(As Glover would say during his end-of-the-year, never-ending slide show..."The subjects in the photos are blurry because I kept the camera shutter open for 1.5 seconds but it creates the desired sense of action.")
1. I have to have a clean and tidy house. Everything has a place and everything in its place. My bed is always made. My clothes are hung and organized in the closet by type then by color. I vacuum at least twice a week and more if it is needed. I sweep at least three times a week. The chairs are pushed in and evenly spaced around the dining table. The couches are exactly parallel to the wall. I don't really have what you would call a 'junk drawer.' Living this way helps me keep my universe in order.
I have worked 17 straight days in a row, that includes weekends. Ouch!
Because of work and other interruptions I haven't seen my finacé for two days.
I'm taking tomorrow off!
I get to see my finacé tomorrow!
I have to go back to work on Friday.
Want to know, truthfully, how I nabbed such a wonderful guy? It all has to do with a simple magic recipe for apple crisp. Here's the story behind it, courtesy of Joy the Baker.
This is Dave.
This is where we met.
This is where we had our first date and our first kiss (not on the same day) -- all captured on the security cameras.
This is where he took me last night.
This is what he asked me.
This is what I said.
This is what he gave me.
I am the luckiest girl in the whole wide world!!! 
I am proud to say that Dave won the 3rd Annual Ping-Pong Tournament! Look at his shiny trophy!
Forgive me in advance for this travelogue but I'm still recovering from the crazy day I had yesterday at work and I think a little blogging is just what I need to finish decompressing.
This was the first night of taping A Brand New Year, without an audience. I had things to do but I didn't have 21,000 people to take care of, so I invited Dave down to spend the evening at the Conference Center with me. That, I must say, was a genius move. I think he finally understands this demanding job that I have and why I have to work so many nights and weekends. We were able to sit and watch most of the concert but I still had plenty of moments on the phone, running around the building, taking last-minute orders, and making executive decisions. For any of you who work in the event industry, I highly recommend that you allow your significant other to spend a night chasing you around your place of employment so they can see what you really do.
Sunday, November 9
Had to be just about the best Sunday I've ever had, ever. (In part because the Colts and the Giants won!) Nothing to announce right now but let's just say you'll probably, hopefully, be seeing a lot more of this...
The event is being recorded next Wednesday and Thursday and will be released on DVD to stakes and districts throughout the United States and Canada for them to use at local New Years Eve celebrations. There are 500 teenagers on stage and another 40,000-plus are expected to be in the audience between the two nights.
I have to say that I have been incredibly impressed with all these youth. They truly understand why they are here and what they are doing. Their testimonies of the gospel shine in their eyes.
For more information on A Brand New Year, click here. Also, stay tuned for New Years Eve activities involving the upcoming DVD in your local units.
I am happy to report that my oven works very well. Everything turned out great! And I even think Dave enjoyed his first taste of my cooking. However, I still have lots of left over lasagna. If any of you need to pack a lunch this week come on over...just bring your own container.
So, I think I'm just beginning to figure out all the actual financial responsibilities of home ownership. After making a 10% down payment and writing a check for the closing costs not paid by the builder, I thought my money-spending was over until the first mortgage payment came due. Boy was I wrong.
First came the window blinds. Mind you, I have 13 windows in my 1600 square-foot house. That's a whole lot of windows and 5 of them in my master bedroom/bath alone. With construction workers on site just across the street those blinds were very necessary.
Next was the water softener. I could have had the builder put one in but it was triple what I ended up paying. Even still, it was an expense -- one that I thought I could delay a little but my skin started screaming after washing only one sink of dishes.
I thought I was well prepared with everything I needed in the kitchen. I have literally been buying and storing things away for nearly 10 years. However, when I suggested we heat up a can of soup for dinner the night I moved in, Dave asked if I had a can opener. No! Can you believe I forgot something so simple and important?!
Then I have also had to buy groceries. I never realized how much I took my mother's well-stocked kitchen for granted.
And my list of small incidental things needed continues to grow...TV cable, clothes hooks, nails to hang pictures and a hammer to pound them in the walls, scrub brush for dishes, stamps and envelopes, etc, etc, etc. Not to mention the larger purchases I'm dreaming about...coordinated bedroom furniture, rugs and accent pillows, coffee table and entertainment center, garage storage units, patio furniture, backyard makeover, etc, etc, etc.
