No Crashing

I went on a 50 mile bike ride and didn't crash!!

YA!!! I'm so happy!

Remember last year on the RTC ride?

My coworkers were way impressed too of course. They kept telling me good job on not crashing and I'm sure I'll hear all about it from those that weren't there on Monday.

BTW, both crashes happened when I was wearing this jersey. Which is now in the trash. OK, that picture was totally staged. One of my coworkers wants it, although if my friends and family want to crash.. they can have first dibs.

I'm too paranoid to wear it ever again. The sports bra is toast too, although that is long gone cuz I had to cut the straps to get it off over the cast.

TMI, Jared?

Dang it, apparently I didn't save the picture I took with my phone at the beginning of the ride.

But I did take a picture of all the dirt I aquired from biking. I also have bike tracks all down the back of my legs but didn't notice that until the shower.

How do I always get so dirty?

But here is the kicker.

After the ride, All the little 23 milers (wimps) had eaten and were leaving so I was pretty much alone since the only other coworker on the 50 miler that beat me left (he said only by 15 minutes but I don't believe him cuz he had already eaten when I finished... but I still tell everyone 15 minutes). I did beat the boss though. He came in just after I put my bike away and finished eating.. so I'm sure like um.. 15 minutes or so.

So I got my free picture taken at one of the booths.
Whoa.. lets just crop that picture.
Much better.

They took group photographs before. I shore hope that happened on the bike. That's what I get for wearing shorts over my spandex. Sigh.

Then I took a nap and had pizza with Mandy and kids who were stopping at the Mel hotel on their way to Utah. And Kimball fell asleep like this.
The end.

PS. My dumb elbow was stiff and sore after I got home and had my nap... even more so than after I first went swimming after the accident. How weird is that? I'm kinda mad at it. The legs did all the work so I think my arm is just looking for sympathy.

Duct Tape Wrapping

Thank you so much for the movie suggestions. I'm gonna have to do some "research" and report.

Wasn't conference wonderful? I can't wait to get the Ensign so I can really understand the talks. I always love the first session but the rest kinda flow into one another.

In fact, I loved conference so much that during the Saturday afternoon I had my VT wrap me in duct tape.

I had sewed some material on all the openings of the old T-shirt but I actually don't think it was needed.
Isn't my VT AWESOME?!?!?! I can't thank her enough. She is counting this as 2 visits though so I guess thats some form of payment.
I felt a little like a warrior in full armor (even though I couldn't raise my arms).
My VT had brought her daughter to help rip the duct tape into manageable pieces.
I only lasted two layers even though the internet suggested 3 (1.5 hrs is a LONG time to stand in one place... and it was hot. When Tammie cut it off of me, it was pretty wet inside... EW!) so the VT's daughter balanced ALL the chairs in the tin during the last talks of the session. Pretty impressive.

So your probably asking yourself... why oh why would anyone wrap themselves in duct tape?

I'll tell you.

Cuz after scrunching up 2.5 Sunday newspapers (including adds), I now have this- A dress form in the shape of me. I put her on a stool, but I'll need to figure out a stand cuz she's not exactly plum (see the shim in the form of a binder?). Plus, the fact that I couldn't hem my own skirts was the whole reason I started down this road.
She's not exactly tall enough on a stool.
I thought I'd dress her up anyways.
Do you know how hard it is to get clothes on and off someone that can't raise their arms?
Its really weird to see yourself in 3d. Where did that tummy come from? Am I really that large?... man is that bust small.
Duct tape and newspapers don't squish much. No wonder this gaps so much in the back, its a tight fit.
No bust.. So we'll cover it up.
Oops. Forgot the slip.
Tammy is now an expert in wrapping and can charge exorbitant fees. And I'm ready to gum up all my pins just in time for Halloween.
So, what did you do for Conference?

The Joys of Period Dramas

(Here is the boring movie post. I want to get one more post out before it turns October. Ya for October and Conference!)
I was amazed to hear some of you hadn't ever seen North and South. Where have you been?!?!

