Sugar Bump

Disclaimer: This post is not about Phillip (even though the title may imply it)

In sixth grade a friend of mine named Vinnie told me that the small painful bumps that emerged on my tongue every once in a while were caused from eating too much sugar, and that they were called Sugar Bumps. My critical consumer skills were not as refined back then so I believed him and, since I am not in the mood to Google the term or the condition right now, I still believe it.

Today, I have a small painful little lump on my tongue. It. Is. Painful. I have a few ideas of how this particular lump came to be:

Ever since I moved out of my house I do my own grocery shopping and I am a budget grocery shopper. I try not to spend money on candies or good tasting fatty things that only cause temporary happiness. Every time I walk by the peanut butter isle, though, I cannot help but eyeball the Nutella jars. A small yellow sticker tells me that they are $3.49. A small voice in my head tells me to move on. I usually do. But last week I decided that I am no longer under my parents jurisdiction and that my money is my money and if I want nutella for breakfast for the next two weeks then I can have it.

This may be the cause of the sugar bump.

It could also be THIS website that I browse on a daily basis. The pictures are pretty potent and the recipes are remarkable. I am browsing this website more often than not. The potency might be a little much.

This could also be the cause of my sugar bump.

And, last but not least, I have been spending a lot of time with Phillip and he has really been so kind and so (here it comes) sweet. He is such a gentleman. I truly believe that his kindness and generosity could have caused my body to think that I was literally consuming sugar. He has also been making homemade ice-cream everyday since February.

That could be the cause of my sugar bump.

An Old Email

A sweet little boy who stole the hearts of my family's neighborhood passed away a few weeks ago. An old folder in my email box held this email that I wrote back in 2005. I'm glad it was still there. I was babysitting Brigham Reneer for my good friend Julie. I emailed this experience to a good friend who was far away at the time. When people ask me the most beautiful things I have seen or experienced in my life this is always the first thing I tell them.

I was babysitting Brigham who is 9 or 10 years old. He has hunters syndrome. He is the most remarkable most loving little boy I have ever met. Some things he did today really touched me. He was jumping on the trampoline while I was sitting in the green grass with his baby sister. He wanted their dog (Olive) to jump onto the trampoline with him. Olive is a BIG dog and looks like a pit-bull type mix. She looks like a big mean guard dog. Anyway, he kept calling her and calling her until finally she just jumped on the trampoline, and started to play with him. There he was, this fearless little boy on the trampoline with this huge dog, just playing and laughing. It was the most beautiful thing. It doesn't seem all that amazing, but for some reason it was. Maybe its just me.

My Jane Error

Facts: I love reading a good book. I am also a woman.

That being said, it is obvious that by now I have read a handful of famous influential womanly novels like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Wuthering Heights and so on. Right? Not so. The other day I figured that, given the above facts, I would adore these books. So I tried. I really tried. One hundred and thirty-seven pages into Jane Eyre I coolly asked myself, "how many more pages do I have to endure?!"

That's where my mistake was. I cannot convince myself that I want to read and will enjoy those types of books--not right now at least. I'm just not that type of girl...yet.

Does this make me a bad person? No. Does this make me less attractive mentally and physically? Maybe. But that is a risk I am willing to take.

I am no Jane Eyre-er. Someday, maybe one hundred and thirty-seven days from now, Jane Eyre will be on my list. And I will love it. I will be influenced by it. And most importantly, I'll finally finish it and be able to say, "You're talking about Jane Eyre? I've read that."

To The Root

Today I decided to rid my apartment of anything that might cause allergies.

Today I vacuumed all corners, crannies, carpets, and even our couches. I wiped down all counters, cabinets, and cupboards. My comforter and pillow cases were washed in an extra hot cycle (as were my sheets and duvet cover but I want to keep this "C" thing going). My apartment is clean. Everything was either sucked up or practically boiled until it was pure again. I mopped the kitchen floor twice. I scrubbed the entertainment system. I even attached the extra long extension to the vacuum head and saw the gray wispy lumps that were clinging to the carpet underneath the couch disappear into the loud drum. Now I am sitting on my crisp bed, basking in clean air of my room, and I just sneezed...

Will the suffering ever end! I have had allergies my entire life. I have been able to tolerate them--to an extent. Allergies can be good sometimes (i.e. getting a semi-attractive or intelligent member of the opposite sex to bless you, or comment on the adorable squeak you just made and the subtle spasm of your entire body). They can also be very bad (i.e. two small sneezes is a row is delightful, sixteen consecutive violent sneezes is frightful).

Allergies can also ruin trips to the Boboli Gardens, a good night's sleep, and anniversary bike rides.

Keane Dream Team

If you asked me if I went to the Keane concert last weekend I would say yes. If you asked me if I was only 5 rows away from the stage that Keane played on during their concert last week I would say yes. If you asked me if these tickets (which were valid for only 5th row seats at the Keane concert last week)were free, I would say yes.

Welcome To Moab

After 21 years I am finally starting to embrace my home and all it has to offer. As promised, here are some highlights from a last minute camping trip to the rolling rocky hills of Moab.

Don't leave home without it.
Surprisingly, our level SPF matched exactly how much a one night stay at a motel in Moab costs if you cannot find a campground at 10:00pm.

I let my camera take its own pictures sometimes.


I was overjoyed to see these artistic rock formations that I took to be original Andy Goldsworthy site-specific land art sprinkled all over the rock trails. Later, Phillip broke my heart and told me that they were actually trail markers.


I still wonder, though.

Back By Popular Demand

4 pairs of socks
3 T-shirts
2 Shaved legs
7 Harry Potter Books (read)
Pajama Pants
Hiking Shorts
Sunglasses
Underwears
Chacos
Sneakers
Sunscreen
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Camel Back
Breakfast/lunch already prepared for my bed-ridden roommate who will be alone while I am away
Charged Ipod (inlcuding new songs* from this month's Best CD Ever)
Confidence
I'm ready to go camping
I'll see you all later
Orange-archy pictures to come

* Good songs from this month's CD Include: Architecture in Helsinki-The Beep and The Noisettes- Don't Upset the Rhythm