Ten on Tuesdays

Introducing…Ten on Tuesdays! I got this idea from Marla, a fellow blogger. Basically, this is a way for me to post about random thoughts, ideas, and experiences that might not make it into a post of their own. I am hoping that this will get me posting more regularly again, but I am not making any guarantees that I won’t miss a week. :)

1. Last week, I started reading a novel by Jodi Picoult called “19 Minutes”. It is the story of a fictional high school shooting in New Hampshire. Although I haven’t finished reading it yet, it has really got me thinking about life, loved ones, and the effect of each person’s actions. If you can stomach the topic, I recommend it.
2. I really want to go camping. Maybe it is just because we went up on Skyline Drive last Saturday and it has been a while since I had been in the mountains, but I really want to go. Mike and I were talking about going a week from this Friday (July 9). I think that we are debating between going out to the west desert where you don’t need reservations (you just pick a spot and build your own area) and trying to get a site up Big Cottonwood Canyon, where we would have to fight for a spot. Anyone interested?
3. My sister, Beth, and I have started tentatively planning another girl’s trip. Our last one was to Hawaii. We have been talking about going to Boston over Columbus Day weekend. We are hoping that we will be there to enjoy the fall foliage. If you have ever been to Boston or New England in general, is there anything that you would recommend?
4. Last night, Mike and I went to a BBQ that was hosted by one of our old friends from the singles ward. It was so fun to visit and get caught up with people that we hadn’t seen for a while.
5. I know that this is old news, but on behalf of every Bachelor viewer, can I just say “I told you so” to Jake and Vienna.
6. About a month ago, Mike transferred offices and is now at his company’s Bountiful Branch. It has been SO nice to have him closer – we get to occasionally have lunch together, carpool, plus we are saving a TON on gas and mileage.
7. I can’t believe that it is already the end of June! Where did it go??? I think that it seems so much shorter because the beginning of this month was so rainy. It seems crazy to me that July 4th is this weekend.
8. Speaking of July 4th, I have decided that this is probably my favorite “not big” holiday. What I mean is, that besides the big three (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter), this is probably my favorite. I think that it is so important to take the time to reflect on our nation’s history and what it took for us to attain it. I know that it is easy to just think of it as another day off or a good excuse to BBQ with family/friends, but to me it is so much more.
9. Mike and I were able to get some free tickets to go see Eclipse tomorrow night. Mike is a good sport – he is not a fan of the Twilight series and absolutely hates going to a movie during the opening week when it is likely that there will be people dressed up/cheering during the movie/etc. I have decided that while I am not sick of the books or the movies, I am getting sick of all of the hype. Vampires and Werewolves are not real – move on, people.
10. Last week, I was given a “starter” for Amish Friendship Bread. How it works is someone gives you a baggy with batter in it. For the next ten days, you keep it on your counter, knead it, and add a few more ingredients. On the tenth day, you divide it into five parts. Four of the parts are given away for someone else to start and then you add more ingredients to the part that is left, which forms dough and you make bread. Today is the eighth day, and I think it has grossed out Mike that we have had a bag full of batter on our counter. Everyone assures me that the bread ends up tasting good and will not make you sick. I will have to report on how the bread turns out next week!