Loss of a Legend

I admit I am and always have been a HUGE Michael Jackson fan. We listened to his 'Off the Wall' album as a kid, watching my older brother Quinn try to mimic his break dance moves. Everyone in Hawaii loved Michael Jackson. I remember when we moved to Utah people weren't that big into his music. I was shocked! I loved all of his albums that he came out with. I remember in particular one summer when my cousins from Nebraska stayed with us for those few months. We'd listened to his song 'Scream' that he did with Janet, and made up our own dance moves to it. I've never forgotten that summer and the fun we had with his music.

It has always been a dream of mine to go to one of his concerts. I've never cared about going to a U2 concert, I just wanted to see MJ. I remember one time when the Jackson 5 reunited and put on this huge concert. I watched it on tv and got a little emotional because I had wished I could have been there in person watching them sing and dance. It was AMAZING, even on tv. I was blown away by their performance.

When my nephew Kalin was a kid he loved MJ's music as well. For Christmas one year he got a sparkly glove like him, a hat and suit like he had in the 'Smooth Criminal' video. We video taped him dancing like MJ, and mouthing the words to one of his songs. Kai too was a big MJ fan.

Being in Old Navy yesterday and hearing Erin as she read a text from a friend saying "The King of Pop had died", I got confused and for a second there didn't know who they were talking about. Never would I have guessed that it really was MJ. We ran to the car to turn on the radio and sure enough it was confirmed that the King of Pop had died of Cardiac Arrest.

Tear filled my eyes as I sat there in complete shock. We both got emotional. Erin started texting everyone in our family telling them about the sad news.

I watched E! News for the next few hours, and then went to you tube to watch some of his videos. I cried and cried as I watched the video of him as a child singing 'Ben'. This was one of Kalin's favorite songs.

One thing that I had always known before but hit me harder now that he is gone, is how AMAZING of a performer he has always been. People can say they don't like him for being a weird-o, and for the accusations that went on a while back, but there will NEVER EVER be a greater performer, and a more talented person then MICHAEL JACKSON!!

Here are a few videos of my favorite songs from back in the day. Check out that talent!

Check it!

This is what I did last night...




Check out the rest from the session here.

Random thoughts...

Random Thought #1

Bathroom stalls:

Why is it that some people choose the stall right next to you when there are plenty of other stalls open. I don't get it. This has happened to me several times at work lately. I go in, choose my stall knowing full well that no one else is in the bathroom with me.

Ah! Sweet silence, no one but me.

Next thing I hear is someone coming in and walking closer and closer to my stall, and then they park it next to mine, I mean RIGHT NEXT to mine. I mean, c'mon!! I'd like a LITTLE privacy. Why couldn't they go in the middle and leave some space in between us?! What if some music needs to be made while I'm there...do you really want to be THAT close to it?! I know TMI!!! But do you get my point?

I'm picky about the stalls I use, if there are enough to be picky over. I tend to choose the handicap stall, or the one all the way on the other end...but not in the middle, if I can help it. Why? I don't know.

Random Thought #2

Over done to perfection.



1.I've realized lately that I like my food to be crispy, crunchy. Take for example Pizza; I tend to over cook our frozen pizza's at home. The darker the pizza the better for me, not so much for Ryan.

Last week I had put a pizza in the oven, hung around for about 15 minutes and then went to the neighbors house with Ryan (totally had forgotten that I had pizza cooking - I do this often). We went and checked out the new closet they made under the stairs, something we want to do as well (not a whole lot of storage space in our place). Hung around for at least 30-40 minutes. All of the sudden I remembered the Pizza and darted out of their house and ran to ours.

The house wasn't smoky or anything. I looked in the oven and found that the pizza looked JUST how I liked it...maybe a little too well done...but still good. Ryan came in and asked how it was and I said, "Well, I know I'll like it, but I don't think you will". Yeah, a little too crunchy for his taste.

The same goes for Chicken Patties, cheese quesadilla's (I like my cheese crispy, not dripping with oil), and something I found this morning..Sausage, and Egg breakfast sandwich on sourdough bread. I bought one upstairs in the vending machines at work (yeah, this was in the vending machine - weird I know). It heats it up in it's internal microwave to a crispy, crunchy perfection - nothing like you'd get at McD's.

Need some inspiration...

Before:



After:



I think I can...I think I can!

Friday funny

Miss Crafty...(not really, but trying)

Yep, I made these. Whaddya think?!?!

Life Lessons I've learned #4

(Yes, this is my second post of the day. I've gotta make some use of my time as I'm stuck at home listening to people clean the air vents.)


Back when I was maybe 9 or 10 years old my friend, and next door neighbor, Karen, and I used to walk to 'Cornets' (no longer there) store during the summer days to get some candy or whatever else we could spend our little money on.

One day in particular I did something that I had never really done before.

As we walked home from the store I pulled out my candy and started eating it. I realized that I didn't have any pockets or any place to put my trash, so I did what I thought was the next best thing... I mean I had seen people do it all the time, and there happened to be an empty pepsi can right there in front of us on the side of the road, duh, everyone is doing it. I threw that candy wrapper on the road. I littered!

A gasp came from Karen as she realized what I had just done, "I can't believe you just littered!" she exclaimed. I looked at her confused and in shock at what she was saying to me. I had just assumed since someone else did it that I could to.

"Heavenly Father made this beautiful world for us, and you're trashing it", she proceeded to say.

Nothing hit me harder then hearing those words. I was a kid, I guess I didn't know better. But I picked up that garbage faster than I ever have before and made sure I held onto it until I got home, where I could properly dispose of it.

Ever since that day I have NEVER littered. I look at Garbage on the side of the freeway and think how sad it is that people have defiled this beautiful Earth.

Thanks Karen. Lesson Learned. :)

Fillet-O

We have a Fish. He's our pet. His name is Fillet-O (as in 'Fillet-O-Fish' sandwich), or just Fillet for short. He's a Betta fish, and looks just like this picture.

I got Fillet from a co-worker who gave it to me as a gift. The original vase he came in had a plant in it, while Fillet just swam around. The vase broke one day after I changed the water, so he's now in a new, bigger, rounder fish bowl.

I've never been a big "have a pet fish" kind of fan. I mean, I LOVE looking at exotic fish in the tanks and all, and think it's quite relaxing watching them. However, I DON'T like cleaning their bowls/tanks. I think this stems from when I was in my younger days my little sister, Caitilin, got a Betta fish as a gift from her friend, and I got to be the one to clean the bowl. It was a pain to care for, probably since we had more important things to do like ride our bikes up and down the street, and play "Go Water" with the neighbor kids. We weren't all that interested in taking care of something like a measly little fish. That Betta didn't live for very long.

When I first brought Fillet home Ryan kind of grumbled at the fact that we'd now have a pet fish, and not a dog.

Fast forward 2 months later.

Fillet loves Ryan, and Ryan loves Fillet. Fillet gets excited when he sees Ryan. Ryan feeds him, teases him, and plays music to him. He makes Ryan laugh. And I think secretly Fillet gives Ryan fishy kisses everyday in his own way. Fillet is happy.

So, what is my connection now with Fillet? I get to change his bowl every week. Sometimes a few times a week. Grrr!