February 17, 2010

I haven't given much in the way of updates lately; that's probably because not a whole lot has changed really.

I guess I'll talk about Valentine's weekend then.

We were pretty low-key about Valentine's Day this year because (a) it fell on a Sunday and (b) we're poor. Since Stephan planned Valentine's Day last year, we decided that I could do it this year. On Saturday, we went to a dinner that was put on by the scouts in our ward and in one of the other wards. It was a fundraiser dinner for said scouts. We were given the choice of prime rib or chicken parmesan, and we both chose the chicken. Let's just say it wasn't the chicken parmesan we were expecting. It had gravy on it. Oh well, it didn't taste too bad anyway. After dinner, we stopped at the grocery store so Stephan could look for a gift for me, and so I could pick up a few things. When we got home, Stephan gave me a "bouquet" of Sweet Tarts (I love the stuff) and then he went back to work on a programming assignment while I worked on the ward newsletter.

Sunday came, and well, we were running late to church, which is pathetic because our church is literally right next to our apartment complex, and we couldn't make copies of the newsletter in time for church to start. We managed to get it done right before Sunday School, so we passed them out during Priesthood/Relief Society.

After church, Stephan gave me my present: chocolate dipped strawberries! And of course a sappy card. I gave him a card as well, and I made him one of his favorite meals that I make: chicken katsu. I swear, if he didn't like Asian food, we would have some serious problems.

Today, Stephan and I are not feeling well. He has a major headache, and I believe I have a head cold. Fun!

Love post

Well I was tagged to do this little "love quiz" since February is the month of love, why not focus on your significant other?

1. What is your husband's name?  Stephan Brian Anderson

2. How long have you guys been married? We're comin' up on six months :)

3. How long did you date?  From our first date until we got married: about nine months and one week.

4. How old is he? 22 (will be 23 this summer)

5. Who is taller? Oh, he's only taller than me by about 11 inches ;)

6. Who is smarter? He is. But he would say I am...

7. Who does laundry? I do the washing/drying because I have a system that I do not want broken. But he helps me fold when he's home.

8. Who pays the bills? He does. But that's because he has the online payer through our bank figured out.

9. Who does the grocery shopping? We do it together a lot--since he's a mathematician, he can figure out which items we can get for the best deals.

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you are looking at our bed from the front, he does. But if you're talking actually ON the bed, I do.

11.Who eats more sweets? I think we each eat our fair share.

12. Who cleans? Me. But he helps when I ask and he is not too busy.

13. Who cooks dinner? Mostly me.

14. What do you like to do together? Watch movies, eat, cuddle, go to the library, go to the bookstore (we're both bibliophiles), just talk, go to cultural events when time and money permit

15. What are his hobbies? Programming, gaming (but not TOO often), and reading. He also enjoys woodworking, but we can't afford the equipment for that right now.

16. Who drives? He does.

17. Who kissed who first? It was mutual.

19. What's your favorite physical feature about him?   Only one? He has beautiful hazel eyes. He also has some pretty nice biceps for a skinny guy ;) And for someone so thin, he is very strong.

20. What's a hidden talent that he has? Give him a program and he can have it figured out in about half an hour. It's crazy.

21. What's your favorite quality about him? Again, just one? Well, I do love how he always wants to take care of me and do sweet things for me. And he's a perfect gentleman.

22. Who has more friends? Uhh, I'll get back to you on that one.

23. Who does the dishes? I do them most of the time, but he does help when I ask him to (which is a lot)

24. Whose parents do you see more often? His, but that's because we have to pay airfare to go see mine. Or drive in a car for about two days.

25. Who asked who out first?  It was a blind date. But he asked for my number and subsequently asked me out after that.

26. Who wears the pants? We both do.

27. What is your favorite gift he has given you? Besides himself? Maybe my wedding ring.

28. Does he have a nickname? Some people call him "Steve", and I don't like it. He introduces himself as Stephan, so that's his name! Is that so hard? 

I tag anyone who wants to do this.

February 2, 2010

My posts have been slightly depressing lately. I apologize to my readers, however many (or few) they are. Not too much has changed. I have gotten back on the job hunt, to a certain extent. I learned how to make bread last Saturday--my wonderful mother-in-law was so kind to teach me. Another money-saving venture, but also a delicious and nutritious way to do so. I reorganized some of the cupboards in the kitchen and mostly know where everything is now.

So, I found this on another blog. I've been really down on myself lately, and I decided to take the challenge to write TEN things I like about myself. Let's see if I can make it to ten.

(1) I have a really good memory. I can remember dates and details of certain events really really well, much to the shock of others.

(2) I've always been a good reader. None of us (my brothers and me) had difficulty learning to read and all of us learned to read at a young age. In fifth grade, tests showed that I could read at almost a high school level.

(3) I make really good cookies. Stephan proposed to me after merely tasting the batter of my peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Of course, he was already planning to propose, but I still like to mention the cookie bit for laughs.

(4) My hair is pretty. It took many years of battling frizz, but now I have nice curls. While other girls spend hours in the morning with straighteners or curling irons, I wash my hair, comb it, put in a little bit of product, and go. I will blow dry my hair if it's freezing outside, but that's it.

(5) I tend to choose quality over quantity. Case in point: my wedding ring. It's a small diamond, but it's better than what you'll get from Cartier or Tiffany &Co.

(6) I'm a good violinist. I haven't practiced regularly in some time, but I do have talent and good technique.

(7) I can write in the phonetic alphabet. Not very many people can do that ;)

(8) I'd like to think that I am good with little kids. They usually like me.

(9) I'm a good cook. Stephan has liked just about everything I've made for him so far. He has gained ten pounds since we got married.

