The World Begins Again

It's time to give my poor neglected blog its yearly update. I'm hoping this will serve as a reminder of all the good that happened this past year, rather than focusing on my failures.

What did you do in 2018 that you’d never done before?

Lots of things, actually. Jump off a high dive was one. Starting a podcast was another. The podcast itself is still in the works, but you can actually listen to three episodes of "The Love & Light Podcast" in your favorite listening app. Look for the cute lightbulb, designed by my friend Todd Anderson.

Love & LIght Podcast

Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I'm not sure I did, but I decided I was going to do a couch-to-5K program (which started January 22nd). I did that, and then I decided to train for a 10K and then a half-marathon, Amazingly enough, I did it! For someone who has NEVER been athletic, it's pretty amazing that my body did that, although I really felt like I was going to die after that first workout!
I have made more goals, including a full marathon. Eeek!!

Did anyone close to you give birth?

My cousin Heather had a sweet baby boy, whom I have yet to meet.

Did anyone close to you die?

Not particularly close, thankfully. I have several friends currently fighting cancer, but they are still fighting. I am truly surrounded by amazingly strong women.

What countries did you visit?

I should really just change this question to states, but (not) soon enough I will be venturing overseas. This year, I went to California, Nevada, Arizona, and (briefly) through Wyoming.

What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?

Total repeat and still true: confidence and organization

What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory?

October 27. That was the day of the Halloween Half; we also took family pictures, and I had a delightful evening with my friend Julia watching Lea Michelle & Darren Criss.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Half-Marathon. For sure.

What was your biggest failure?

Editing issues. It took me forever to get people their pictures, and I felt terrible about it.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not really (thank you, Jesus). I did get in a car accident and had a mild concussion, but that's about it.

What was the best thing you bought?

VIP pass to see Mat Kearney. I adore him.

Whose behavior merited celebration?

This is always a weird question; I should probably delete it. But I'm gonna be selfish and say that MINE did, because I really worked on my attitude and behavior this year, and I made a lot of positive changes. I was really hurt by some words spoken by people who barely know me, but I worked my way through it, and I'm stronger on the other side.

Where did most of your money go?

Bills. Car (including repairs from the accident and a small fortune in gas). Food. Concerts/Shows. Gifts. Airline Tickets. Bath & Body Works. Ulta. Amazon. (Not necessarily in that order)

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

A trip to California for the Don't Keep Your Day Job workshop with Cathy Heller. I've become a bit obsessed with her, and that was a really great event. The hotel in Hollywood, though, was another story .  .  .

What song will always remind you of 2018?

"Let Your Colors Shine" by Cathy Heller. It's not a great song, but it's fun and it reminds me of her awesome podcast and it makes me happy.

My album of the year is "Delta" by Mumford & Sons. PEOPLE. If you haven't listened to it, you need to. It's incredible, and it honestly might be enough to knock U2 out of my top spot. IT'S THAT GOOD. Honorable mentions to the Hamilton Soundtrack and to "Beautiful Trauma" by Pink.

My top 10 SONGS of 2018 (or, the songs that have meant the most to me this year)

10. "Electric Blue" by Icehouse

9. "Kings & Queens" by Mat Kearney

8. "A Million Dreams" by Pink (Greatest Showman)

7.  "It's Quiet Uptown" (Hamilton Soundtrack)

6. "I Will Be Released" by John Nolan

5. "A Little Respect" by Erasure

4. "Heart of a Hero" by Cathy Heller

3. "Whatever You Want" by Pink

2. "Beloved" by Mumford & Sons

1. "Slip Away" by Mumford & Sons

And the concert list for this year: 

Mat Kearney {with Allison} (The Complex, SLC, 2.25.18)
Bon Jovi {with Mach & Wow} (Vivint Smarthome Arena, SLC, 3.16.18)
OMD {with Allison} (The Complex, SLC, 3.21.18)
Pink {with Gina & Lori} (Vivint Smarthome Arena, SLC, 5.9.19)
U2 {with Dom} (T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, 5.11.18)
Erasure {with Allison} (Kingsbury Hall, SLC, 8.12.18)
LM/DC {with Julia} (Eccles Theatre, SLC, 10.27.18)
Air Supply {with Mandi} (Eccles Theatre, SLC, 11.16.18)

They weren't concerts, but I also saw Hamilton and Phantom of the Opera at Eccles Theatre. And nothing at USANA. Huh.

