons learned in 2008:

1.) Be the master of your own progression
2.) Come what may and love it
3.) Sometimes if it is broke, you shouldn't try to fix it
4.) Be obedient to EXACTNESS
5.)Faith Precedes the miracle
6.)Where ever thou art, therefore be content
7.)Bridle your passions
8.)Never give up HOPE


Top Events of 2008:

1.) Move to Northern, VA right outside DC
2.) Amazing Career opportunity (working in Trauma 1 Hospital)
3.) Frequent visits to brother, Joshua's family since they live close (Pittsburgh)
4.) Meeting my wonderful roommates, Adrienne & Aubrey
5.) Moving into the most awesome house ever, a place I call "home"
6.) Christmas in Pittsburgh
7.) Visit to Boston for 4th of July, NYC during Christmas Holiday
8.) Birth of nephew, Emil

A friend of mine made a list of things she had done, was going to do and wanted to do. I thought that was a great idea. I've done a great deal of things in my life and sometimes have a tendency to complain that I haven't done that much. (*things I've done & **things that I am doing or going to in the near future):

1.) Learn to play the piano
2.) Learn how to cook Indian food
3.) Read 50 classic works **
4.) Say thank you: always express appreciation & gratitude**
5.) Keep in touch with friends **
6.) Smile and make eye contact with 5 different people each day **
7.) Go hang gliding
8.) Visit temples nationally & internationally**
9.) Camp at as many National Parks in the US as possible**
10.) Appreciate culture: opera, ballet, theatre, and symphony**
11.) FORGIVE: “the weak never forgive, forgiveness is an attribute of the strong”
12.) Make birthday of my family/roommates special **
13.) Keep a book of my memoirs**
14.) Take the GRE**
15.) Go back to Graduate School
16.) Travel to:
India* Southeast Asia*
Scandinavia China*
Baltic Countries Japan
Eastern Europe* Peru**, Brazil, Bolivia**
Cruise to the Antarctic Eastern Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa
Bermuda, Bahamas, Key Largo, DR, Aruba *, Jamaica, Caribbean countries
17.) Attend the temple 2x/month
18.) Have a mud bath*
19.) Have a candlelight bath
20.) Go on a detoxing weekend
21.) Grow a garden**
22.) Float in the Dead Sea
23.) See the Eiffel Tower
24.) See Niagara Falls*
25.) Visit Ayers Rock*
26.) Visit Leaning Tower of Pisa
27.) Visit Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge *
28.) Visit the Taj Mahal *
29.) See Victoria Falls
30.) Cut back on Spending **
31.) Work hard in my chosen career*
32.) Make a will
33.) Start saving in a Roth **
34.) Take a relaxing last minute getaway to a resort
35.) Visit Acropolis, Parthenon in Athens
36.) Visit the Coliseum
37.) Visit the Great Barrier Reef *
38.) See the Terra Cotta Warriors
39.) Own a home of my own
40.) Have 40,000 in saving by 2010**
41.) Be a better listener
42.) Find my soul mate
43.) Donate blood *
44.) Have a life coaching session
45.) Help elderly neighbor with housework
46.) Introduce 2 people who fall in love
47.) Learn about other religions
48.) Bury a grudge**
49.) Buy a homeless person some food
50.) Experience an earthquake
51.) Live through a major natural disaster ** (cyclone Larry 2006)
52.) Pick up someone else’s liter **
53.) Swim with dolphins
54.) Watch a meteor shower*
55.) Handle a bird of prey
56.) Build a tree house
57.) Create a CV
58.) Learn a new language **
59.) Learn a new skill annually**
60.) Learn basic phrases in 5 languages**
61.) Read a book a month**
62.) Study a new subject every month**
63.) Take dance lessons-Salsa
64.) Take a meditation course
65.) Sky dive*
66.) Bungee jump*
67.) Have an aroma therapy massage*
68.) Go repelling (100meters in NZ*)
69.) Go canyoning*
70.) Fly in a glider *
71.) Fly in a biplane *
72.) Ride an elephant*
73.) Ride a camel*
74.) Ride a donkey
75.) Become a wife and mother
76.) Run a marathon (maybe a half will count**)
77.) Take an aesthetics course **
78.) Take a photography course; become a better photographer
79.) Sleep under the stars*
80.) Started my own blog*
81.) Visited Hawaii
82.) Been to Disneyland*
83.) Held a praying mantis
84.) Watched a lightening storm at sea
85.) Slept on an overnight train*
86.) Had food poisoning*
87.) Hitch hiked* (in AK)
88.) Taken a sick day when you’re not ill*
89.) Built a snow man*
90.) Gone skinny dipping
91.) Ridden in a gondola*
92.) Been on a cruise*
93.) Hit a home run
94.) Visited the birthplace of your ancestors*
95.) Gone rock climbing*
96.) Walked on a beach by moonlight with someone you love*
97.) Had your portrait painted
98.) Kissed in the rain
99.) Gone to a drive-in theatre*
100.) Visited the Great Wall of China*
101.) Started a business
102.) Taken a martial arts class
103.) Stayed up for 24 hrs without sleep*
104.) Gone whale watching
105.) Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp *
106.) Bounced a check*
107.) Flown in a helicopter*
108.) Walked on the top of glacier*
109.) Saved a favorite childhood toy*
110.) Pieced a quilt*
111.) Eaten Caviar
112.) Stood in Times Square *
113.) Seen the Grand Canyon*
114.) Mowed the Lawn*
115.) Read the entire Bible
116.) Visited the White House & The Pentagon *
117.) Killed and prepared an animal for eating * (a fish)
118.) Bought a brand new car*
119.) Had my picture in the paper*
120.) Had chickenpox*
121.) Saved someone’s life** (everyday)
123.) Sat on a jury
124.) Met someone famous
125.) Joined a book club
126.) Been stung by a bee*