As The Brownstone Turns: You Aren't a Lawyer, and No to Your Dog Park

Where do I even start? I should have started April 1st when I started managing these Apartments. The old manager said they used to call this place As The Brownstone Turns.
Having little to no apartment managerial experience coming into this I was quite out of my element. Things I knew going in:

1. collect rent on the first of the month

2. call the previous manager with any questions

3. call the owner with any questions

I really thought this might be the easiest thing in the world, what, with that short list of instructions. 

It started with a fridge... April-ish

I came home from work about mid April with a note on my door (it was my first note, I was so excited!). It was from my neighbors in #6 (for my own protection, I will refer to them ((boyfriend&girlfriend)) as #6) and in a shortened and condensed version it stated: "I need a new fridge because mine is leaking water, I hate stepping in a puddle of water every morning, and I can only imagine what its doing to the floor underneath". oh thats nice, i thought, a renter who cares about property that isn't his. let it be known I always give people the benefit of the doubt, you can call it naivety, I just call it being a human with manners. However, where would water be coming from? these fridges are basic, and aren't connected to a water source. Is there ice build up in the freezer? He said no. hmm, then I'm fresh out of ideas. Someone mentioned to me condensation, sure, but a puddle caused from condensation every morning? Not likely.  A couple of weeks went by without any more word from #6 and I thought I was in the clear for calling them on their bluff. No such luck. The owner called me and said "hey i've got the people delivering a new fridge for #6 tomorrow, make sure they know where they are going. WHAT. They got ahold of the owner themselves and decided to take matters into their own hands. Keep in mind the owner is about 75 years old. Also keep in mind that I HATE confrontation. so keeping the drama to a minimum I text #6 and said:

Me: the fridge will be here tomorrow morning between 8-10 make sure you are home

#6: yes i will be

Me: k. also make sure it is empty so they can put the new one in place and take the old one out.

#6: i will do that tomorrow, i don't want my food to spoil.

..... great idea, i thought to myself, why didn't i think of that .....

Next came the dog... June-ish

Disclaimer: I am not a dog lover, nor am I a dog hater. I'm just a regular person, who likes to follow rules and expects people do the same, so when I see #6 out taking a dog, that i've never seen before, to the bathroom I knew we were in for a whirlwind of fun. At this point I learned that all pets are to be approved by the manager and we don't allow puppies or full sized dogs. There is also a pet deposit and an extra $25 tacked onto your monthly rent. So I confronted him (after hyping myself up for about 10 minutes) 

Me: oh hey, is this your puppy?

#6: ya it is

Me: cool he's so cute, what kind of dog is he? (again because I have manners, I started off with some friendly conversation)

#6: SHE'S a Husky

Me:..... (losing patience).... So in other words a wolf haha (remaining friendly) so pets are actually supposed to be approved by me and also there is a pet fee, were you aware of this?

#6: no (looking panicked) the old manager let me have my other dog for free

Me: so you have 2 dogs?

#6: no I um used to have another dog (stuttering over words)

Me: ok well I dont know about that, ill ask her about. I'll drop off a form to you tomorrow though (walk away)

Before I could even get a form to him, he drops off a doctors note stating that this is his companionship dog because he has severe anxiety. At this point I knew he lied to me about having a previous dog that he "didn't have to pay for", he didn't even have a dog! So naturally I had to confirm that this doctors note was even real. It was, Damn! But I got my justice by berating this so called doctor and laughing and saying "what! is that even a thing"! Turns out it is, because after going to #6 and saying thats great and all that you have severe anxiety but this note just pardons me from being able to kick this dog out, you still have to pay for it. Then he comes to me with pages printed from the internet about companionship dog law pertaining to apartment owners blah blah blah blah back and forth for a couple of weeks until it occurs to me that his lease is almost up! And at that point I dont need a reason to evict him, I can simply say "my apologies (gag) but we will not be re-newing your lease. 