I think there might be a need for more sharing of favorite movies in this world. Its hard these days to find movies worth spending any money on. I'm trying to stay away from PG-13 movies and that limits my options considerably*. So I've been into BBC period dramas.

Masterpiece Theatre has redone quite a few of Jane Austins lately which are quite good (although I've never seen the new Mansfield Park because people's whose opinion I greatly value have told me not to bother) as well as BBC doing a bunch of Mrs. Gaskells books of which North and South is the best. I was entertained by Wives and Daughters


and parts of Cranford (anyone know if Return to Cranford is good? I don't have high hopes) but they don't even hold a candle to North and South. BTW, I was introduced to the new Emma by my SIL Neita. Thanks Neita!

Before I go further, I have to warn you that I own and like parts of the old BBC versions of Jane Austins movies (made in the 1970's) so you may want to take my opinions under advisement.

I watched Daniel Deronda and thought... meh. Too modern. I like my movies to end up with everyone where and with who they should be and nobody important dead.
That's one of the problems with Cranford... it makes you laugh, cry, and say "ahhh" all in the same movie. Movies that make you cry are SAD, NOT fun. Although now that I know who dies I just try not to get attached to them as I watch it again. Then it doesn't bother me as much. Of course, we're going to ignore the fact that I might have cried during North and South and Wives and Daughters. Death is sad and I feel so sorry for those that are left behind without the peace the knowledge the gospel brings.
Sometimes movies make me think of gospel principles. I also talk during movies... and sing. That bothers some people but not anyone I know, right?
Aunt Lynn always ended all her stories with "and then the missionaries knocked on their door and they were baptised and a year later they were sealed to their family in the temple for time and all eternity". Didn't know that Goldilocks and the 3 Bears were members, did you?
But I digress.
I also watched MiddleMarch (Melissa bought a collection of George Elliots movies and let me borrow them) but I remembered starting the book and not liking it much so I wasn't impressed with the movie. I did watch the whole thing though cuz I never finished the book and I was curious as to how it ended.

Another "meh". Wrong people end up all mixed up with each other. Kinda another Wuthering Heights. I admit, I totally didn't understand that book. Or The Great Gatzby. People messing with other people's lives. Meh.

Back to movies that are good. I've watched alot of duds (The Inheritance). Lets see...

Well, when I see some I'll let you know. This Period Drama phase... don't see an end in sight. If you've seen some good clean ones, feel free to share.
Please.
Mr Thorton would like a break.
*OK OK, I do have a FEW PG-13 movies in my collection (just fast forward through the naked bums of Much Ado About Nothing. Totally worth the dancing in the fountain scene. And X-Men has Wolverine.. 'nuff said) but I am trying to follow the example of my awesome SIL Amy and keeping my consumption low.

Bed Roulette

Yes, I still have that post written up about more period drama's but once again I want to post about something else. Besides, that post is pretty boring. This one is not. Just ask me.

And I'm sorry I don't have any new recipes for you Jamie... I go through stages when I'm a cooking fiend but most of the time I'm happy with spaghetti one week, mac and cheese the next... repeat.

It's been trying hard to cool off here in Vegas and the other night I got so excited that I decided to turn off the air conditioner and try the fans. The day time high was 98.

Now normally I wait until the high is 95 because it cools off enough in the evening to sleep but I noticed the the night time lows were sinking even if the daytime highs were not. And a front was going to move through the next day.

The weather is my favorite part of the news. Have I ever mentioned that?

I had gone swimming that night and thought being all wet (and eating ice cream) would chill me enough to sleep though the first part of the evening. I like ice cream. Its why I exercise.

