Carl Malone's Gotta Do What Carl Malone's Gotta Do

Disappearing Act

So my background for my blog disappeared. I did some research and it turns out that the host site (cutestblogontheblock.com) has exceeded their bandwidth limit in photobucket. I could change by background to another one that's not having this problem... but I really like that one, and only that one. So, sorry that you have to view a bare blog. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be up and running soon. 

Tagged by Marcie

Six Names That You Go By:

1. Megan

2. Meg

3. Miss Megan

4. Megsie

5. Megs'n Bacon

6. See post "A rose by any other name..." below

Three Things That You're Wearing Right Now:

1. Glasses

2. Ralph Lauren perfume

3. Monkey slippers

(Though these aren't the only 3 things)

Two Things You Want Very Badly at the Moment:

1. My own house

2. A date with Kyle Korver

Three People Who Will Fill This Out:

1. Michelle A.

2. Natalie 

3. Hollie (if I beg)

Three Things You Did Last Night:

1. Braided Kenna's hair

2. Played Hide'n Seek in the dark

3. Watched Looney Tunes

Four Things You Ate Today:

1. Oatmeal

2. Muddy Buddies

3. Cadbury eggs

4. More Cadbury eggs & Muddy Buddies

Two People You Last Talked to on the Phone:

1. Marcie

2. Lara

Six Things You Will Do Tomorrow:

1. It's a Sunday, so I'll do my hair

2. Play hangman in Sunday School

3. Take a Sunday nap

4. Play with my nieces and nephews

5. Plan a trip to Europe

6. Stay up ridiculously late

Three Favorite Beverages:

1-3. Water (to make up for all the chocolate I eat)

Five Things Your Are Grateful For:

1. Cadbury Eggs

2. My family

3. My friends

4. A job

5. A warm, down comforter

Virgin Mary Toast. Jesus Cracker.

A few years ago, I saw something on the news about a special piece of toast that was posted for sale on ebay. It wasn't the type of bread used that made the toast so special. It wasn't the owner of the toast. It was the special image that managed to find its way onto the toasted surface of the piece of bread. You see, after the bread was toasted, an image of the virgin Mary appeared in the shading of the toasted portions of the bread. I couldn't see it. But apparently she was there, because thousands of either people saw the image, deemed the toast as spectacular, and placed their bids on ebay. I never did hear how much the toast went for.

And so, in honor of the virgin Mary toast, I present to you my Jesus Cracker. Sure, it's a whole wheat Ritz cracker. But look a little closer and I think you'll see what I'm talking about...

(Yes, it came this way, right out the package.)

Let the bids begin! I'm not sure what to start the bidding at... how much is your salvation worth?

I Left the Gun and Took the Canoli

Last weekend my friend and I made a quick getaway to St. George for the weekend. Her parents happen to own a very nice house down there and we happen to take advantage of it as often as we can. We have been five times in the past nine months, but this was the first time we went with just the two of us. Our goal was to read, watch The Godfather, shop, sleep, and wear no makeup for the weekend. After stopping at a couple different Davis County Libraries to get some good books on tape for the drive, we grabbed a smoothie, some chocolate chip cookies, and we were off! We didn't get there until late Friday night. We slept in on Saturday so that we'd have the energy needed to shop the day away, which we did. My friend taught me how to shop at TJ Max'n More. I feel like I'm on the verge of having a panic attack anytime I step foot into a TJ Max or Ross. I don't even know where to begin! But she reassured me that the "'n More" in the title meant that it was a cut above other TJ Max stores. Whether the "n More" had anything to do with it or not, I managed to find some really great things... that I didn't necessarily need.

That night we grabbed some dinner and popped in the first disc of The Godfather. Neither of us had seen any of the Godfather movies, and we decided it was time to see what all the fuss is about. Can I just say, that I finally see what all the fuss is about... Al Pacino was HOT when he was young!! However, had I known that Diane Keaton was in the movie, I wouldn't have bothered. She makes my skin crawl.

Sunday consisted of church with a Samoan choir, a picnic lunch out at some canyon, reading, and the last 2 Godfather movies. Well, at least the 2nd Godfather movie and a few minutes of the 3rd. All of the movies are pretty violent, but the third is the only movie that is set in more contemporary times. I think it got a little too violent and was a little too real with the setting. We shut it off about 15 minutes into the movie... and now I will never know what happens to the Godfather. If you know, PLEASE tell me what happens in the last movie!! All I know is that they made Al Pacino look old and he wasn't hot at all. Perhaps that's why we really turned the movie off.

Monday we slept in to try to counter the effects of the conversation that ran into the wee hours of the morning. We cleaned the house and headed for home. I think we were both secretly excited to leave so that we could finish our book on tape that we'd started on the way down.

I learned a lot that weekend.

I learned to leave the gun and take the Canoli.

I learned that if you anger a mob head, he will kill your $350,000 horse and put its head in your bed while you're sleeping.

I learned that actors that I find attractive now, will someday be unappealing to future generations.

I learned that Al Pacino was really hot when he was young. I don't know if I'd mentioned that already.

I learned that any male looks awesome in a pin strip, 5-button suit with a hat.

I learned to go to the mattresses when things get tough.

I learned to be leery of a brother who claims to have forgiven me for attempting to murder him because he might send me out on a fishing boat with a hitman. He is, after all, a mob head.

