Famous

M came into the apartment this morning laughing over something in the Times of India (this isn't unusual, the overly dramatic paper regularly makes us laugh.) Today he found a story about Utah and he couldn't wait to share the laugh with me.


Who knew I could pick up the local Delhi paper and ready a story from Garfield County? Wonder if Sheriff Perkins knows he's no longer just "Famous in a Small Town?" - his fame has spread to India.

I've always loved this song - mostly because I relate to it, anyone who grew up in a small town knows there is very little you can do that won't get talked about - and reported back to your parents. At times I miss knowing everyone I see when I go out to run errands on Saturday, but there are other times I'm grateful for the anonymity that comes from living in a city of 14 million.

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Stealth

I know I've told you about Tuk Tuk's before. The cute little yellow and green colored, three-wheeled vehicles we sometimes use in India. They are a cut above the rickshaws/pedi-cabs and step below taxis, best of all they are cheap and easy to find and you get the joy of negotiating a price

Many of them have bumper stickers on the back advertising something. I always assumed the Tuk Tuk drivers rented out the space on the back to make a little extra money - that's how it would be done back home. This morning I discovered the truth (or at least the truth in many cases.)

We were stopped at a light for a while and to the side of us there was a guy with a stack of bumper stickers. When the Tuk Tuk's would slow down or stop for the light, he'd run out and subtly apply the sticker to the back. In most cases, the drivers had no idea they'd been tagged. The true definition of Ambush Marketing.

I couldn't find today's song in a format I could embed, so you'll have to click here if you want to listen to Ryan Shupe's "Ambush." My personal shout out to a fellow Utahn and one of my sis's all time favorites. Pin It

Dealing

I learned a good lesson today. I came home from work exhausted and not particularly loving my job or life. After a good rant (thanks for listening Nic.) I was getting ready for bed. I realized that after tossing and turning last night, I needed to refocus my mind and get it away from work and into a happier mental place so I could get some sleep tonight. I instantly remembered something I saw on my way to work today.

Each morning we drive past a tent city set up on the side of the road. I watch the women cleaning up from breakfast and doing laundry and the children playing around the tents. The kids are always doing something different, whether it's building things with the firewood they've collected or playing on the dirt hill.
Today I happened to notice one of the women watering two potted plants in front of her tent. I thought that was amazing, it really doesn't matter what challenges life throws our way - what matters is how we chose to deal with them. She doesn't have a big house with lots of beautiful furniture that many of us (ok, I) feel are requirements for a happy life, instead she has a home made of a tarp and some "found" bricks, but she's doing all that she can to make it a beautiful, pleasant place. A lesson for me to sleep on.

I need to end this blog with a song that will give me another boost towards optimism, so from one of my favorite discoveries of the summer, Lady Antebellum's "One Day You Will."

You feel like you're falling backwards
Like you're slippin' through the cracks
Like no one would even notice
If you left this town and never came back
You walk outside and all you see is rain
You look inside and all you feel is pain
And you can't see it now

But down the road the sun is shining
In every cloud there's a silver lining
Just keep holding on (just keep holding on)
And every heartache makes you stronger
But it won't be much longer
You'll find love, you'll find peace
And the you you're meant to be
I know right now that's not the way you feel
But one day you will

You wake up every morning and ask yourself
What am I doing here anyway
With the weight of all those disappointments
Whispering in your ear
You're just barely hanging by a thread
You wanna scream but you're down to your last breath
And you don't know it yet

Find the strength to rise above
You will
Find just what you're made of, you're made of

One day you will
Oh one day you will



Sorry for the slightly cheesy video - it was the only decent version of the song I could find.

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Bella

I just watched the most beautiful movie, Bella. It's a love story, just not in the traditional sense. There is a boy and a girl, but the love goes beyond them to the bonds of love that hold families and even strangers together.

If you are looking for something besides the summer popcorn movies, something to increase your faith in the world, this is the movie for you.

If anyone knows where you can get the soundtrack to the movie let me know - it is amazing. I was able to find several of the songs. The first song over the credits is by one of my favorites, Rachael Yamagata, "Meet Me By The Water." The second credit song is by Jon Foreman (a new discover thanks to the film), "My Love Goes Free."



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Tagged

My sis Nic tagged me and since she's my favorite I have to play along. She used lovely pictures to illustrate her post, but I've had to settle for a bit of music instead.

20 Years ago I . . .

1. Was 14 years old, just about to start high school.

2. Was flipping burgers at Johnson's Drive Inn in Salina. If you're ever in town during the summer stop in for a sherbet.

3. Wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer.

4. Loved INXS.

10 years ago I . . .

1. Graduated from BYU.

2. Moved to Dallas.

3. Lived alone for the first time of my life and discovered the joys of buying furniture.

4. Loved Sarah McLachlan

5 years ago I . . .

1. Lived in Seattle.

2. Had an amazing birthday celebration: a weekend in Vegas with the girls followed up by a solo trip down the Oregon Coast.

3. Bought my first "new" car.

4. Loved 3 Doors Down.

3 years ago I . . .