I should really add my top Podcasts of the year, since that's become a thing:
10. Heavyweight
9. The Sisterhood Podcast
8. Baconsale
7. Happier with Gretchen Rubin
6. The Life Coach School/Better than Happy (tied)
5. Cold
4. Do It Scared/Goal Digger (tied)
3. Life on the Rocks, Please
2. Awesome with Alison
1. Don't Keep Your Day Job

Compared to this time last year, are you:

   Happier or sadder? Happier in general, though I'm fighting with the S.A.D.

   Thinner or fatter? Thinner! Not where I want to be, but I still lost 50lbs!

   Richer or poorer?  Poorer, seeing as I'm not very employed at the moment.

What do you wish you’d done more of?  

Spending quality time with my Benji.

What do you wish you’d done less of?  

Staying up too late, saying yes when I really want to say no (like to the Float Committee).

How will you be spending Christmas? 

Honestly, I'm not sure. Allen worked all the holidays this year, so it was kind-of a mess.

Did you fall in love in 2018?

Not really, but I am appreciating my husband more.

Who were your best friends?

Peggy, Heather. My sisters.

What thing did you do that was meaningful to others?

I spent LOTS of time taking and editing pictures this year (and several of these sessions were free of charge); I hope they are meaningful to others, or what the hell am I doing?
And I hope the Days of '47 Float meant something to someone. All it meant to me was pain and obedience.

What were your favorite TV programs?

I have watched very little TV this year. The only series I binged was "Godless" on Netflix. Everything else has been super hit-and-miss.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No. There is someone I really loved in the past, but I think I see him more clearly now, and what he says doesn't matter.

What was the best book you read in 2018?

I did not read as much as I wanted to this year. I did finish the Livre de Mormon in around 5 days (procrastinate much?). The best novel I read was "Lethal White" by Robert Galbraith. I also read "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene' Brown, "Girl, Wash Your Face" by Rachel Hollis, "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek, and some others. I should keep better track of that.

What was your greatest musical discovery?

OMD put on a GREAT show! I had very low expectations, so maybe that helped. But it was awesome.

What did you want and get?

To start a podcast. It's started, but still struggling. Mostly just me, but also because Peggy is so dang busy!

What did you want but did NOT get?

A Kindle. Good grief--this has been on my list for like 6 years now. Also a new laptop.

What was your favorite film of this year?

A Quiet Place was fantastic. So was Mission: Impossible Fallout. I also enjoyed Black Panther, Aquaman, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Ready Player One

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I went to "Rewire Choir" at Daniel Blomberg's home, I went to a fundraiser for a friend with cancer, and we probably went out to dinner. And I turned 39.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More sleep. 

What kept you sane?

Friends. Good people at work and church and in my life.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Patrick Wilson is back at #1, though I got to take a picture with David Tennant at FanX. Jason Momoa is steadily climbing the charts, though.

What political issue stirred you the most?

Probably the Kavanaugh Hearings, and the bravery of Christine Blasey-Ford. The royal wedding (Harry & Meghan), and the boys who got stranded in a cave in Thailand . . . WOW. 

Who did you miss?

Lots of people. I have not seen enough of Shannah Leigh.

Who was the best new person you met this year?

My friend Lana, who is in my choir (the Salt Lake Singers). She's a total soul sister.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018.

You have more power than you think you do.

Quote that sums up your year:

“People may call what happens at midlife “a crisis,” but it’s not. It’s an unraveling—a time when you feel a desperate pull to live the life you want to live, not the one you’re “supposed” to live. The unraveling is a time when you are challenged by the universe to let go of who you think you are supposed to be and to embrace who you are.” 
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

So there it is . . . my yearly contribution to this blog and a reminder of the good and bad of this time in my life. I want to know how your year went as well! Please comment or shoot me a DM (slide on in, baby!). Let's make 2019 a great one, eh?

LOVE YOU!!!

Another One Bites The Dust

It's that time again, folks. Another year-in-review, with a few changes but mostly more of the same. Hey--at least I got more than one blog post in this year, right? (very small yay)

What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?