I feel it is important to say that I'm not a vindictive person, I just want to keep the peace , but I also will not let this tall gangly mofo (who coincidentally looks like Christopher Mintz-Plasse from Role Models, Super Bad, and Kick Ass. All of which are ruined for me now) step all over me. I just had to hold out till the end of September. 

in those 2ish (not so short) months they had 1 disruptive party, a request to get the empty basement apartment that has a fenced in grass area (ARE YOU KIDDING ME, either you have big kahoonas, or you are just stupid), they "petitioned" for a dog park (pictured below), sent me an entertaining note about the washer/dryer that I wasn't aware were broken (pictured below), and I had it on very good authority that these fools and their friends were climbing all over the newly built shed. which was my 1st, last straw.

I know what you may be thinking... I thought the same thing.

Oh is that why your handwriting is bad?

1st Last Straw... October-ish

Finally the month has come! Sweet release! Justice at last! I have lived everyday cringing when there is a knock on the door hoping/praying it wasn't them coming at me with yet another entitled comment/complaint. I quickly drew up my "we are not renewing your lease" letter, attached a copy of their expired lease, highlighted the part about pets and leaving the apartment how they found it so they have the opportunity to receive their deposit back, and delivered it to their door! Now its only a manner of 30 days until they are out of my life forever! Jokes on me apparently, this blog post ain't over yet. Remember that they have the owners number? Well I remembered also, so I called him pre-warning him that I delivered the letter and they may try to call him begging us not to do it! I thought I had all my bases covered. That is until they agreed over the phone to start paying for the dog... I'd like to compare the owner of an old version of Mr. Crabs. All my efforts wasted. I swear I was depressed for a full week.

The Girl Who Cried Carbon Monoxide... November

If you can believe it, this story continues! At this point I have no words in my mind right now that Jesus would approve of about how I feel about these people. If you are wondering these "kids" are 2 years younger than me (24) that age where you feel like you can take on the world. KNOCK KNOCK (I look through the peep hole) Dear Lord. What do they want now:
#6: um we were on the phone with Questar so we could get our furnace lit and they said it was very old and needs to be replaced because its a carbon monoxide hazard.
Me:...(after a brief pause of me wondering why on earth they would call Questar for that) well did you get it lit?
#6: no its very dirty and unsafe to light
Me: well you are in luck, I have the HVAC guy (awesome uncle) coming tonight for a different apartment so i'll have him stop by to clean and light it for you. If it works, we wont be replacing it.

SURPRISE it worked

2 days later another knock on the door. I dont even greet them at this point. I just open the door and stare at them until they start speaking.
#6: we had a carbon monoxide scare last night. Questar came out and turned off our water heater and says it needs to be replaced.
Me: oh I'm very sorry to hear that (monotone, almost robot like voice) I'll get a plumber over there right away to take a look at it (my other awesome uncle)

The next morning my uncle went to take a look at it. again, pre-warning him that these people are very nuisance-y and don't let them give you any bull shit. I mean, I can't let someone I love just walk into an apartment of crazy without having some sort of an idea. He returned 15 minutes later, telling me what the situation was. We shared a laugh:
Unlce: ok so nothing is wrong with it.
Me: as i suspected
Uncle: She called Questar because she was feeling light headed and lethargic
Me: (hand over mouth) WHAT laugh laugh laugh laugh laugh
Unlce: ya Questar is equally as stupid, the tech put his monitor in the vent, instead of on the outside, there is obviously carbon monoxide flowing inside of the vent.
Me: laugh laugh laugh laugh
Unlce: you're my niece, so this ones on me
Me: Thank you, you are the best

Literally, My Last Straw... Hopefully...December

Another party. Great, something else I have on them. "Dear tenant, blah blah  last warning, kept people up till 3am, blah blah blah, one of your drunk guests slammed into another tenants door, blah blah, please be human and have respect for people around you, blah. Sure enough KNOCK KNOCK:
#6: can I come in so we can talk about this
Me: (again with these damn manners of mine) sure
#6: I dont appreciate being falsely accused of something we didn't do. I've got some legal documents here stating it wasn't us. (literally, their legal documents are handwritten notes with everyones names spelled out and dates)
Me: Dont even try to tell me that. all it is with you guys is deny deny deny and its getting very old
#6: well we've been asking people around us if they knew who had the party and they dont, but they said it wasn't us. #1 doesnt know who it was.
Me: you are friends with #1
#6: no we arent
Me: yes you are
#6: no we arent
Me: yes you are, you work at Einstens Bagels together (next time you go there, see if you can point them out, I bet you can)
#6: oh I meant #4
Me: oh is that who you meant? the people that aren't even near you?
#6: well i've also got a letter from my boss stating that I was at work at 4:45 in the morning
Me: that doesn't mean anything to me, I know plenty of people who can stay up all night and then go to work without any sleep. Its been done
#6: ok well it wasn't us, I go to work early in the morning and then I just want to rest in the afternoon, I'm on my feet all day and then I just want to rest
Me: (is she seriously complaining to me about working at Einstens Bagels right now?)