1. Started a new job in information security (it didn't last long.)

2. Went to the Nascar Race in Vegas - rednecks unite!

3. Went to Paris, Switzerland and Belgium.

4. Loved Natasha Bedingfield

1 year ago I . . .

1. Was living in paradise - Rio de Janeiro.

2. Marched in the Carnival parade with Portela.

3. Became an aunt!

4. Loved Dierks Bently.

This year I . . .

1. Started working in New Delhi India and got to visit the Taj Mahal.

2. Took the longest vacation of my life - pure heaven.

3. Ticked 9 countries of my places to visit list (India, Poland, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Estonia, Qatar and Oman.)

4. Love Sugarland

Yesterday I . . .

1. Worked (exciting I know.)

2. Bid on Auction items for Nie Nie Day.

3. Read a chapter in "Authenticity" by David Boyle.

4. Couldn't get Amos Lee out of my head

Today I . . .

1. Worked (another exciting day)

2. Went to Connaught Place for lunch.

3. Am planning to watch "Bella"

4. Listened to a little U2

Tomorrow I . . .

1. Will spend most of the day in the office.

2. Will catch up on two weeks worth of laundry.

3. Will go grocery shopping

4. Hope I wake up to "A Clear Blue Morning"

Next year, hopefully . . .

1. I'll spend a little more time

2. I'll get my bathroom remodeled.

3. I'll learn how to cook.

4. I'll still "Sing Along" to whatever song's in my head.

I tag Emma, Mindy, Jennie and Andrea. Pin It

Nie Nie Day

My blog is a simple one, mostly created to let my family and friends know what I'm up to. But I'm also a big blog reader - I think because they give me a glimpse of life back home while I'm on the road.

Over the past several months, I've discovered the blogs of some pretty amazing women, one of them was Stephanie Nielsen. She and her husband were in a terrible plane crash recently, where one of the passengers died. Stephanie and her husband Christian survived, but are in the hospital in critical condition with burns covering much of their bodies.

The past week I've seen the power of blogs as the blogging community has come together to help raise funds for their recovery. Today there are hundreds of auctions going on in blog land. I've been bidding on some amazing items and want to give you a chance to do so as well. For details, go to DesignMom.

More than anything keep the Nielsen's and their family in your prayers and take the time to let your family know how much you love them. Pin It

Birthday

Happy Birthday Travis!

Thanks for falling in love with my sister and making her so very happy.

Thanks for giving us Miss M to brighten our lives.

Thanks for being an amazing addition to our family.

In honor of another year here's a little Travis with "Baby, One More Time." Hope it makes you smile.

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Listen

I've discovered some great new music in the last couple of weeks. These women are just what you need to help you ease your way into fall.

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Stare

Growing up I was taught not to stare, it just wasn't polite.

In Delhi, I get stared constantly. I'm sure it's because I don't look like or dress like everyone else, but it is still very disconcerting.

What I've noticed lately is that I stare right back, I hope I can break that habit next time I'm home.

When I'm in the nice, air conditioned car driving through Delhi and being stared at by people who live in tents and lean-to's along the side of the road I can't help but think I'm living the lyric from One Republic's "Stop and Stare"

Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you're here not there
And you'd give anything to get what's fair

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Breathe

My trip last weekend was all about getting out of the craziness of Delhi and taking a deep breath. The trip was very successful - the hotel was beautiful, so beautiful in fact that I had a very hard time convincing myself to get out and see part of the city. The bed was heavenly making getting up each morning very hard. But the delicious breakfast they served each morning motivated me to get there at least 10 minutes before they stopped serving each day.

On Friday I found a large umbrella next to a comfy lounge chair and spent the day with a good book. It was hot, probably over 100, but thanks to the kind waiters who kept coming around with lemon/mint ice water I still managed to spend the hottest part of day content on the beach. I don't remember the last time I was that relaxed. I had dinner at the beach bar and enjoyed the sunset.

Saturday I decided I had to see at least a bit of the city, so I set of for the souks to do a bit of shopping. My taxi driver told me they were closing soon and that I should go to city center first. I thought he meant the literal center of the city where I could explore the architecture and such. But I ended up at a brand new shopping mall. Since I had a few hours to kill before the souks re-opened I decided to stick around and explore. The mall had everything: Starbucks, Borders, The Gap and Banana Republic. For a few hours it almost felt like home. I spent a bunch of time people watching - it was actually quite interesting.

I finally made it to the souks and did a little shopping - bought some frankincense oil - and saw some raw, so now at least I know what to envision when I hear the Christmas story.

The only bad part of the entire trip was getting up early Sunday morning and leaving it all behind. Oman was amazing, a beautiful city with fantastic architecture, I'd love to go back and explore a bit more - next time I'll just have to stay at a different hotel - one I can bare to leave.

Since the trip was all about breathing, here's one of my favorites from Alexi Murdoch, "Breathe"

And the answer that you're seeking
For the question that you found
Drives you further to confusion
As you lose your sense of ground

So don't forget to breathe
Don't forget to breathe
Your whole life is here
No eleventh hour reprieve
So don't forget to breathe

Keep your head above water
But don't forget to breathe

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