I was a guest host on two different podcasts (Radio Ronin twice, and So B.I.G. one time). It was really fun, and I hope to do it again soon. I'll be hanging out with the ladies of Life On The Rocks, Please in a few weeks. They are awesome, and it will be a blast.

Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Yes, I did make some. Did I keep them? Well . . .

To finish the unfinished projects before I start more (uh . . .)
To spend less money on makeup (uh . . .)
To be unapologetically myself (uh . . . I still find myself apologizing for myself frequently)
To ask for what I want (I've been a little better about this, but there's lots of room for improvement)

I think I'll keep these very generic goals, and add a few more, though I'm not writing them here.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

My brother Dave & his wife Lexy had baby #6 (Eve Ximena-Renee) in March, and I was privileged to be there for my niece's birth. What a lovely experience.

My sister Sarah gave birth to a sweet baby boy (Miles John), but he was born too soon (19 weeks). It has been devastating for her and Chad, and we are all still so sad from losing him. I kinda feel robbed of getting to know my nephew, though I know he's close. Chad & Sarah are doing IVF again, so we are hoping for another miracle next year.

Did anyone close to you die?

See above.
Also, Tollene's dog Ginger died. (We got a new dog, Finn, or as Benji calls him, "Hi-Finn.")
And a very nice guy from my ward, Brad Andreason passed away not too long after Miles and Ginger. He was in his early 50's and had lots of heart problems, but seeing so many people grieving is rough. I cried a lot in August and September. (Who am I kidding? I cry all the freaking time.)

What countries did you visit?

I should really just change this question to states, but within the next 5 years I will be able to write different countries! So until that point, I'll answer: Wyoming, Idaho, California, Washington State, and two I hadn't visited before: Minnesota & Iowa. They are lovely places!

What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?

Confidence and organization

What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory?

August 30 (Baby Miles's birthday)

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving December. It was brutal.

What was your biggest failure?

Attempting to teach Microbiology. Ha! That was a joke!

Did you suffer illness or injury?

I spent a few days in the hospital with sepsis. Not fun. I got better, though I still have some lingering effects therefrom. My friend Erica Dawn had a terrible infection and was in the hospital for two months. Mine was a breeze compared to hers.

What was the best thing you bought?

Tickets to see two of my favourite bands in Seattle. Best. Mother's Day. Ever.

Whose behavior merited celebration?

Benji has been doing great. He was SO GOOD at Disneyland! I was very impressed with the way he handled the crowds and the rides!

Where did most of your money go?

Bills. Car. Food. Concerts. Gifts. Airline Tickets. Disneyland. Bath & Body Works. Ulta. Amazon. (Not necessarily in that order)

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My trip to Seattle. The food was great, the company was great, the music was beyond great. 

What song will always remind you of 2017?

The big songs of the year (that I've heard once or twice and kinda liked) were "Despacito (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee w/The Biebs) and "Sign of the Times" (Harry Styles). I listened to that Taylor Swift song a couple of times and it was terrible. I liked Chainsmokers (w/Coldplay) "Something Just Like This" in spite of myself. I also listened to a lot of Tom Petty (R.I.P.), but my personal favorite is "Lights of Home" by U2, which is better than all of those other songs combined.  

My album of the year is "Songs of Experience" by U2 (I know this surprises nobody). I usually have more albums, but since I've started listening to a lot more podcasts, I haven't had as much time for music. That's why three of my top ten are from U2, and two are from my community choir (Salt Lake Singers). I should probably branch out a bit more, but I was kinda sparse in my concert partaking this year.

My top 10 SONGS of 2017 (or, the songs that have meant the most to me this year)

10. "All Praise to Thee" by Elaine Hagenberg

9. "The Work of Christmas" by Howard Thurman/Dan Forrest

8. "Top of the World" by Greek Fire

7. "The Sky is a Neighborhood" by Foo Fighters

6. "Solid Gold" by Tom Chaplin & JONES

5. "Take Me As You Found Me" by Anberlin

4. "Landlady" by U2

3. "You're the Best Thing About Me" by U2

2. "You Don't Know How It Feels" by Tom Petty

1. "Lights of Home" by U2

And the concert list for this year (short but great): 

Young the Giant (2.4.17 at the Complex)
U2 with Mumford & Sons (5.14.17 at CenturyLink Field)
Depeche Mode (8.23.17 at USANA)
Offspring/Sublime with Rome (9.30.17 at USANA)

I had tickets to see Foo Fighters, but ended up selling them. I'm such an idiot.