ugh. From there its all a blur. She got mixed up and had her "legal documents" dated wrong. Tried to tell me I accused her of having a party on sunday night. stuttered over her words and backtracked a little to get back on top. All the while my child, sleeping in the next room, who has Croup and pink eye wakes up from the racket. Thank you for your input, please leave.

#6: ill have to rewrite these documents and bring them over later
Me: well slip them through my mail slot because we are done having this conversation
#6: have a nice day
Me: (shut door)

I called the owner. Please for the love of my sanity Stan make them leave. He said he will draw up some actual "Legal Documents". I wont't get my hopes up though until they drive away with all of their things.

To Be Continued, Im sure...



P.S. dialogue used is not 100% accuarate and pulled from memory to the best of my ability. I mean, I don't walk around with a recorder in my pocket. Although, it seems, I should.

SOLD

We have officially accepted an offer on our house! SIDE NOTE: I've had extreme writers block for a couple of days now, thats why its taking so long to write this and i still have it so please excuse my sporadic writing. 

With the closing date 1 month away (April 1st) I've been having mixed emotions! We were anxious to sell so Jay could start school (something about not wanting to give somebody an 80k loan when they are already in 200k for a house) but now as I sit here and pack my very first box I'm sad. Well sad and excited. Well let's be honest I have no clue what I'm feeling. It's weird and crazy. 

--------------------------------------------

So I wrote that above paragraph yesterday. I got 5 boxes from my kitchen packed. I left all the things we use on a daily/weekly basis. It's amazing how many things 1 family needs, or really doesn't need. I have a huge D.I. Pile. 

Anyways. Things have kind of fallen into place perfectly and surprisingly our "for sale by owner" sign came through. The real miracle is that the buyers also don't have a realtor, which equals more money in everyone's pocket ($7k to be exact) and who doesn't like more money? The most real miracle is that we no longer have to live with my parents (sorry mom ((as if she wanted me anyways)). The buyers are currently living and managing apartments up by the Dee Event center. So naturally when they move out of there and into the house those apartments will need new managers, and that will be us! This really couldn't have worked out any better, even if I planned it myself. I guess that's how you know your on the right path of life eh? Everything just kinda feels like it was meant to be. 

I also couldn't ask for better buyers. When the house was still on the market, and I had multiple interests coming through you just know when you see somebody that they aren't the people for this house DISCLAIMER: that has no relation to race or my judgment of there social standings. However, the minute this awesome pregnant lady knocked on my door (Thursday) commenting on the sign, and asking about the house, I could just feel some good things coming from this. They walked through it the next day, twice, and had an offer to us by Monday. Which was the perfect offer, we didn't even hesitate to accept it! 

And now as I lay here on my bed looking out my window with plantation shutters longingly wishing I could bring them with me, I'm filled with regret. Just kidding. I'm filled with thoughts about what I want in our next house, where I want to go when we get to travel for free, and how many Pinterest projects I now get to try to spruce up my new apartment. Optimism at it's finest, wouldn't you say? 

This is in a corner of our garage. We etched it in right after they poured the cement. 

Cynicism

It's recently come to my attention that some of you out there might find me cynical. My Facebook posts are usually circulated between things I don't like, things that frustrate me, things that I think are stupid, but in my defense I try to be funny about it. 

You may not agree with the things I say, but don't tell me that when you read it it didn't put a smile on your face. Even just a tiny corner-of-the-mouth smile, or maybe a little "ha" slipped from your throat.  And that is why I do it. In hopes that someone will read it and it will bring the tiniest bits of joy to their life because maybe they agree, but maybe they don't but they still think it's funny or maybe they don't think it's funny and they don't think I'm funny and they don't like me but for some reason they haven't removed me from their "friends" yet because the more friends we have, the more popular we are and that's really all social media is about right? Who has the most followers and how can we can get more. 

