Surprises

Today Brandon came home earlier than expected, which is always a great surprise. Not only that, but he was carrying flowers! How sweet, huh? Then, as if that wasn't enough he bought me new slippers! My old ones were getting kind of floppy and they definitely aren't made for going outside. Now I have nice fuzzy shoe/slippers. The best part was I had looked at the exact pair he picked out and wanted to buy them, but he hadn't even been there to know what kind it was. He just knows what I like. He said I deserved a surprise for how hard I've worked on this book all month. I'm so lucky.

Sweet old lady

I've mentioned before some humorous things about helping out Hazel, a cute 91 year lady. We were trying on shoes today and she always has a difficult time finding ones that are comfortable. She was trying on quite a few pairs and then she had on a pair that she was considering buying. I don't think she could tell what the pattern was on the shoe, perhaps just an abstract black and white pattern. Really, it was skulls and cross bones. I laughed to myself, kind of hoping she would buy them. (she didn't though)

Those boots

Looking at that old mission picture (see below) reminded me of those ugly boots that I wore for SO long in the wintertime. I had a district leader who would tell me how hideous my boots were. (he must have thought I didn't realize that since I wore them all the time) He told me that I had to burn them immediately when I got home otherwise I would never get married. I refused though and I still have them. (in case anyone would like to borrow them, they're very durable- still in great shape- maybe a little smelly) I am glad that I can now say that I proved him wrong. (I would have said that over a year ago, but I forgot about it)

Heaters

Now that the cold has set in and we are drinking large amounts of hot chocolate, we are also using our heater way more than I would like to. It's not even close to the middle of winter and it already seems like our heater is running most of the day. The reason for this is that our door and windows are so drafty- really old with big gaps, it's like we're heating a tent. It's not very effective.
If we didn't live in a tent and ran our heater this much I'm guessing our apartment would feel like the apartment of some friends I had on my mission. They were from Africa and didn't really like the cold. In the middle of a Toronto winter they would cruise around their apartment in flip flops and shorts because they cranked their heater on so high. We would come in with our boots, hats, gloves, scarves, 3 pairs of socks, thermals, fleece skirts, another hat, sweaters and coats, and just start shedding layers as fast as humanly possible so we wouldn't get heat stroke upon arrival.

(p.s. the picture is me & my companion posing with Wiarton Willie- Canada's version of Punksatony Phil.)

One Man's Trash....

20" Toshiba, probably from 1985. Slight green tint on the bottom half of the screen. Brandon just found a new TV for us in the dumpster behind our apartment. He is pretty excited and we are watching Rudy on it right now.

Best Deal Ever

My sister commissioned me to do an illustration for her friend's wedding. It was a simple picture and I only took a few months to get around to it. The best part was my payment - 10 free meals from Zupas! (one of my favorite restaurants - and she just so happens to work there) Not only do I get free food any day of the week I want, but it is so delicious! I don't have to cook, do any dishes, and on top of that there is free delivery and fun visiting with Heather thrown in as well. If she had my name for Christmas, I know exactly what I would ask for.

Baby-sitting Highlights

We have been watching our nieces (ages 8 & 5) for a few days while their parents went to NY. Lauren (5) had some entertaining things to say. She told me that we should buy a house, and that I don't know much about houses, only apartments. Little does she know I have not lived in a one bedroom apartment my whole life.
Since I had a lot of paintings to finish, I took over the kitchen table with painting supplies. After a few days of painting day and night I was informed they had never left a mess on the table for that long before.

When Brandon was reading them a book I brought (Roger the Jolly Pirate) he was telling them how I knew the author and Lauren asked if he was a real person, Brandon responded yes. I heard her asking a few more questions throughout the book like, "So this really happened?" and I'm pretty sure she thinks Roger the Jolly Pirate is real and that I know him personally.

How I am dishonest...

BYU has absurd parking regulations. You're not allowed to park in visitor parking if you are a spouse of a student, but whenever I'm going up to campus I'm there for business purposes, nothing related to my spouse at all. So that's my rationalization when I use visitor parking.
However, after I park as a non-student I go into the HFAC and use the really large expensive scanner that they have for students. I'm not a student, but I figure I'm still paying tuition and Brandon could do the scanning for me if it really had to be a student. And that's my rationalization for that one.
I realized that these conflict though, I'm rationalizing that I'm not a student in anyway, then I use student services. So now the question is am I dishonest for doing both of those things, or only the combination of the two? Or only if I steal the scanner while I'm there? (that would be so awesome to have)

Creepy

While Brandon was at school this evening this really creepy, large man kept staring at me while he walked by our apartment. Even though it wasn't that big of a deal, it freaked me out and I was too paranoid to get any work done so I went to the mall until Brandon finished his test. While I was at the mall I found some great shoes that I bought. Thanks really creepy man!

A Horrible Wife

I used to try really hard to make balanced meals, lots of vegetables, etc. Lately I have been doing a lot less cooking, it just takes so much time and I haven't made it a priority. So we have been eating more pizza and frozen food than ever before. I just went to the store and probably 90% of what I bought came from the frozen food section and it barely fit in our freezer. I keep telling myself it's just for a few more weeks, but I am scared I am starting a really bad habit. If Brandon and I are starting to look a little wider, now you know why.