I should really add my top Podcasts of the year, since that's become a thing:
10. The Park Hoppers
9. Rolling Stone Music Now
8. S-Town
7. Gregg's Guide to New Music/Ticked (tied)
6. Radio Ronin
5. This American Life
4. Baconsale
3. Life on the Rocks, Please
2. Awesome with Alison
1. Heavyweight

Compared to this time last year, are you:

   Happier or sadder? Not sure at the moment. It depends on the day and how much sleep I've had.

   Thinner or fatter? Don't ask.

   Richer or poorer?  We just got back from Disneyland. I'm feeling very poor at the moment.

What do you wish you’d done more of?  

Exercising.  Spending time with my boy.

What do you wish you’d done less of?  

Staying up too late, saying yes when I really want to say no.

How will you be spending Christmas? 

Honestly, I'm not sure

Did you fall in love in 2017?

Not so much

Who were your best friends?

Peggy, Heather. My sisters.

What thing did you do that was meaningful to others?

I spent LOTS of time taking and editing pictures this year (and several of these sessions were free of charge); I hope they are meaningful to others, or what the hell am I doing?
I also worked really hard on the Christmas Program for my ward/choir (I'm the ward choir director), and coordinating and practicing with all of the groups, getting them to participate, writing, copying, etc., etc. It was rough, but I think it turned out well, and I hope it was a nice and meaningful meeting for everyone involved.

What were your favorite TV programs?

The Mindy Project, Madam Secretary, Designated Survivor, This Is Us, Mr. Robot, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel 

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Not really. There are people who I really looked up to in the past, for whom the shine has dulled a bit. 

What was the best book you read in 2017?

I did not read a lot this year. The best book I read was "Origin" by Dan Brown, with "Artemis" by Andy Weir coming in a very close second. They were both excellent. I keep thinking I'm going to read more once I get caught up, but I'm never caught up anymore.

What was your greatest musical discovery?

How good the Offspring still sound! They were rocking! Subime--not so much.

What did you want and get?

Disneyland for Christmas. Yay! (And never again!!)

What did you want but did NOT get?

A Kindle. Good lord--this has been on my list for like 5 years now.

What was your favorite film of this year?

I actually liked Star Wars Episode VIII, though it's getting a lot of flack. I LOVED Baby Driver (which I got to see in a critic's screening with Kenny D) and Wonder Woman, but Dunkirk was AMAZING. Best film of the year, hands down. 

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

No idea. I turned 38. Gads, I'm getting old.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More sleep. And a lot more sex.

What kept you sane?

Friends. Good people at work and church and in my life.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I'm currently crushing on Adam Driver, a.k.a., Kylo Ren, a.k.a., Darth Tall Jew. I don't know what it is, but I'm hooked.

What political issue stirred you the most?

I've been following Seth Abramson, an Attorney and Criminal Law/journalism professor on Twitter. He has been following and analyzing the "Trump-Russia Thing" for months now. He uses a lot of different reputable sources, and he explains things in such a clear, fascinating way. It's SO MUCH to take in that it hurts my brain sometimes, but I feel like I'm watching Watergate unfold before my eyes. Can I just say--Bob Mueller is THE MAN.  

Who did you miss?

I don't get to see Peggy often enough, but she tries to make time for me. I miss DeLayna, who is currently living in Germany. And, of course, Joyce, Susan, Brittany, Todd, and the others who decided I wasn't worth their time.

Who was the best new person you met this year?

Make it two: Lara & Erin. The LOTRP ladies are so awesome. I adore them.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.

Invest in people who invest in you. (Thank you, Alison!)

Quote that sums up your year:

Allison had so many tasty nuggets, and I learned a lot from working with my friend Daniel Blomberg on his brain consulting stuff, but I worked a lot on my handwriting/lettering this year, and I wrote this so many times it has stuck. The words are so beautiful, and the music makes me cry. This is what it's all about.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,

To make music from the heart.
--Howard Thurman/Dan Forrest

So there it is. I'm glad I was able to get this done today (another thing off my to-do list!). I want to know how your year went. Please comment or message me or whatever. If you're reading this, I can pretty much guarantee I have thought about you recently, so let me know how you are. 

LOVE YA.