Whenever I think about Facebook or Instagram or the likes thereof, it makes me quite sick to think how dependent we are on it. I hate myself  for looking at Facebook 472819475 times a day but on the other hand it's a wonderful tool. I would never know in a million years when people from high school have babies or get married, it's fun to share in the joys of other peoples lives, borderline stalkerish, but joyful none the less. It's a love hate relationship I have with Facebook, and from that relationship, it spawned me. 

I don't have a serious bone in my body. Sarcasm is my best quality, it's also my best defense mechanism. So now that you know my background my posts speak for themselves. Facebook is stupid and it's not to be taken seriously. I don't post about my happiest life moments because those are the things I share with those closest to me. I don't post about food or gym time because I don't care for you to know what I eat or when (or when I don't) go to the gym. I really don't even care for you to know that I'm struggling to find a pediatrician or that I think Juan Pablo is a douche. I do care that I have an outlet though, that's what Facebook is for me, an outlet, where I can express the things that are in my head as sassy as possible. If you don't like it, if my negativity brings you down, then please, for the sake of humanity please unfollow me.

 Hey look at that, this blog is also an outlet. 👍

Lull

Ugh. Will life ever move forward? Will this house ever sell? I know I know, no one wants to buy a house during the holidays, or move in the middle of winter. There has to be someone out there. I'm beginning to wonder if it will even sell after the new year, but I suppose time will tell. I just feel like I'm sitting here waiting for something to happen, like life is on pause. I'm trying to keep this blog updated but I literally have nothing to write about. So I will insert here that it's snowing, and I love it. And also it will be Mykahs first Christmas, and I am happy that she gets to have it in this house where we started our lives together. So in closing if anyone is looking for a house, send them my way. 

A Change in the Winds

We finally have eventful things happening in our lives that i decided the best place to keep people up would be writing about it via blogger style. I'm a terrible blogger. i hate the word blog. but beggars cant be choosers. this gives people the option to either keep up with our lives or not. i wont force status post after status post upon your wall, though sometimes I'm sure i will.

So this is happening. I'd like to hear what is going on in all of your minds right now. Did Jay win a million dollars gambling and we are now moving somewhere bigger and better?? Did Jay lose a million dollars gambling and we are now moving somewhere cheaper?? or maybe you just don't care and you aren't quite sure what the big deal is. everyone moves, its nothing new. But not for the Child's. i foresaw my future to be nothing new, life would continue on how it always does. Jay would work his 9-5 and we would start popping out more babies, finish the basement, eventually move out due to over-crowding. For those who don't know, me nor jay has ever attended college, i mean seriously? College? what a sham, degrees have no place in this economy unless you are doing a specific trade. so in other words we skipped steps. we got married and immediately moved into this beautiful brand new 2600 sq ft home. Both of us having full time positions and paid off cars, life was CAKE.

(insert buying a BMW here) and then there was a rift in our perfect lives. I was let go from my job. Not a big deal, didnt like it anyways. ill just file for unemployment and look for another job, well that was harder than i thought, but i eventually got on as a cocktail waitress at The Timbermine (funnest job ever) and then another rift comes along. Surprise pregnancy. a little bit of a bigger deal, we were not ready by any means. those things are expensive, and time consuming. i wouldnt be able to have a full time job even if i wanted it (i didnt) so i start looking at more jobs, something with fixed hours. which brings me to my current job at Mountain Alarm, Fire Protection Services. (insert new Subaru here) Well after our sweet little Myke-n-Ike comes, im working less than 20 hrs a week. congratulations to me, one pay check doesnt even pay for a car payment. during all of this though i wasnt even worried about finances, Jay is so resourceful that he'll do whatever he needs to make an extra buck (prostitution excluded).

Which brings us to the present. Jay's job is wonderful, its all he has ever known, but there is no where for him to go. He started as a bagger, moved up to grocery manager, his raises are maxed out. you can see how things are starting to get a little stressful. So Jay starts thinking "what is something i have always wanted to do", well if we are being honest he has always wanted to just not work and get paid anyways, but that doesn't seem to be happening any time soon. Back to the subject "what is something i have always wanted to do" it came easy for him...a Pilot. whaaaaa???

