Pampered

Of the many kinds of women in the world, I am one who likes to be pampered.  I can work hard, but I can also accept the hard work of estheticians and massage therapists at a healthy clip.

Today I went to a student spa.

I got a facial

 

A manicure


And a pedicure

I was super excited that my co-worker Lynda got to come with me to do all of it!

Don't judge us, yo.  The spa isn't a place to get all glammed up for.  It's more like a "just got out of the shower" kind of joint.

My sister and I used to go to get pedicures monthly before the recession hit.  It's a great self maintenance kind of activity.  Since I have now discovered facials, I've decided that they improve upon pedicures exponentially.  Mary Kay has ruined the perception of a TRUE facial for the masses.  Yes, a facial does include rubbing a series of facial products on your face, but that is not why it is awesome.  A SPA facial is when you enter a room with lowered lights, soothing music, and the sound of a waterfall in the vicinity.  It includes things like COMPLETE physical relaxation, a heated mattress for comfort, a steamer for the pores, and all aforementioned facial products rubbed onto the face, kneck, shoulders, and upper chest by a pseudo-masseur.  Seven layers of pre-cleanser, cleanser, exfoliant, masque, moisturizer, toner, and re-vitalizing cream applied via massage for over an hour of pure pampering treatment.  Add the aromatherapy oil treatment to begin and end and it's an almost transcendent experience.

It also comes with a skin consultation, which is a special treat for me.  I grew up believing I had the worst luck with my skin because of a serious acne problem.  Well, time cures all ills and now when I am assessed by a professional, it feels so nice to have someone ooh and ahh about my small pores, hydrated features, and lack of blemishes.  If this only lasts for a few years, I am going to enjoy it!

And the last reason why I am a pampered wife today:

Truly, I am a fan of who I married.

And the winner is...

The last several months have been especially political in my home.  My husband has had an inexplicable desire to watch all of the 20-something (and counting) Republican Presidential Primary debates.  We're both impressed by Romney and Paul, nauseated by Santorum and Gingritch.

In addition to the (seemingly endless) televised debates as part of our lives, the President of the LDS church we attend encouraged all of the congregations in America to go to their local caucus meetings and participate in "the most grassroots form of government in this country."

I'd never been to a caucus meeting before.  I didn't know they were open to the public, or what happened in these meetings.  I did know that from the day I'd gone to the Utah State Capitol with my Introduction to Social Work class, I have had a dream picture of myself as having an influence on what happens in government.

It's true:

Leslie Knope has been my personal hero ever since I saw my first episode of Parks and Recreation. (I want to be her)

I collected applications to law school during my senior year of my undergrad. (but opted out when it seemed like a career in the law would preclude options of me having children until I was 30)


I write letters to my representatives, I vote, and I daydream of going to the public observation section of the State Senate and listening to the day's debate, but I've never had a catalyst to do anything more, as much as I love that dream picture of myself.

Well, with Dale's support after a long day of work, we went to our local caucus meeting.  Anticipating that the meeting would be dull, I spent the first 15 minutes constructing this out of playdough that happened to be in my purse:

I'm pretty impressed with that feat of modeling skill :)

Due to the encouragement of the world-wide leadership of the church, the meeting that had 4-8 attendees at the 2 year's previous meeting, this year had 50-60 attendees.  And that was just for our precinct!  The elementary school where we met hosted another 3 dozen precincts for the local area of Holladay and Cottonwood Heights. 

For those of you who have known me for any great length of time, you know that I like to participate. 

This is a dangerous compulsion to have in a political caucus meeting.  A meeting where public officers and delegates are nominated and voted on from a local pool.  A meeting where a tendancy to raise one's hand leads to actual commitment to and participation in local politics.

The group was a little shy at the beginning, so nominations were scarce.  That is when I raised my hand and said "I'll do it."

I'm only 26 and entirely ignorant to local politics, so it would be pretty arrogant to think I had a chance at a delegate seat, but I think getting one's foot in the door is a good way to start for a kid just out of graduate school with passion but no practical knowledge. 

That's right, on March 14, 2012 (after loosing the vote for the Vice Presidential seat) I was elected to the position of Secretary and Treasurer for the Cottonwood 4th Republican Precinct of Utah!

Muahahahahaha!

You mean me?

I think I have become one of THOSE people.

There are many different categories of THOSE people, but it's the strangest feeling when you realize that you are engaging in a behavior that is naggingly familiar.  You think about it every once in a while until you realize: it's familiar because you used to make fun of people who were like that.

THOSE people who say FELD instead of FIELD.

