I just discovered that if I walk to the break room at work 41.7 times a day, taking the long route, I will get in the recommended 10,000 steps a day. Do you think anyone will notice if I walk to the break room every 11.5 minutes?

Book 2

Love.

Las Vegas

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Day. Three-day weekend = I’m outta here! I spent my mini vacation in Las Vegas, basking in the gorgeous, sunny mid-60s weather. My aunt and uncle were kind enough to offer me and my sister a place to lay our weary heads at night. Lucky for us cause all that sunny weather, amazing shopping, and awesome food is enough to tire out any girl.

My aunt and uncle, along with a place to rest our weary heads, are also excellent providers of lots of laughter, lots of thinking, and lots of conversationaling—three things that are tragically difficult to find. Thanks Aunt and Uncle.

I also had an opportunity to begin working on my 24/24 list.

10 Kelly and I started the drive to Vegas Friday after work, at about 3:31 pm. The sunset was amazing in a very nontraditional sunset kind of way. The colors are indescribable. If you think of a sunset I am pretty sure these colors wouldn’t come to mind. It was the prettiest sunset I have seen in a long time.  It reminded me of all the things that were perfect  in this world. And then I wasn’t thinking at all. But . . . is it possible to “visit” a sunset? 

13 I may have fulfilled my requirement to do something disgustingly touristy.  Kelly and I took Tommy (my delightful GPS device) to Vegas with us. He struggled a bit when it came to the spaghetti bowl.  Don’t worry, we only got off the freeway to get right back on, per Tommy’s instructions, four or five times. (And then we put him away. I was better at navigating without him.) I am not sure if I am going to count it. It is not what I had in mind, but what reason is there for discriminating against something that was not in my mind?

21 I started setting out my pennies! Good thing cause I have so far to go. I was disappointed in the lack of fountains I found. There were a couple, but they weren’t spraying. I need to improve my fountain sleuthing skills.

First penny strategically placed to bring good luck. I am happy to report that when I visited the spot four days later (the gas station was the first and last place we stopped), my penny was gone.

Four more pennies, placed to bring good luck. Don't worry, I just left the pennies, not the bags of wonderful stuff.

Verdict:

13 – not complete

10 – not begun

21 – 1% complete

PS Is anyone else disturbed that I didn't think about Martin Luther King Jr. once over the weekend? I didn't think about him, I didn't think about what he fought for, and I didn't think about how he changed our nation. Who am I?

Happy birthday, Grandpa Tillery. I send all of my love to you. I wish I could have known you in this life, but some things are worth waiting for, and knowing you definitely qualifies. Please give Granny a hug and a kiss from me and I will eat a slaw dog for you.

Love always and forever,
Meg

friday - jubilate
saturday - charisma
sunday - ossify
monday - proctrastinate
tuesday - gloaming

I find it really depressing when I know all of merriam-webster's words of the day.

Book 1

Pegasus
Robin McKinley

I enjoy Robin McKinley, but her books are always a hit or miss for me. I really love a lot of her books, but others I wouldn't mind never reading again. This falls into the latter category. Though it was interesting and I did enjoy reading it. If you haven't read Robin McKinley before I would definitely recommend it, but start with The Blue Sword, Beauty, Chalice, or Sunshine. Particularly since this is only half of the story. It will be at least a year before we see the second half.

24/24

About a week before I turned 24 (a month and a little bit ago) I began working on a list of things I wanted to do while I was 24. Four weeks later, I made myself focus on my list and have now finally finished it.

Drumroll please . . .

The list!

1. Read Harry Potter 1-7 in French. And understand it.
2. Read 200 books I haven't read before. (I've got about 70 stacked by my bed. Just need to find another 130. Suggestions encouraged. )
3. Run a 5k in less than 30 minutes
4. Be able to wear all the skirts I could wear two years ago and still have but can't wear anymore cause I was exploring new shapes.
5. Read the entire Bible beginning to end, Old and New Testament.
6. Get one of my novels in good enough shape so I can start looking for an agent.
7. Take art lessons.
8. Conquer my fear of yeast breads.
9. Fall in love with something I didn't know existed.
10. Visit at least five amazing, natural places (e.g., Grand Canyon, Redwood Forest).
11. Make a jean quilt.
12. Try a food I have never eaten before.
13. Do something disgustingly touristy.
14. Have an amazing conversation with someone I don't know and will probably never see again.
15. Watch the sun rise from the top of Mount Timpanogos.
16. Build a kite from scratch and fly it.
17. Make homemade butter.
18. Fill a family cookbook with all our favorite recipes.
19. Buy a gorgeous, impractical dress that I have no reason to own let alone wear, and then wear it.
20. Acquire a complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach and listen to each piece.
21. Place 500 pennies strategically where they will either grant wishes or bring good luck.
22. Learn how to fly down the mountain on one fat stick or two thin sticks.
23. Make a three-course dinner and a dessert meant to be eaten with fingers only.
24. Go somewhere awesome I have never been before to celebrate making it to year 25.

Basically this year, er, eleven months, is going to rock!

This is how I wear earrings

NM (NOT MEG): Wow, not looking so fabulous. You sure didn't take the time to get ready this morning, did ya?

MEG: What are you talking about? Did you notice I am wearing earrings? How could you think I didn't get ready this morning?


I do not associate with anybody mean enough to actually say what NM said, but it is what I imagine all the people I don't associate with because they are meanie pants would say, and what all the nice people I associate with would say if they were meanie pants. 

I also do not recommend using earrings to try to fake people into believing you got up early enough to look decent. It doesn't work.