(10) I have a very strong sense of right and wrong. I mostly see things in black or white, rarely in between, with regards to morality. I'm not perfect by any means, but I do try to be the best I can.

passions

This post is not in anyway sexual. I'm talking about being passionate about certain subjects.

Most people have a passion in life. My mom is passionate about her music. My dad has a passion for music and politics. My mother-in-law has a passion for learning more about natural medicine and natural healing, and food storage. My sister-in-law is passionate about birth and food storage. Me? I can't say I really have anything I'm super passionate about. It's not like I'm not interested in anything, it's just that I have not found my true "passion." 

But isn't what you studied in college a passion of yours? Not really. You see, people stereotype English Language majors as grammar nazis, when really we're trained to be the contrary. We are taught to be interested in everyone's quirks. But there are the things we're snobby about, like phonetics and phonology. Do you know what a voiceless labiodental fricative is? Or what an intransitive sentence structure looks like? Oh, I kill me. I guess you can also say that I get angry when people assume that my degree is in English (English Language is completely different, for the last time!). 

I also got my degree in that area because it is something I'm good at; one of the few things. And I thought getting a minor in Editing would increase my chances for employment. Judging by the fact that I've been out of college for five months now and I am still unemployed....

I really don't know what I want out of life. I mean, yes I want to have kids someday, but I also want some sort of an outlet. At the moment, I don't seem to have found it. 

Oh well. 

Some things to live by

I got this in an e-mail from my mom. There are quite a few of these I'm still trying to learn. I thought I'd share this with you (with a few of my editorial comments):

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.  

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.  

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.  

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.  

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.  

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. (me: yay! Chocolate!) 

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.  

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. 

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.  

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.  

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. 

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.  

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger. 

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.  

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.  

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. (me: what is wrong with purple, may I ask?) 

24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.  

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?". 

27. Always choose life.  

28. Forgive everyone everything. 

29. What other people think of you is none of your business...  

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time. 

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.  

33. Believe in miracles. 

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.  

37. Your children get only one childhood.  

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.  

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.  

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. (me: But I need a job...) 

42. The best is yet to come. 

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.  

44. Yield.  

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. 

Where's my job?

So far, only two things have worked out for me in the last year:


(1) I graduated from college


(2) I got married.


I was hoping "have a job" would be in there, but unfortunately, no. 


I applied for an internship at the Orem Library just before Christmas, and it seemed just PERFECT for me! If I had gotten it, I would have helped plan events going on at the library. Everything about it seemed just right, and I LOVE the library! I would have helped plan the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival too. I got as far as the interview (which was on Monday) and just yesterday, I got the same message I've gotten from employers the last several months, "Thank you for considering us, but we have decided to go with another applicant." This time, it was over the phone, and I honestly wish I had told that lady, "Gee, as if you're the only person who's been telling me that lately!" 


What is it about me that when prospective employers see me and interview me, they don't want to hire me?! And what is the point of interviews, huh? To me, it's just to see how you look. Why I say that is because there was a girl they interviewed right before me who looked like she should be a model. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, she had GORGEOUS clothes, and she walked out like she owned the place. It also didn't help that the interviewers were laughing and having a good time during her interview. She must have really wowed them. No pressure on me, right? I thought I was dressed nicely, but compared to her, I was wearing rags. And my interview? Fairly short, but I thought I did okay. I could have done better, though. 


I'm seriously ready to give up here. I've had it. If I get one more rejection, I think I'll have to be put in a mental institution. You might say, "Go take a class on how to interview." Trust me, that wouldn't help. It's going to take a whole lot more than a class on interviewing and resumes to get me to be more confident in interviews.


I'm starting to wonder if I really am employable. 


I'm done.

And see if the Orem Public Library ever gets my business again.

2010

First post of the new year. Woot.

Our New Year's Eve was pretty nice. We drove up to Salt Lake to go see the lights on Temple Square. Parking was another matter, but it was nice. After walking around Temple Square, we were hungry and we went to a Chinese restaurant that Stephan's Advanced Calculus teacher (who is from China) recommended. It was pretty good--the potstickers were delicious though! We drove back home, and Stephan talked to his friends on Skype until almost midnight. I just vegged. We're pretty boring here in the Anderson household.

The next day was when we celebrated a late Christmas with Stephan's family, since some of us were out of town for Christmas. The party wasn't until four, but Stephan dropped me off early so he could hang out with his friends. Meanwhile, I sewed an apron for Stephan's cousin's wife for the extended Anderson family Christmas party that was to take place the next day. She also just married into the family. I did pretty well considering how I am not the most experienced seamstress (shocking since my mother is famous for her sewing) and we had to make up a pattern for it since Kathy's original pattern was nowhere to be found. I think I've decided that I want to get serious about sewing.

At four, the party started. I forgot to mention that it was Alex's (Stephan's younger brother) birthday on New Year's. So now they have a Christmas birthday (me) and a New Year's birthday. We opened presents (Stephan and I got some nice stuff), ate food, and played a lot of games. It was fun and tiring evening.

The next day, we drove up to Logan for the annual Anderson Christmas Party at the Coppermill (a restaurant). The food was pretty good; Stephan kept raving about the chicken, but I thought it was merely all right. Then again, I didn't have a huge appetite that evening. the beef was quite good, though. There were a few games and there was also a gift exchange. Kaitlin (the girl who I gave the apron to, but wasn't there) had purchased some beautiful black velvet gloves for me and a lovely teal "scharf" (scarf+shawl) as Stephan likes to call it. I've only met Kaitlin once, but I must say she has exquisite taste :)

That's pretty much all for now. The last few days have been pretty lazy and somewhat boring. I'm not really looking forward to Stephan starting back to school tomorrow. At least we only have one more year of this, hopefully.

Oh, if anyone wants any sweets, let me know. We have too much sweets and such around here that we got as gifts.