Me: thats awesome! is it attainable?
Jay: sure $75,000 for a pilot license and a 4 year degree later it is!
Me: oh ok, well what do we need to do to get you flying?
Jay: sell the house, cars, give the baby away and live off the land! (jk) what he really said was: sell the house, pay off both cars (hopefully), move in with parents, pump out school, hate life for 5 years and we are golden.

ok so that was a little exaggerated, and the decision wasn't that easy. there is so much we are sacrificing, but isn't that was life is about? Sacrificing the Now for a better Later? its going to suck starting over, but as i mentioned earlier, we skipped steps so it only seems fair. Adventures are about to start, and believe it or not im very VERY excited about it. ill try my hardest to keep this blog updated. or maybe ill just see you in 5 years, ill wave to you in between my monthly trips to Hawaii.

Love the Things

Love. Just Love.

What to expect, When you're expecting.

Does anyone know the answer to that question? Especially on the first baby that we were quite literally, not expecting. If any of you that are reading this have ever gotten pregnant on birth control, you know exactly what im feeling. Shock, confusion, you almost have no emotion because you dont know what to feel. You know you should be happy, that's supposed to be every mothers first emotion. But i felt a sense of panic, where do i go from here, whats going to happen financially? I was reading up on the dangers of having an IUD implanted in the uterus as well as the baby and it wasn't looking positive. So now i was battling whether to start the attachment process to this little embryo or not. Should i start getting excited about creating life, or should my being at a higher risk of a miscarriage scare me into repression. I honestly couldn't tell you which option i preferred more. This is one life changing event that i wasn't ready for, almost like a death, but quite the opposite. 

As the weeks went by and i started feeling more tired, nauseous and crampy (most frustrating thing of my life) it still didn't sink in. To me i was just sick. 2 pee sticks and a visit to the doctor didn't even tell my brain the inevitable. I have this way of easily brushing things off my shoulder. And then i went to my first ultrasound appointment, and there it was... a tiny bean, a little blob. but still, i mean really, for all i knew that was my stomach, and there was my del taco from earlier. More time started passing and i started throwing up, and becoming more susceptible to smells. Dont get me wrong i was doing the things i needed to be doing to take care of this little "bean" but i still wasnt comfortable with people outside of my close knit circle of family and friends knowing about this so-called miracle of life. Even though i was partly in denial I wont lie, it is the most precious thing to watch your husband become a father (i know i obviously havent even seen the half of it). He started referring to me as babies "how are my babies doing"  as he gently rubs my tummy. (he even sometimes prefers to rub my tummy, instead of my "twin peaks", if you know what im sayin.) 

I was almost beginning to think i had no heart, like honestly, can i take anything in life seriously? instead of just breezing by, can i for once stop and think about this situation i have before me. And finally it came, i had my 2nd appointment for another ultrasound, and there it was, i saw a head, a little nose, the Dr informed me that was a hand, and those are feet.  What the hell, it was the weirdest experience i've ever encountered, but then it got more weird. He puts the thingy in video mode, and its moving, its wiggling and kicking and bouncing up and down and im holding my breath and concentrating and trying desperately to feel it happening inside of me (the Dr. of course informed me to wait perhaps another month to feel anything) and then weirdness melted into joy, me and jay are laughing because this little bean just will not stay still, and then i start to tear up, and my eyes started leaking, and im thinking to myself, hold the phone, am i actually showing emotion over this thing? Did this just become real? I have living, breathing, growing, developing life inside me, and im staring at the screen and im seeing this black and white version of the rest of my life, and all i can think is "i just became a mother." 