In order to keep my stinky smoking neighbor smell from coming in the house I exhaust out my room. This means I sleep in the back bedroom on Melissa's old bed where the "cool" air is coming in. (1)

Do you know how hard it is to sleep when it's hot? It takes a while to fall asleep and then I woke up after an hour or so and decided to try my own bed. (2)

At 2:30am my power went out... and then back on. My power had been cut by evil people but then the back-up system kicked in! My heart was pounding when I woke up.

I really need to stop watching MI-5 on PBS... even if Mr. Thorton is on MI-5.

I got some water, took some headache drugs (I never drink enough when I exercise at night) and tried the other bed in the back bedroom right under the window. (3)

Of course, I had to use the restroom a couple hours later so I went back to my bed in my room. (4)

And as for getting up and exercising in the morning? My alarm goes off, I turn it off... and go sleep in a different bed.

Bad Decisions

I'm ill. Yes I know Bethanie is more ill than me but my sore throat has come back even though its went away FOR GOOD two days ago. I guess it didn't get the FOR GOOD memo.

I hate being ill. I had a post all written up about something else but I want to complain.

Maybe that's why I get ill because I haven't learned to be ill with grace. Its pretty ugly.

I'm still mad at whoever exposed me and didn't say anything. If I had known I would have taken precautions! Like cleaned my house, done laundry, watered the pots, and started a serious Vitamin C regimen.

I also don't make very good decisions when I'm ill, especially when I'm almost ill.

Example; Saturday I went to the store hungry cuz I'm ill and too tired/lazy to make anything to eat so I picked up Cheetos. Then I ate them for dinner (with milk, that's healthy right?) and felt even more ill. Ugh.

Cheetos only sound like a good idea when you are ill and hungry.

Being almost ill is the worse. Ur not quite ill enough to stop living but you still have what seems like a logical excuse...

Examples; not doing your VTing, forgetting to fulfill a birthday request, stopping swimming, biking, and even walking, forgetting you committed a VTee to come to church and so didn't call to remind, writing a post all about yourself on your brother's and sister's birthday, and not doing laundry even though all you have left are silkys. I even came home early from work yesterday even though I'm trying to save up Personal Time Off (PTO) for Christmas.

Now I feel guilty. I'm really not THAT ill.

That's it. I'm going to put some clothes in the laundry so I have clean clothes for work tomorrow... right after I lie down for a short nap.

Pray for me.

Actually, pray for those who have to interact with me.

Happy Birthday to Bethanie and Nathan! You know I love you because I was the FIRST to tell you this morning, huh?

Attack Labor Day Weekend

I had alot of fun this Labor Day cuz I got to go up to hang with Emily and Angela!

Sat. we rented a raft to float down Provo River (My father asked about the rapids and I told him we had to make our own) with Cathy, Kate, and Alec came too. He said he was always up for free food. We stopped for lunch halfway down. Unfortunately I have no pictures because of course we didn't take our electronics with us. Its a good thing too cuz Cathy pushed Emily over into the river. Don't worry, she just stood up and I got out to hold the raft. The water was at most up over our knees.

It was a beautiful day and not too many people on the river. Now I can say I've floated down Provo river.

But the real exciting story happened that evening. Since we had the raft until Monday morning, Emily and I wanted to get all the use we could out of it. So when Angela and the girl she was giving a ride up to school arrived in town, we told them to get their swimming suits on cuz we're going rafting on the lake! I don't think they were too excited, but they were too polite to decline.

We went to Utah Lake cuz it was closer than Deer Creek (this is important later in the story).

Here we are at the end. All of us Helm's got in the water.
Here we are recreating the fact that Thorpe went with us. He didn't like it much :-). While Angela was in the water he kept acting like he was going to get in with her but I don't think he really would have. The big wuss. (for pictures of Emily, see Emily's blog... or Angela's. I didn't realize I only took pictures with Angela's camera and Emily only took ones with mine.)

Another recreation but with the flash. Right after these pictures as we were dragging the raft up and getting ready to let the air out, the wind died down and we were attacked.

