Heather-John's girlfriend.
Branden & Spike's cute kitty. Watch out though because she loves to drink your water when you aren't looking.
Happy Birthday John!!
Branden & Tyler
I did pretty decently for my only second time playing! We had to cash out a bit early but I won my $5 back, Tyler's $5, and walked away with another dollar in my pocket. Not bad for a few hours of Poker!!!
Leveraging a senior management team rich in international banking experience from the world's largest financial institutions, GPS combines the most competitive of exchange rates with a host of tailored international financial solutions.
Email sent from one of the partners to my office on January 20th:
"While it might not be quite on the same scale as what is going on in D.C. today, we are excited to share with you that Summer will be transitioning to our Commercial Sales group this quarter.
We are excited for Summer and grateful for all the support she has given us in her prior role.
As I mentioned, we feel like this transition will probably take us a couple of months. So until further notification, Summer will continue to manage our Investigations efforts."
So to celebrate I went shopping for some new clothes/shoes...
I am very excited...wish me luck!!!2.) I considered myself a tomboy because I always wanted to be included in the boy's basketball and football games. I jammed every finger in the process.
3.) I have a weird fetish for bounce dryer sheets...sometimes I keep one under my pillow because the smell helps me fall asleep. (weird I know)
4.) I don't travel anywhere without my pillow.
5.) An ambulance had to take me away siren and all after an unsuccessful cherry drop attempt from the bars.
6.) I was Miss SuperDancer USA and have been dancing since the age of two.
7.) I am half Japanese, half Irish/English/German.
8.) I have my advanced open water diver certification.
9.) Lights (the big lamp posts) always turn off or on when I drive by...does that happen to anyone else??
10.) Everyone calls me Grandma Tanaka. I'm getting better aren't I??
11.) I used to read 5 books a day when I was younger and had more time.
12.) Egypt is my favorite travel destination by far.
13.) My cats are my babies-If you don't like animals..we may have a problem.
14.) I was deaf until I was two-my mom tells me I learned how to read lips pretty well
15.) I am really shy by nature
16.) I begged for a tarantula or snake for my 5th birthday. Never got one of course. My next door neighbor had a boa constrictor that would get out of its cage and eat the neighborhood cats and dogs. My parents thought I was a weird child because nothing scared me.
17.) My brother is allergic to alcohol and gets severely flushed in the face. I've never had much to drink to know if that happens to me. (before joining the church of course :)
18.) I hate to run
19.) I have this really cool rash on my chest to go with my influenza virus right now.
20.) I had Mononucleosis and was bedridden for the whole summer before sophomore year.
21.) I am planning a trip to Laos/Thailand next year with some friends and am learning Japanese to make a Japan trip a little easier.
22.) I have a white birthmark on my left ankle in the shape of a butterfly
23.) I had my belly button pierced for a few months in high school
24.) I love getting flowers but think the money could be better spent on things that don't die in a few days anyway.
25.) I'm embarrassed to even say how old I was when I learned how to ride a bike.
26.) Bonus...I failed my driver's test the first time--but it wasn't my fault I swear!
Last Friday night Melissa hosted a little get together at our house that included lip and eyebrow waxing/shaping for $5 & $8, and microdermabrasion for $20! That is a procedure that is typically $75-$120, so it is a steal to have a licensed aesthetician come to our home, eat good food, and socialize with friends. We are planning on having these about every month or so...so if interested let me know...below is a description of what exactly Micro is for those like me who didn't know how it worked. My face broke out a few days after but it feels amazing...it even minimizes freckles too. :)Whether done with a product at home or in a professional setting with a specialized tool, the principle of microdermabrasion is the same. The idea is that if you remove or break up the stratum corneum, the body interprets that as a mild injury and rushes to replace the lost skin cells with new and healthy ones. In the first hour after treatment, this causes mild edema (swelling) and erythema (redness). Depending on the individual, these side effects can last anywhere from an hour to two days. You use a specialized tool for the procedure. The tool shoots a stream of tiny crystals, like aluminum oxide, sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate, and collects the leftover dead skin cells and used crystals.
The vacuum action of the machine has four main functions:
It pulls and raises a small section of skin to work on.
It creates mild swelling and brings some of the impurities to the surface.
It shoots a stream of crystals across the targeted skin patch.
It collects the used crystals and dead skin for disposal.
This process has a few beneficial effects. With the stratum corneum gone, the skin's surface is improved. The healing process brings with it newer skin cells that look and feel smoother. Some of the skin's visible imperfections, like sun damage, blemishes and fine lines, are removed. Also, without the stratum corneum acting as a barrier, medicinal creams and lotions are more effective because more of their active ingredients and moisture can find their way down to the lower layers of skin. As microdermabrasion temporarily removes some moisture from the skin, it is always followed by the application of moisturizing creams.