I chose to write this short story via my blog for a couple of reasons. least importantly, i hate being cheesy on FB and i just couldn't come up with a clever way to tell people im pregnant. more importantly I really wanted people to know this story, it used to be important to me to let people know i was NOT trying to have a baby and me and jay weren't the type to be married for 5 seconds and jump into something this drastic, i mean come on that just screams lets be the classic young mormon family who next buys a van and front row tickets to church every sunday. We, quite honestly, didn't even have a plan past our Lake Powell trip this summer.  Most importantly im an open book, ask and you shall receive. It wasn't enough for me to write it in my journal and wait for my great great grandkids to pull it out of the attic one day. I wanted these last couple months of mixed emotion to be known because now, aside from the morning sickness (dont let it fool you, it doesnt just occur in the morning) im the happiest  camper there is and i just absolutely cannot wait till, January 23-ish, 2013

we shall call him/her alfalfa.. for now

My list of "things that must go" (an x96 inspiration)

-smart cars and all alike ( i don't mind if you are environmentally friendly but you dont have to be ugly too. they are not synonymis)
- when people use the words gorge (gorgeous) and totes (totally) you sound stupe (stupid)
- Pinterest (love hate relationship) it gives one the ability to be somebody you totally are not. you cannot afford those clothes. 10 bucks says you aren't that crafty. and im pretty positive no matter how many "6 pack stomachs" you pin its not getting you any closer, that would actually involve going to the gym. (yes that has been boiling up for a while)
- myself pinning those things and then complaining about it.
- rain in the winter
- baby posting... everyday. they look the same no matter what outfit they are in (no im not jealous, im perfectly capable)
- my inability to make cookies
- drivers over 70
- wooden Popsicle sticks
- people who dont blinker
- people who dont use there garage for cars, but for junk (im sorry i thought thats what basements were for)
- when people take pictures of their hands. ugly hands.
- COD
- Obama

Im no makeup artist

as you know i am no makeup artist. its pretty obvious. BUT i finally found eyeliner i love. so far anyways. i still need to do the all day test but im just too excited about this that i have to share it now!

BOOM BABY

i got in brown due to my blonde hair and i heard from a very reliable source no blonde should ever wear black eye makeup, its too harsh and whorish....

its super neat, its not quite a liquid. they call it a gel. and if you like to paint, and you like to wear makeup, this is the liner for you! i even did a smudge test

i painted it onto my hand and rubbed in a circular motion

              and VWALA it did fade, but it did not smudge!

MAGICAL

Im no food connoisseur

Im no food connoisseur, but i am a fan of good food and a great enviroment. So much so that when I come across good food and great enviroment I have an inexplainable urge to share. Mainly because i want the place to succeed so that i can continue to enjoy it and so that other pleople will share the same joy that i do. The same goes with places that I am not a fan of, well aware that I have my own opinions and perceptions. I am just the type of woman (yes i do consider myself a woman) that judges off first impressions, lets be honest most of us do. sorry. I have 2 examples for you today. The Blue Lemon in Salt Lake (located in City Creek Mall) and Soul'n Bones of Ogden (located on washington). Perhaps you have already made your own first impressions simply based off the name and location?

Blue Lemon. Have you ever been to Jasons Deli? or perhaps Paradise Cafe? Then you have been to the Blue Lemon. The name is pretty unique, kind of random? I would like to hear the story behind the name.

The enviroment:
is very innovative. the tables were really close together, too close for comfort. I dont like to hear the tables next to me conversation, nor do i like to sit back to back to stinky lady who has been walking around the mall in the sun all day. im sure they were thinking the same thing.

Call me crazy, but i do like to judge a place by its bathroom. Whether i have to go or not i always make it a point to stop by for a little peeky peeky.

The Bathroom:
a little peeky peeky is exactly what i got. I love when they put a good full sized mirror in the bathroom, its very handy. im self centered that way. what i dont love is when i take a look at myself in the mirror and SURPRISE i get to have a good look at the person in the stall right behind the mirror through the big ass gaps that for some reason someone designed that way. eye contact is not awkward at all right? on the upside the lighting was excellent, i didnt get to see every single blemish on my face! score.

Oh the food, i almost forgot.

The Food:
when i got back from the bathroom our food was on the table. QUICK! I love when i get my food fast (hence my love for fast food) but oh? "this is weird i didnt order sweet potato fries, ill eat them though, and i didnt think my sandwich had sauteed veggies on it.. i dont think this is my order". Needless to say  it wasnt my order, and if it was i still would have been pissed because the bread was major soggy from whatever juices the sammy contained. my order was a sandwich that when i got it, piled half a foot high, so when i "bit" into it, it all just slid out the back and made my hands all sorts of messy. Which yes is the typical sandwich/burger at most restaurants, i just dont get it. The Blue Lemon was not my favorite.

