Tell You [a] Little Story

We have lived back in Utah for more than a year now, so I decided to share a few of my personal favorites, Bests of Utah, if you will. Most are restaurants, because that is my absolute favorite thing to do with a little extra money. My other favorite places -- Target and Costco -- obviously don't count as Utah treasures. Mexican : Las Tarascas -- mmm, yum. I've only been once, but can't wait to go back. They had me at fresh, chunky guacamole and lardy refried beans. Also, very affordable. Located in Albertson's strip mall on University Parkway. Italian: Gloria's Little Italy -- Great ambience (although they're about to move locations), beautiful desserts (although who needs the temptation?) and fantastic food (although, be warned: the spicy pasta is very very spicy). Quite a hotspot. (Go anyway.) For now, located on 300 South in Provo. Moving to downtown. Thai: Thai Ruby -- I'm a sucker for Thai food. We've tried just about all of them in the area and...

I just read this scripture quoted in a blog comment thread, alluding to. . .me. 2 Nephi 9:28 28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. The context: I had suggested that Ezra Taft Benson's political views as expressed in 1968 before he was the prophet were not the official political views of the church, and shouldn't be construed as such. It is actually not the first time this month that I've been told through scriptural references that I am a wicked person {my extrapolated take-away from the conversations}. I give up.

Mindy sang this song last night with Stephanie's two beautiful little girls. I cried. I looked over and Sarah was crying. I'm pretty sure my mom two rows back was wiping those tears away, too. My dad sat next to me and sang every word. It was all very tender. Today, I can't get enough of this song. It's a new favorite, for sure.

{Click on picture to enlarge} This is where I'll be this weekend. : in Mesa, at Mountain View High School, watching the awesome Mindy Gledhill sing at a benefit concert for the awesome Stephanie and Christian Nielson. Won't you join me? Even if you've never heard of Mindy or Stephanie, it will be a fun show and a great time. Plus, I'll introduce you to Mindy and the ever delightful CJane and Chup (not their real names). Plus plus, my mom will be there and everybody loves my mom. Ditto my sister Sarah. Ditto my dad, Big D. Plus plus plus, I want to see you! Buy tickets here or at the door.

I agree with almost everything Powell said, although I personally would not be troubled by more conservative appointees to the Supreme Court. This interview cemented my opinion of Colin Powell as a thoughtful, deliberate, intelligent man who is willing to speak out against his own party when necessary -- and I wish he would make himself available again to serve on the national level. We could use more leaders with his abilities and integrity.

For breakfast today, I ate french toast and turkey bacon. Also, I drank water. I drink water every morning. It is the first thing I put in my mouth every morning without fail, or my system of order is disrupted. My brother thinks by nature of being a Godfrey, I am automatically 16% obsessive compulsive, but I think my percentage might be a tad higher. Maybe in the 20s? My awesome 16% OCD parents are in town for a few days and we are having a great time. Today we drove the Alpine Loop and walked the gardens at Thanksgiving Point. Soon I will post a picture of my (other) brother's name painted all official-like in the middle of the road on the Alpine Loop. It was kind of bizarre. My husband has taught himself to fall asleep by meditating and frankly, it has been an incredible thing to watch. The man used to take hours to fall asleep because his brain was too full. Now, a minute, or two. Five at the most. Perhaps if you have read thus far, it has been for you an exercise in wastefulne...

"When I discovered Youtube, I didn't work for five days. I did nothing. I viewed Cookie Monster sings Chocolate Rain about a thousand times." {I almost want to watch this 1000 times.}

The news is that Paulson is now going to invest money that we don't have in the failing banks, because all the other drastic and expensive measures he has attempted haven't done a darn thing. Question one is why in tar hill does one person have so much unchecked power in this land? Question two is why oh why doesn't he just leave well enough alone? A recession is inevitable. Just let the free market system do its thing. The article I read today about AIG blowing through $85 billion dollars in a few days, and then coming back and begging for -- and getting -- $37 billion more makes me very, very angry. Especially this part: days after receiving part one of the handout, the top execs followed through with a $440,000 vacation retreat, including $23,000 spent at the spa . They don't even have a semblance of integrity, nor are they making any efforts whatsoever to hide their corruption. How are they getting away with this?

The fantastic Nicole from A Little Sussy invited one and all to come to her food-on-the-head photo shoot. We convinced Abby and Jamie to come with us, and we had so much fun! I think the food choices and the expressions on the faces capture my kids' personalities well. Norah has always been a rather stoic child. I can't wait to see more of the photos. Here are my sweet sister's family's shots. Milo was definitely not feeling the Fruit Loop love. He jumped off that stool so fast. I'm truly amazed that Nicole got such a good shot. What a great photographer she is, and so so nice! PS -- Abby, you should be a model. Also, it looks like you're not wearing any clothes.

Joseph Smith ran for POTUS before he died. From his platform , I gather that he was for reforming the penal system, abolishing slavery, annexing Texas and Oregon and maybe even Mexico, and forming a national bank. Looks interesting. I am going to read it through tomorrow, just for fun. For tonight, I am going to go to bed and dream about sitting at the kitchen table with Biden in Scranton, with strong twangy Palin colloquialisms as the soundtrack to my slumber.

I don't have a lot of real visible or artistic talents, but one talent that has served me well is an ability to manage and organize money well. A few of my sisters-in-law have asked me how I do the family budget, so this is a straight up accounting of how I do the accounting. When we get a paycheck: 10% tithing right off the top Then, with the remainder (net minus tithing), I divy it up into percentages and put money into different "funds" -- that I keep track of in the back of my paycheck because I'm old school like that. Mortgage: I figure out the percentage it will take to cover my mortgage. Usually 29-30%. I think this percentage needs to stay under 35% of take-home after tithing. Baby steps: 20% goes to meeting financial goals a la Dave Ramsey's baby steps. This means that you focus on one thing at a time, leaving the rest so that your money is not so thinly spread and you can make visible progress. This presupposes that one has abandoned using credit, and i...