The Hamburger

Today as I was doing my typical blog search I came upon this cake.   I made me want both cake and a hamburger.  Then I remembered that I have eaten my allotted calories in hamburger this weekend.  This week I had a Minnesota invention, the Juicy Lucy. One might ask what is a Juicy Lucy.  Above, you can find a photo of this MN classic.  It is essentially just a cheeseburger with the cheese cooked in the the patty.  There are two places in Minneapolis that both claim to be the founders of the grease-filled dream.  One spells it "Juicy Lucy," while the other goes with "Jucy Lucy."  Well, whatever the name I can tell you that the grease contained in this hamburger is amazing.  When the cheese fat has no where to melt and roll off, you then get the complete opportunity to consume it with pride.  I will admit that it tasted good, but I don't know if it was the best thing I have ever eaten.  Another "MN must do" checked off the list. 

Dad Just Can't Help Himself

This weekend I went home for a legal deposition.  Now that I have completed my deposition it is public record.  It is a relief that I don't have to tell everyone that I can't talk about it.  Luckily I was just a fact witness, so there was no real stress on my part.  A 69 year old patient came to the ER thinking that he was having a heart attack, with pain between his shoulder blades.  Ironically, the patient was impatient and wanted to go home.  The patient went home and died the next day after calling the paramedics.  Since, family was not with the patient they were suing the hospital.  I just happened to be the person that the patient asked to leave multiple times.  So, now the state of Utah will be sending me a copy of my deposition in the mail.  I have something I said in the public records through the judicial system.  I am always up for something new.

The lawyers paid for me to fly to Utah for the weekend, so I am here with the parents.  I had the opportunity to attend the Carl Block exhibit at BYU.  It was very good.  I loved the iPad presentations that were put together for you to watch and listen to while you looked at the art.  It was very well done.  I have also attended John's clarinet recital, where Maren accompanied him.  Her part was amazingly hard. Sorry John, I was more impressed with Maren's part than yours.  Although, it was fun to hear you both play together.  I got to participate in the annual tree trimming transfer of the branches to the truck, so they can go to the dump.  It was a smooth process.  We have got it all figured out so that it was done lickety-split.

The part of this vacation that I have chuckled about (of course internally and not externally) was the living room couch.  My mother and I were cleaning the living room.  The traditional Saturday activity.  When I was about to move the couch see got this look on her face and told me I probably shouldn't because it was broken.  Then she decided that since the two of us were there that perhaps we could move it.  The story behind the broken couch has something to do with Uncle Tom and some crazy maneuvers that I don't quite understand, but the point is that on of the foots of the couch broke off.  Me, being me, said I think I can fix this.  I took the foot that was till partially attached to some wood and glued it together with a c-clamp.  Then in the evening began to look place it back under the couch and figure out how I could attach some additional pieces of wood.  My dad told me he didn't want to fix the couch right then, but he just couldn't leave.  He had to know what I was doing and put his two sense in.  I had a great idea, but alas, his additional ideas made it work.  The foot on the couch is now better secured than any other foot of the cough.  My dad just can't help himself.

This morning my mom made me some made from scratch blueberry pancakes.  It is nice to finally feel like I am having down time.  For months my body has been so wound up and stressed.  I hope this will last when I get home, but I doubt it.  I will just have to hold onto the memories of being at my parent's home.

Crafts

Recently I have had a lot of time at home, which gives me the opportunity to get bored and need some preoccupation.  In my life many people have called me "crafty" and unfortunately experiences in my life have caused me to associate craftiness with toll painting, macrame plant holders, friendship bracelets, boondoggle and other items that one might just throw away.  I prefer to think of myself as creative, artistic, and persistent.
While I was in Nepal there was a girl who was selling necklaces made by women in Uganda.  I looked at them and thought, I can make those.  I have plenty of magazines around my apartment, why not turn them into jewelry.  Now, as a close friend of mine has pointed that instead of giving to the poor, starving people of the world I am now being selfish.  I did come to realize that the hours that it took to make this necklace did make them worth the $20.00 the Ugandans wanted.  So, above you can see the outcome of my hours of work.
Next up....coasters.

Whirlwind

Today I am sitting on my couch watching the snow outside.  The snowflakes are so big and they are just spinning around each other.  As I watch I can see the flakes going up instead of down.  I have always found that interesting.  I appears that all of the flakes just spin and never hit the ground.  I wish I could watch one flake until it actually hits the ground.  Alas, I will just have to sit here and pounder the impossible and pointless.

Dreary Minnesota New Years

For the past several days it has been windy and dreary here in the cold state of Minnesota.  So, what have I done?  I have broken a promise at the pressure of my family.  I am spending the last day of 2010 and the first day of 2011 watching Bleakhouse.  I can truthfully say that the movie is much easier to follow than the book.  It is so chilly that I cannot think of venturing outside.  I am proud to say that I rang in the New Year with no friends and no family.  I took a warm bath and climbed in my bed at about 8 pm.  Guess what I woke up and the new year had started without me.  I praying for a good year for me and for all of you.