THOSE people who can't talk about politics without YELLING

THOSE people who sip their hot cocoa and can't keep from making a slurping sound EVERY TIME

Perhaps I'm too sensitive, but I think we all have some behavior that we witness among large groups of society and feel is especially odd.  When I first came to BYU, I remember seeing people who were eternally peppy.  People who owned a lot of pastel clothing and not one black shirt.  People who just HAD an un-ending supply of seemingly meaningless ideas for activity that you would never have thought of, but when you engaged in it, ended up being a lot of fun.

My husband and I paid off all of our outstanding debt in the last month.  Student loans, car loans, DONE! 

Life is too short to let something like that pass us by without celebrating, but we wanted to stick to our budget and not spend a huge amount of money.  Combine that with the fact that it's too cold outside to have many really exciting or beautiful out-door metropolitan wonders outside of Temple Square, and that the mountians don't have quite the same draw as the beach as far as celebratory picnics go...


We went to the grocery store and decided to join in and celebrate the Oreo's 100th birthday.  We had a party with Classic Oreos, Double Stuff Oreos, Blonde Oreos, and peanutbutter.  And it was a blast ;)

When I considered THOSE people back at BYU, I didn't realize that with enough time under the same circumstances as they had been raised that I would become one of them.  That I would understand it.  And REVEL in it!

Gala! Another evening to be in love

Dale and I are continuously reveling in the exciting things that come of being a professional among professionals.  One such excitement came last week when my boss came to my office and asked if I would like to attend a gala for the Alzhiemer's Association on the upcoming Friday. 

Now, we at home have been watching a lot of Frasier re-runs lately, so I know that a gala is basically the closest thing you're going to get to re-living prom as an adult.  To say my interest was immediate is to put it mildly.

My mind swiftly ran to plans for beautiful dresses and dance steps and hair styles!  I seriously had to leave work an hour early because I was so excited and couldn't get any work done.

I googled what the dress standard was for "black tie encouraged" and scanned through dozens of pictures of gowns and ettiquete articles.  I called all the friends I had who had grown up in Utah and still had access to wardrobes including evening wear.  I tried out options for my hair.  I googled the location of the gala, researched past annual events by the Alzhiemer's Association, and every step got me more and more excited for my night as a princess.

My sweetheart Dale was excited for a upper crust professional evening out, and even practiced dancing steps with me as I deliberated over which dress to wear and whether or not this one made my knees look chubby, or that one didn't accentuate my bust enough.

The evening arrived and my prince escorted me on his arm and opened doors.  As a fund raisier there were two big auctions, both of which were FAR out of our price range, but we got to see the excitement of a scottish terrier sold for $1150, and a lovely painting for $2,000.  The hors devoirs were superb.  The table was beautifully set.  The band was lively.  And I got to dance with my husband.  And that was the best part.

SALT Con

The sun was suspiciously cheerful for a February in Salt Lake City.  It's as if the sun knew what pressure my Dale was under and had come out in full blast to spy on his final preparations.  Boxes secure, packaging well built, inventory complete, Dale and James drove to an otherwise inconspicuous hotel in one of the lesser noticed corners of down town.  This was the time and the place where they would reveal their creation.

Yup!  Dale presented his own self-made game down town last month!  Our college friend James Harper flew back in town to help Dale present and prepare to negotiate.  We loved having him stay with us, and it was a great support for Dale as he took a big step toward living his long-term dream of being a game-maker.  I COMPLETELY respect Dale for progressing his interests in the midst of a full-time job and all other adult responsibilities to the point that he gets noticed by the professional game making arena. 

If you check here and scroll down to the entry on January 9th, you  can see Dale's name printed as one of the finalists in a competition of original game makers to be noticed and reviewed by publishers from all up and down the Western United States. 

It was really a lot of fun.  I left work early on friday to catch up with Dale and James as they presented, and then soak up what fun there was to have at a board game convention!  There were booths advertising and selling new creations, a free library of games (hundreds of them!) to check out and play, tournaments to enter for prizes of free games and such, and at least 400 other people who wanted to play, teach, and learn about games that most people wouldn't find on shelves at Target.  It was a great place for Dale.  He ended up getting 3rd place out of the 25 people who had submitted games!  Better than that is the professional exposure and feedback he got as a contestant.  I really am so proud of him for pursuing his interests like this.

And the best thing for me?  Dale found a half a dozen other guys at the convention who live in our apartment complex and love games (almost) as much as he does.  They're making a schedule to have man gaming nights 2 or 3 times a month.  Dale now has people to play his more...intense... games with.  Sigh!  And I don't have to!