I learned that Diane Keaton bugs me whether she's a blonde or a brunette.

I learned that I don't want to marry into the Italian mafia, after all.

A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet...

Over the years, I have been called a great many things. Some of my nicknames have been terms of endearment and some have been adjectives or names that I never wish to hear again. However, it's the labels that have been given to me by my nieces and nephews in recent years that have been my favorite! I have been everything from a breakfast food to an adjective that means emitting a strong or unpleasant odor. 

Here are some of the many pronunciations of my name, Megan:

(spelled phonetically for your sake)

Nay-nee

Bacon

Gay-guhn

May-nee

Me-me

May-me

Me-kuhn

Meggy

May-tuhn

May-nuhn

Stinky- I know, it sounds nothing like my name. Odd, isn't it? :)

For Singles... Mostly.

A friend of mine shared this link with me. I got a huge kick out of reading the posts. It is VERY much appreciated by single people who deal with some of these comical issues every day. It is appreciated by married people, as well. It serves as a reminder of why they should be grateful they don't have to date anymore. The blog has created quite a stir. From what I can gather, it's penned by two single males who may or may not live in Utah, and are most likely graduates from BYU in Provo. A lot of angry people leave comments, which is mostly why I love it. Controversy is so entertaining.

2008 Was Pretty Great... 2009 Should Be Just Fine.

If I'm being completely honest, 2008 was more strange than great... but it's hard to find a synonym for strange that rhymes with eight. So there you go. 

Here are some highlights from 2008:

January 2008

Okay, not a good start. If I'm being completely honest (again), nothing from this month really stands out in my memory. I had returned to teaching 4th great after a fabulous Christmas break and was at the point in my career where I was seriously contemplating trying something other than teaching for the first time.

February 2008

I went to St. George with two of my good friends. The reason this trip stands out so much is because it was on this trip that I saw a chick flick... on opening night... for the first time. This was, of course, not by choice. But it was certainly a good learning experience for me. I learned that I still don't like chick flicks.

I had roses delivered to my classroom on Valentine's Day; my first ever Valentine's roses! It caused quite a stir with my students when I read the note that accompanied the flowers: From someone who loves and admires you very much! I didn't have the heart to tell them that they were from my sister. :)

March 2008

I went back to St. George with a few friends where I got my first third degree sunburn of 2008. I also discovered that I am a head stand champion... and I still reign as such to this day!

Oh, I also began the interview process with the company that I now work for.

I began working out with a personal trainer... that didn't last long.

April 2008

My then fourth grade team produced our 4th Grade Program all about Utah. It took months and months of preparation, but was worth every minute. My cute blog friend and parent of a former student came one Friday afternoon to help us paint huge plywood props for the program. Bless her heart, she was the only parent that showed up! I would have died without her that year!

I accepted a job position with the company that I currently work for.

I had a student fall asleep in class for the first time! I made the class work on something quietly so he could keep resting. 

May 2008

I had my very first pedicure.

I threw a HUGE, KILLER garden party with my best friends. We hung Chinese lanterns all over the yard... I've always wanted to have a party decorated with Chinese lanterns!

I ended my third and final year of teaching school.

I attended a swim party with some of my students.

June 2008

I went to San Diego with three of my best friends and became more sick than I have been in years. I missed my returning flight home and spent the night in a dirty, cramped airport on a sticky McDonald's bench, next to the dumpster. I stayed awake the entire night for the first time in my life.

I turned 25. I treated myself to an entire day at the spa. 

I began working for the publishing company.

I bought a Mac. I will never go back.

My friends and I purchased Lagoon season passes and formed the "Lagoonies."

July 2008

I finally bought a decent camera so that I could take better pictures of all my adorable nephews and nieces. 

I rode the Front Runner for the first time with my friend Jared and we somehow got lost... in Salt Lake!!

I went to The Police concert with my friend Robbie.

I went to the John Mayer concert with my friend Collin.

August 2008

I went to Flaming Gorge with my ward where we got rained out. I won "King of the Hill" while being pulled on a tube behind a boat for the first time!

I saw the MPH gauge on my car reach over 110 for the first AND last time ever.

I stopped working out with a personal trainer.

September 2008

I went to Star Valley with some of my closest friends... where I realized that I'd rather travel with my friends than with a boyfriend. 

I finally found a pair of jeans that I like! :)

October 2008

I went to St. George again with a couple friends and saw Metro Station in concert.... and learned that I don't care for Metro Station as much as I thought I did.

I discovered that neon colors are "hip," yet again.

I became the proud owner of a fog machine.

My friends and I threw a kick-A Halloween party where I debuted my adorable witch costume made by my sister and began having a huge crush on a boy.... a crush that would continue for months to come. Also, most of my friends dressed up as gay tennis players. I don't get it either.

November 2008

I saw the midnight showing of "Twilight" as a favor for my best friend. I hated it.

I began a three week hobby in digital scrapbooking.

I began to notice the effects of not working out with a personal trainer... or at all. Yikes!

December 2008

I got to spend time with my very best friends!!

I witnessed the square that bounces around the screen saver bounce RIGHT into the corner of the screen!

I played Joseph in our family nativity skit.

I ended the year very, very blessed with a great family, loving friends, and my health. I made it!!