McCall doing her thing
Jennie getting primped
Melissa and her cute sister
Jackson...my other "roomie"
Me and Jennie...my co-worker & snowboarding buddy
************************************Tyler & Melissa***********This program is designed to build endurance and develop strength through hill training. Keep the recovery miles very easy and place the emphasis of your training on the hills and long runs, i.e. make the easy days easier and the hard days harder.
Date Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun
Feb 4 3M 4M 3M 4M 3M 5M Rest
Feb 11 3M 4M 3M 4M 3M 6M Rest
Feb 18 4M 5M 4M 5M 4M 6M Rest
Feb 25 4M 5M 4M 5M 4M 7M Rest
Mar 3 5M 6M 5M 5M 5M 8M Rest
Mar 10 5M 6M 5M 6M 5M 10M Rest
Mar 17 5M 7M 5M 6M 5M 8M Rest
Mar 24 5M 7M 5M 7M 5M 12M Rest
Mar 31 5M 8M 5M 7M 5M 10M Rest
Apr 7 5M 8M 5M 8M 5M 13M Rest
Apr 14 5M 6M-H 5M 8M 5M 12M Rest
Apr 21 5M 7M-H 5M 3M/3M 5M 14M Rest
Apr 28 5M 8M-H 5M 9M 5M 5M/5M/3M Rest
May 5 5M 8M-H 5M 4M/4M 5M 16M Rest
May 12 5M 8M-H 5M 9M 5M 6M/4M/4M Rest
May 19 5M 8M-H 5M 5M-5M 5M 18M Rest
May 26 5M 8M-H 5M 9M 5M 5M/5M/5M Rest
Jun 2 5M 8M-H 5M 3M/3M 5M 14M Rest
Jun 9 5M 6M-H 4M 8M 4M 7M Rest
Jun 16 5M 4M 3M 2M Race Race Sleep!
Schedule Key
H = Hills - start and finish hill workouts with 10 min of easy running
/ = Multiple Runs - two to three runs within 24 hours
M = Miles
Learn Japanese:
Tyler (Bruf) (will be introduced in a post at a later time and date :) downloaded the Pimsleur’s lessons onto my ipod..and I am addicted already, loving every car ride, and thoroughly enjoying my heritage. Currently I'm on lesson 13 of Unit 1..with 2 more units to go. My accent is hideous...but can now understand basic conversations, invite someone to dinner, and ask for the time and am slowly learning my numbers. Eek...if I'm even one bit tired, the lessons go through one ear and out the other, and I usually have to listen to the 30 minute lessons twice or more to get it down perfect.
The reason behind it: Tyler taught himself with this program and traveled to Japan in 2002 on his own. After this little fact came out when we were first talking, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I've been feeling like I need to do something important with myself...and what better way to expand my knowledge than learning a new language? If I get really motivated, French and Spanish will be next. Bruf went to Montreal on his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and his French is absolutely beautiful...
Travel:
Save for my trip to Laos/Thailand in early ‘10 with Rocky, Olane, Olane's sisters,their families, & parents…hopefully to some of the surrounding countries-China, Vietnam, Burma, & Cambodia. Olane & her sisters have not been back to Laos since their sponsor family moved them here to Utah, and am so excited be able to go with them. (Fingers crossed) I have not traveled for 5 years (I know-such a long time!) and am dying to go on a trip.
My friend Marisa and her husband Ben currently live in Japan teaching English. I've talked to her briefly about it when I was in California for Christmas...and am super intrigued at the idea of living in Japan for a year. I still need to get additional info on what their contract involves and how much I could potentially be making/saving...but if I were making the same as my current job..then why not?? & another great reason why I need to learn Japanese. You can check out her fantabulous blog here... http://www.marisachan.blogspot.com/
Train:
Last summer my work-GPS Corporate Foreign Exchange (Global Positioning Solutions) put a team together to participate in the Wasatch Back Relay http://www.ragnarrelay.com/wasatchback/index.php, which starts in Logan and ends in Park City. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it last year because I would have missed Rocky and Olane's sealing in the Montana Temple and trip to Yellowstone. Something I wouldn't have missed for anything. I also didn't train as much as I should have so I am getting pumped to get in shape for it now. I absolutely loathe running-especially long distances so hopefully my 16 or so miles that I need to work up to will get me over that. To get an idea...my co-worker Colton threw up 2 out of his 3 legs. Although he had one of the toughest routes I heard, I am praying that does not happen to me, so we'll see...
My work is amazing-we have free gym memberships to Lifetime-one of the nicest gyms I've seen. It's so close that I can run at lunch during the Winter and lay out by the pool and nap in the Summer. :) So great-No excuses for Summer that "she doesn't have time to work out." Ohh...as you can tell, Summer noticed that Facebook wants to make her talk in third person at all times... :)