By MOSQUITOES! I've never seen such a thing. I'd look down and see them all lined up and down my arm. I could see them swarming around Emily's face and hair. Now I know why those pioneers got so sick when they went down in the badlands.

Apparently Utah Lake is the badlands.

Angela, Thorpe and Breann jumped into Angela's van but Emily and I had to deflate the raft enough to throw it into the back of her car. We tried covering ourselves up with towels but really we just had to suck it up and let them bite us until we were done. That hurt! As soon as the raft had deflated to what was deemed close enough, we smooshed it in the back (Emily's car got so dirty) and drove away as fast as possible with all the windows down.

I think we should all boycott Utah Lake.

Eventually we had 2 roll up the windows and all the mosquitoes came back up to the front. Our bodies, the dashboard, the windows, and the roof of her car were covered in dead bodies and smears of blood.

Utah Lake wouldn't even take Angela's Golden Eagle Pass! Definitely boycotting.

With our freckles, the red bumps all over our arms are harder to see, but they are pretty evident on the legs. Here is Emily showing off her war wounds.
Just imagine that all over our legs, arms and neck.

OUCH! I'm still itching. Glen brought me some cortisone cream from the first aid cabinet at work.

I'm still itching.

So that's our story. Emily made delicious food for us (including Alec) Sunday in her dutch oven and rotisserie toaster oven, we played GO, and Monday after Angela left and we took the raft back, Alec needed to go to the store. Since I didn't get a picture of him in the raft, I took a picture to make Jenny jealous. Ya for aunts to take nephews shopping!

All in all it was a fun time and I wish I was still there in the cool air. Sigh. I guess I should be glad I have lots of red bumps to help me remember and relive.

PS. Funny story, Emily suggested Alec get some real maple syrup but it ended up being very expensive. So she bought it for him. Isn't having aunts at school awesome?

Another Favorite Look

I just discovered a new one.

In the new "Emma" done by Masterpiece Theatre, when Mr. Nightly asks Emma to dance and then how he looks at her as they dance. (only picture on the Internet I could find of them together at the ball) Oh... so nice. (I admit that I don't think this is a better version than any of the other ones, but it does have some nice funny parts.)

Course, "North and South" is still my absolute favorite. Mr. Thornton standing on the balcony and watching Margaret drive away from Milton with the snow swirling around him.

"Look back at me... Look back at me".

There is always the BBC "Pride and Prejudice" look that everyone talks about but... well... sometimes that gets old.

Better is Mr Thornton, "I want to marry you because I love you, not because I wish to posses you!".

"North and South" ROCKS. (yes, I know that picture doesn't fit. There aren't many on the internet to pick from, OK?)

There is also "Guys and Dolls" when Sky Masterson tries the door after Sergent Sarah Brown has locked it to keep him out ("A daytime doll!"), puts his hand in a fist... and walks away.

That look. Man.

My VHS tapes might be queued up to the part I want to watch again... and again.

"Guys and Dolls" where Sky sings "Luck be a Lady".

I used to be in love with Sky Masterson, before I met Mr. Thorton. One of my college roommates friend's first name was Sky and I just might have accidentally called him Sky Masterson the first time I met him.

The funny thing is, I didn't notice 'till my other roommate told me after he left. Oops. Oh well, he probably didn't notice either.

"Hello Dolly" where Dolly sings "Goodbye" to Horace. "On those cold winter nights Horace. You can snuggle up to your cash register. It's a little lumpy but it WWRRINGS!" So funny. Bethanie and I once watched it... well, lets just say more than once. (I'm tired of looking up pictures)

"Summer Stock" where Gene Kelly dances with/on the newspaper.

Dad hates that movie. Maybe because there is no plot and pretty poor acting.

OK, I won't go through all my favorite parts in all my favorite period dramas.... and other type of movies. Its late, I'm going to get up early to go swimming, I still have some more packing to finish up before heading to Orem for the 3 day weekend (YA!), and apparently this post has no point so I'll end it now.