Soul & Bones. Lets move onto the good stuff. It just moved into its brand new location in the heart of Ogden right on Washington blvd. I just dont think i could say enough good things about this place. Its unique its one and only. THEY HAVE DEEP FRIED PICKLES. that was the selling point for Jason.

The enviroment:
Right when we walked in i was impressed. live music. i love live music. To the left is where the live music goes and there is a lounging area you can sit and listen and have drinks and social hour. directly ahead is the bar/bar area, walk past that and you may be seated for dinner. The area was clean, i had space to walk and lean back the building itself is beautiful, rustic brick walls and the perfect color scheme and nice little enclosed area for a party (i do plan on having one there one day, let me know if you want an invite).

The bathroom:
I did get a chance to make it. there was no full length mirror, but i guess ill live. I was impressed with the decorating the colors went right along with the restaurant. the backsplash had beautiful colors and unique patterns. The floor was a little dirty, but what can you do.

The Food:
do you like BBQ? oh you do? this is the perfect place for you. the chef knows exactly how to do. Brisket is hard to make, it was perfect. the ribs were perfectly seasoned, not to fall-a-part-y but not too chewy. I loved the waiters reaction when Jay asked for ranch. He told us the Chef doesn't allow it. I love it, that just goes to show the chef knows his stuff and knows what he is doing. I would have liked to see bigger side portions, but probably only because thats the way America has conditioned me, i would have liked to see a basket of fries, and like a gallon of potato salad. we got a family platter. 4 meats (2 different ribs, brisket, pulled pork) and 4 sides (hand cut sweet potato fries, deliciously seasoned black beans, homemade potato salad, and surprisingly good collard greens).

The Service:
im a huge fan of service, that is what will keep me coming back. the waiter was excellent, very informative on the food, he has tried everything on the menu and told it just like it was. our buser im 87% sure was high. My very favorite part of my entire experience was when the chef came to our table. I told our waiter to give our thanks to the Chef and he brought him out for us! He was a very interesting character, his chef outfit was a black chefs shirt and some awesome flowery chef pants. i was sold. he was mumbly and and cooky and awkward and i think he had a lazy eye but i wanted to take him home. love love love love love Soul & Bones. highly recommended.


on a side note the movie Crash is excellent.

The Beatles

i need to write this post to tribute the Beatles. Have any of you listened to them? i mean REALLY  listened to them. they were story tellers, even when they were just writing about stuff they see on the side of the road (Pennylane) they make you want to look out your window and see just that! they had my heart the moment i heard "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" sure they were on drugs, but they pulled that right out of their soul, it was pure art! They were romantics, 99% of their songs were about love and women, and i mean REAL love. not this Shinanigans about getting some nookie, and licking them like lolipops. They wanted true and honest love. though im sure they they got down and dirty. they wanted to hold your hand, if they had a hard days night all they wanted was to come home to you, they loved you so much they wanted to do it in the road and they wouldn't care who knew it!! They made bold political statements, they wanted everyone to come together yesterday and help as one and just let it be in strawberry fields forever while riding a yellow submarine across the universe to an octopus' garden because she came in through the bathroom window with a little help from her friends the night before sgt peppers lonely hearts club band played. Oh! Darling its getting better every time i listen the them. if only i could live a day in the life of a 60's teenage girl and try to act natural if i ever saw them in concert, i would definately want a ticket to ride... if you know what i mean. I've got a feeling when im sixty-four im still going to dig a pony. oh George Harrison i want you, you give me a norwegian wood though you might say you like me too much, its only love. the end


did i maybe get too carried away?

Most Epic Valentines Playlist

Me and the hubs celebrated Valentines Day last night at Ruths Chris (i can still feel the steak melting in my mouth) on account of him working late tonight, and I had the idea of bringing all the worlds greatest love songs to one place and making him listen (and sing) to them.