Addiction Requirements

Brandon has been giving me a bad time lately because in the past few weeks I have watched almost 2 seasons of Smallville. Yeah, I know, who would actually admit to that? Cheesy lines, bad acting, but I watch it anyways. I just wanted to find a show that's not too trashy. And I don't have the patience for 24, you have to wait so long for a conclusion. Brandon teases me that I am addicted to it, much like my many many friends who have experienced the 24 addiction. However, I just want to clarify to anyone who might hear this rumor, it is untrue. I do watch hours and hours of Smallville, but I assure you it is not because of an addiction, but out of complete boredom. I have no one to talk to while spending hours a day with just paper and pens. I could become like Beatrice Potter and talk to my drawings, hoping they will come to life, but I am saving that for a last resort.

New Post

For those of you who have given up on checking Brandon's blog because he never writes anything, he actually posted a new one and it's really funny. I have watched the video clip close to 20 times now and I think I have all the songs memorized.

Saints in Ghana Art Show

Some of my friends from BYU are putting on an art show in the HFAC. Tomorrow night there is an opening reception from 6:30-8:30pm. They did portraits of people they met while they were in Ghana for 2 months. There are some really great pieces, so if you live in the area you should check it out!

Winter

One of the best parts about winter time is the gallons and gallons of Stephens Mint Hot Chocolate I will consume. Costco's 4lb tubs are the way to go. Tis the season.

Rocky vs. Rocky

Brandon and I have been on a Rocky Road ice cream trend lately. It is SO good. We realized there are some conflicting opinions however. I think that the best Rocky Road is BY FAR Breyers all natural. He likes Dreyers. Breyers has a smooth marshmallow creme instead of chunky stale marshmallows. And there are a lot more nuts in Breyers than your average rocky road (my favorite part), not only that, but they are chocolate covered. Brandon doesn't like the creme though and calls it goop. And he wishes it didn't have nuts in it at all. For something that we seemed to agree so well on, we are definitely at opposite sides of the rocky road fence.

Why every artist needs a studio friend... or at least a husband

Yesterday I was finishing up one of my last few grasshopper paintings for Brady Flies a Kite and Brandon asked me why one of the grasshoppers was missing one of his big legs. I looked at it trying to figure out if it was just on the other side of him and you couldn't see it, but no. It was just missing. I looked at the sketch and realized it had been there originally and then it didn't make it from the sketch to the inked version that got painted. Such a little detail. Luckily, there was space where it should've been and the paint was light enough I just added it on. Good eye Brandon. Conflict with employer averted.

Another Smell

All day long today I have been wondering why I smell like men's cologne. I thought Brandon borrowed my jacket, or some of his cologne just got sprayed on it by accident. Neither of these made sense. Then after I took my jacket off and still smelled the cologne I realized it wasn't coming from the jacket- it was coming from my wrist! This hasn't been confirmed, but Brandon must have sprayed my watch with cologne because I sprayed his with cologne. (although, I had a good reason to spray his) So the Sponge Bob watch that I have had for almost 3 years and won out of a cereal box, now smells really good. Maybe it's not the ideal smell for my wrist, but it could be worse.
And by the way, Brandon has a new watch. I gave him one for his first day of work at his new job. It came with 3 bands.

Not the Granddaughter

I work for this sweet old lady a few days a week and help her go shopping or go to the doctor, etc. It pays great and it sure helps keep some consistency to my ever fluctuating paychecks. Hazel is 91, so I wrap her arm around mine while we walk around to help her keep her balance. Everyone tells me how sweet it is that I am helping her and ask if I am her granddaughter. I say, no, just a friend. I never mention that I get paid to help her. It seems like it would take away from how cute and sweet of an old lady Hazel is. I feel a little guilty letting everyone think that I am just a kind girl that likes to help the elderly. But at the same time, maybe I am inspiring other people to go help the elderly around them.

Saturday Night Movie Pick

Last night Brandon and I watched Miss Potter. Even though she did some odd things, like talk to her paintings that would come to life. It was definitely a kids movie, but not as bad as Bridge to Terabithia. Although Bridge to Terabethia had that music video on the dvd that was really fun to listen to Brandon sing along with.
I enjoyed watching a movie about an illustrator. It was inspiring how she became so successful and her books are still in print today. Since she never had any kids I wonder who receives all those royalties now? Brandon thought it was way too dull though and said, "this movie should be rated R- for boredom. Kids should not have to watch something like this."

Video games move up in the world

Last night I was at Barnes & Noble and I read a chunk out of this book about the brain. There was a section all about how the brain handles pain and different techniques to deal with it. One recent study was done with video games. It said one of the most painful medical procedures is changing the dressing on a burn victim, so they took some burn victims and put those virtual reality games that cover your eyes and had them play while going through this painful process. The game actually helped people to have less pain because they were so focused on throwing snowballs the brain didn't think as much about the pain and therefore, you don't feel it as much if it's not thought about. And all this time I thought video games were such a waste of time, but now I know they actually have a useful purpose. Someday when I have kids and have to take them to get shots I think I will pick up a gameboy or something.