House on Fire??

After an extremely long day of work and picking up a little present Erin left me in the office fridge, I was ready to come home and crash into bed! While walking up the stairs to my bedroom I noticed a faint electric fire smell and immediately started sniffing around to see what it could be. (Sniffing as well as my stuffy nose will allow!)

I couldn't see anything but remembered seeing an old heater in a roommates room recently and figured that it might be coming from that. So, I went into my room to finish taxes and get ready for bed. Another roommate of mine promptly knocked on my door and asked if I could smell the crazy electric smell that she kept smelling to which I quickly replied "Yes!" We decided to start looking around and both smelled it coming quite strongly from another roommates room. We finally knocked on the door and asked if she had anything plugged in that might be the cause of the smell and she informed us she didn't. So, it is back to the drawing board!

Hmmm.... Tricky little smell.... So, I will be contacting our landlord if I make it to the morning to see if he can come over and tell us what is going on! Don't worry too much about me, there is a tree close to my window that I can try to jump to if anything happens!

Nasty Fridge + Weak Stomach = My Day!

Warning!! The following post is not meant to be read by those with a weak stomach!!!



Today was Inauguration Day, therefore I decided in honor of having the day off and after watching all of the festivities downtown I would start my early spring cleaning by cleaning the fridge and freezer. Ugh!


So, I waited until my taxes were almost complete, watched a few episodes of "The Office," talked with a few friends online as well as on the phone... Putting it off long enough, I decided it was time to complete the task that I informed my roommates I would do. I marched into the kitchen and saw the monster that would swallow the next two hours or so of my time and bravely continued forward! I thrust open the fridge door and in horror slammed it back shut putting my head down to recover from the deadly stench that came from the unit. I staggered into our front room fell onto the couch and decided then and there that I wasn't ready for this and decided to watch a movie instead. Who knows - maybe when the movie was over the fridge would magically have cleaned itself!

After Happily Ever Aftering with "Enchanted" I decided I would put on the soundtrack and get busy. I was even singing hoping rodents would hear my plea and come into my house to do this dirty little deed - either they thought it was too dirty or my singing was awful because not one showed. So, I was left it the task by myself!

I quickly opened the fridge and threw anything that wasn't marked or that looked past due into the garbage bag and ran it (bare foot and all) out onto the curb where it will be taken away in the morning. Three full and heavy bags later - it was done! I turned around with a slight smile and felt like I was on top of the world!

** Please note that due to the constant moving in and out of roommates recently this was from those in the past who left things behind and in not being marked wasn't thrown out. Lesson learned - Mark food or Taci (Fridge Nazi) will throw it away! **

My Car...

I was driving home tonight from a cancelled institute class and just reflected on how much I love my car! My roommate just tonight was commenting that my car can fit in any space as it is so small and perfect. (Okay, maybe I added perfect - but it was what she was thinking!!) Seriously, I don't think that there has ever been a more perfect vehicle for me... It is compact, full of energy, races like there is no tomorrow, and modern looking! See!! It was a match made in Scion heaven!

My friend, Anya, has a brother who called my car a micro-minivan. I know!? I couldn't believe that anyone would come up with that while looking at my car. :) What can I say, he is a guy and most likely jealous! I posted a picture of my car so you can be jealous of my awesome car as well!

Freedoms, Rights, Voices

I just finished a movie and couldn't help but feel very touched by the story that was shared. The movie was called, "We Were Soldiers," and was about the Vietnam War. There are so many times that I know I have taken for granted things that I have been blessed with in my life. Freedom to write on a blog about anything that comes to mind, freedom to practice a religion of my choice, freedom to move from one place to another, freedom to gain an education in a field of my choice, and so many others.

A friend passed away this weekend and she always told me to make sure that I enjoyed the life that I'd been given and to make sure that I not only thanked God, but thanked those who continued to fight for those rights - my rights. I work in a place were women and men served our country for many decades and the stories shared have changed me. I have been to the Army Hospital and seen soldiers both old and young with wounds/scars that are there because of battles fought for me and my America.

So, I want to take this time to thank those I know that have served or are serving to keep this the land of the free: Cody Womack, Glade Merkley, Grandpa Harvey, Michael Young, Clifford Merkley, Riley Beck, and my residents. Thank you!

Firsts and Family!

The First Posting...



Well - after visiting the family in Utah I decided I would like to try to keep the family and friends more in the loop of my crazy life here in the "BIG" city. Also because I am sure that my family was tired of hearing me retell stories over and over again because one of the nine siblings wasn't paying attention the first time (which I am sure never happens to anyone else!). But I sure do love them!!!



Speaking of family, I have had multiple shocked co-workers and new friends ask often what life is like coming from a family of ten (10) children all of which are from the same mother and father! The best thing to say is that it was very interesting growing up - I mean I never was included in the "grown-up" conversations until I was 21 or so and will forever be under the "Four Little Kids" category. I will never forget when I was 10 or so coming home from Salt Lake in early February or March and after dropping off my grandparents camper at their house realized that there wasn't room for us to all fit in the truck cab and so Katie and I were nestled in the truck bed in coats, sleeping bags, and with a tarp laid over us to keep in the heat. I honestly think that during that ride home it was the only time Katie and I probably ever willingly hugged each other... Ha ha ha! Don't worry things have since changed in our sisterly relationship! I think that my parents did wonderful in raising us... It was a pretty hard job they had, although my being the perfect angel I was one of the easier cases! I loved that my parents always supported all of my siblings desires even if it meant watching them move thousands of miles away. I love the support that my siblings give each other - through the rough times and the good times. I know in a moments notice my five sisters would come and rescue me from a bad situation through "discussing" everything during a lovely dinner. (You know what I am talking about.) I have four brothers who can intimidate a date just by looking at him... Fair warning was given to all bros-in-law that it was a requirement to look intimidating when needed if they wanted to be in our family. So far, my sisters did alright! Ha ha ha! What could be better than having a large family!? I honestly don't know! I guess what I am trying to say is that I love the family that I was born into!! Even when I had to make buckets of curly fries, be on a leash in Disneyland, watch people stand and count how many kids got out of the van, seeing my lovely Barbie's hair cut off because a sister was jealous, held my sister's hand while doing jobs because we kept fighting, listen to Dad's lecture #73 (Tree of Life), move water lines, run up the stairs first to make sure mom wasn't awake while we took candy from the drawer, or sit on the wheel in our green van... Even then!