I've been pretty busy this last week. I've been all over seeing plays, roasting mallows, visiting Zuri the local baby elephant, speaking in church, going to institute and living the glorious life of a single girl. When I went to institute this week Sister Allred told us to look for the adventures in our life, big and small. I'm writing this and I can't think of one single recent adventure to tell about so instead I'll tell you about the people I work with. Of course I will be using aliases. In my department I work with two great people, "Lalonana" and "Juan". I'm sure those of you who know me at all will easily decipher those aliases. Here we go.

"Lalonana" has some of the best drunk stories you could ever hear. She is a lot of fun and full of piss and vinegar. She really knows how to find the crazies in life like the man that peed in her purse and the stud that asked if she was good with small scissors to help cut and prepare his weed to sell. Lalonana is great at finding things to do to fill her boredom. Today she played hangman with Juan using terms like....well we won't repeat those phrases. Let's just say the three of us laughed all day long. Another time where she was feeling slightly bored she and Juan decided to create a department library. Lalonana spent hours making library cards and questions for the interview process with the imaginary librarian named Felix the cat (not an alias).

Now for Juan...what to say about Juan....well "Juan" is a gun fanatic. Fanatic I think is actually a major understatement. The first week I worked with him he spent an entire day finding pictures of guns to design his computer desk top. He cut and pasted the guns to all point to the center of the screen in order to make a dramatic statement. I'm not sure what the statement was. He then told us that he has over 4000 bullets at home. What do you say to that? All that came out of my mouth was "Good for you....uh....good for you?"

As strange as the lives of these two may seem, they are also two of the funniest people I have ever met and I'm glad to work with them. Every single day with them is a true adventure. I wish I could put every odd thing that happens down in this blog but spending only three weeks with them would cause a lifetime of typing to try to fully describe the hilarious things that have happened. I mean two quick examples Juan full on pretended to cry when he found out Gary Coleman died. Lalonana told me today of a dream she had where her Cat "bag piper" (another alias) got a job and walked on his two hind legs. He walked into the house to tell her he got the job wearing a suit coat and tie, holding a briefcase she was really excited. She also has an "unnatural attachment to her cat" as Juan would say. We spent part of the day trying to interpret her dream.

The stories could go on and on but the battery to this laptop is dying so I must end.

Oh Grandpa....

So here's a story for you. All of my brothers and sisters along with my grandpa Yates went over to my mom's house for dinner last night for Colton's birthday. My grandpa Yates always teases Colton about not being married and pressures him about going on more dates. My grandpa turned on me last night! He says, “When are you going to get hitched.”

I said, “Wait! Colton's older what about him?”

Meanwhile, Colton's laughing and makes some comment about being relieved that I'm the one being pressured and not him. This causes my grandpa to say to me, “I need to help you get married because now that Colton's so old I've given up on him.” Of course my family all chimes in that they have all given up on Colton and they start asking me when I'm going on my next date and when my last one was and blah blah blah!

My grandpa tells my family about 15 minutes later that he wants to do something one day that I’m busy. I said “I can't go I'm going with a friend to Hale Center Theatre.”

My grandpa responds, “What's his name?”

“George” Please realize George is an alias for my best friend, only she will understand why I named her George.

He says dead serious, “That's some boy.”

“No, Grandpa it's a girl.”

“Ohhhhh well that's not a boy! You need to dump Cindy and find a man to take you to the play.”

“No Grandpa, George is my friend, plus they are her tickets.

He says, “Well if George needs a date she can take me.” There's my story, I found a date for George with my 79 year old grandpa. He’s a hoot!

Why you ask???

In life many things happen, some great, some sad, some strange. It's how we react that matters. My mom has two favorite sayings. The first is by Marjorie Pay Hinckley.

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."

The next saying my mom made up herself. She says it about dating, but I think it applies to everyday of life.

"Go. You'll either have a great experience or a great story to tell."

I guess the reason I'm creating this blog is to tell the stories. The stories of things that can disappoint us can really be great experiences.

One example...I have a grandmother who is a little off her rocker. She had a brain aneurysm and isn't quite right in the head. Today my brother and I went to lunch with my grandpa and this wonderful grandma. My grandparents filled us in all of the crazy things they have been up to. Including my grandmother making hot chocolate and orange juice for 50 people while sleep walking. She's great at laughing at the crazy things she does that might worry other people.

After lunch just before we go to leave my grandma gives Colton, my brother, a birthday card. My grandpa says jokingly, "She's probably had that card since last year and forgot to give it to you."

My grandma responds, "Do you want to hear the real story? I bought it two years ago for Colton's birthday and forgot to give it to him. Then last year I found it and again forgot to give it to him. When I found it this year I thought I should give it to him." A moment later she adds a positive spin to her forgetful memory, "It's a good way to save money, use one card for three years." Oh grandma.