A moment like this - Kelly Clarkson
I believe in a thing called love- Darkness
I Do- 98 degrees
I will always love you- Whitney Houston
My Boo- Usher & Alicia Keys
Hero- Enrique Iglesis
Total Eclipes of the Heart- Bonnie Tyler
PS i love you- The Beatles
Put it on me- Ja Rule ft. Vita
Everything i do- Bryan Adams
Happy Together- The Turtles
How do i love without you- Leann Rhimes
Lets get it on- Marvin Gaye

Bonus Track: Hearbreaker- Pat Benetar

DIY

i did it! i finished a project! its not often i finish something im proud of (and im not proud of that) but this actually turned out to my liking. My loving actually (yes i know im missing tuesday, do not fear it will be fixed)

it will work with any collage frame but i had the perfect one! 8 4x6 openings was perfect. i antiqued the paint on the edges, inserted some scrapbook paper (this is my favorite part since it can be interchangeable) got vinyl lettering printed at theimagingdepot.com, stuck them on and VWALAH!! we have a schedule! (its mainly for my husband because he has Alzheimers) but the good news is he can read (clap clap). and every week you can simply write on it with dry erase markers. perfecto 

i cant come up with a good title

eeek! Ragnar is only 6 short months away, how do i even prepare for that? who's idea was this to sign up? i blame it on my good friend Jacquie Vanbeekum, who talked me into my very first Half Marathon. its crazy how running touches ones soul, you can think of anything in the world that you want. This is where i have come up with most of my best ideas (too bad i cant remember any on my return home).

The best compliment i have ever received was when someone said they could tell i was an active person just by looking at me. the first 19 years of my life have been wasted by my unwillingness to enjoy activity and the movement of muscles, but once you start you just cant stop! i imagine it would be that way for eating healthy as well but french fries and dr. pepper just make me so happy.. sooo happy. and while it hurts while you are doing it (hurts so good) its so satisfying the next day when you roll out of bed and you can barely walk because you are so sore.  well i just needed to share my testimony of the fitness gospel so everyone can know how important it is. perhaps ill keep a fitness blog/journal but i probably wont because i cant keep up with it.

running for president

you heard right, i Josalin Dawn Reed Child am running for president of this, The Unites States. I will be the YOUNGEST and most WOMANLY president in history. It's just not working out for me guys. I will require mental health hour, in which you must participate in yoga for at least an hour. i will get rid of the money system and people pay in hugs and good deeds. you are required to give at least 1 homeless person a ride home a week. im going to re-work the Military system. everyone will smile. free health insurance for all. friends all around. Natalie Portman and Salena Gomez will be my entourage. Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson will be my bodyguard. oh did i say president of the united states? i meant the world.

here's to the nights we felt alive.

Love my dude friends so so so much, nothing quite like a night of cooking disgusting brats over the fire in the middle of the winter

Dancing on the kinect (more fun for me because I

always win)

And drifting.

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working hard, or hardly working

Remember that one time I said I would blog more because of high demand of all my worshipers? Well I'm sorry, I just haven't had anything to complain about besides work... And I can't very well do that when I'm friends with all my wonderful bosses. I guess I could complain about there not being any snow on Christmas but that was even taken away from me this morning when it started snowing. I suppose the only thing left is my ward family. Ughhh. I'm sorry I don't have kids people, but I promise we have to have something else in common. sure you are ten years older than me, but I can be mature sometimes. Sorry I can't take my librarian calling seriously and come 45 minutes before church so that sister so-and-so can save 10 cents on some copies, and stay 20 minutes after to make sure the crayons and kid safe scissors are all accounted for. So sue me, I'm working 6 days a week, is it so awful that I want a day to myself and my husband every once in a while?

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Better Late then Never???

according to those few who read my blog, they are very sad i havent updated in... months. Even though i see those few about every other day. So they already know that me and Jay got a BEAUTIFUL new TV for our bedroom for Christmas. Speaking of Christmas i cannot wait for it! there is nothing better then spending time with family and giving gifts. Thats right you heard me, i said GIVING. sure i love getting things too, but there is nothing more rewarding buying someone a gift that you know they are absolutely going to love! Lets not forget thanksgiving though, there is not a better combination than food and family and a day off work. Unfortunately after that one delicious day comes weeks of hell, till christmas. Gotta love working at a retail store during the holidays. Thats all for now, i promise ill be more excited and update more, lately there just hasnt been anything but work.

pillows..

ok above are pictures of pillows i purchased today. i need a couple of plain colored ones. who has any suggestions?