A little over two years ago, back when I was still new to Salt Lake, I got together with my only friend and we decided that we needed to have more friends. So we thought of someone who we both new peripherally and invited her to join us in celebrating womanhood each month. Then she invited a friend and then I invited my sister-in law and then finally she invited a friend.

We didn't know it at the time but it was the most amazing thing that we started. We meet every month and we are all best friends. We get in fights with each other and share the most beautiful moments and it's like a family that you get to choose. It feels like how my ward and friends in Moses Lake used to make me feel. Secure and safe and loved and needed.

So this is an ode to those people in my life that make my life really something.

Foot Loose And Fancy Free!

This Friday marked a very special occasion for me. It was the first time that I have ever gone to the movies by myself!

I went to Harry Potter and laughed and cried a little and it was awesome. Much better then I thought it would be. I thought that the experience of watching a good movie would diminish if you had no one to talk about it with afterwards. I was totally wrong. It was more like having a little secret happiness all to yourself.

The fact that I have finally round up the courage to do this makes me hope that all that therapy I'm paying for is finally paying off. Now don't get me wrong, therapy has been the catalyst for many good things in my life, but none with such broad implications. The ability to do things by yourself is not a gift to be taken lightly. You should cherish that ability if you are so lucky to posses it. It means freedom. Feeling free to do what you want even when it is a bit uncomfortable. Maybe it means feeling O.K. with being a little uncomfortable. But either way, it's a big step.

A Look Back At My Dog, Patsy

I was pondering on what I would like to write about when The Mediocre Gatsby so graciously reminded me that I have not yet posted enough pictures of my dog, patsy. I will immediately attempt to rectify the situation. By popular demand I bring you.......PATSY!

This is Patsy when we first adopted her about two years ago. She was not very cute and about ten pounds under weight. I was not sure I could live with something so ugly but she was worth it.
This is Patsy about one year later. She is about ten pounds over weight now and her hair has turned all white. I swear this is the same dog.This is Patsy in her favorite sleeping position. And like a good girl she is modestly covering her pee pee. That's my girl. Patsy in her favorite sitting position. And for my grand finale I present Patsy lounging!

No need for thanks people. I was more then happy to provide this much needed service. Feel free to browse though these delightful pictures at your own leisure and be sure to visit again.

Gulp

Well, It's really going to happen. I am going to Europe this August.

I am stunned that this trip actually worked out. We just got our itinerary finished and we're going to fly into London then fly to Croatia then take a boat to Italy and drive around there, and finally we'll go to Paris where we will fly home. We are going for two and a half weeks so hopefully it won't seem like too much traveling.

To be totally honest, I think I am more nervous then excited. I just don't know what I got myself into and 17 days can be a long time. The longest I have ever vacationed was like five days (not including home visits).
We're going with travel mates Scotty and Emily which I'm thinking will be a total plus. And, WE ARE GOING TO EUROPE, which I think will be a total plus.

And in other news, I am now finished with summer school and am enjoying the rest of my summer. Of course, I am still tutoring so that is something to do three days a week. Mostly, I just end up reading. And mostly I am rereading Harry Potter. Very impressive, I know. But Harry Potter has it's good qualities. Those being that it's like reading a very long movie. Essentially, this means that I can watch movies all day without actually watching movies all day. And like magic, all the guilt I feel for not working just fades away.

Here for your enjoyment are pictures of my dog, Patsy.



Sometimes, I wonder if dementors look like this under thier robes.


But what would be totally awsome is if they looked more like this!

Am I Famous Yet?

Why is it that I still have fantasies of becoming famous? Is everyone this way or is it a condition that afflicts only the melodramatic? Or possibly the egotistical. And maybe the pathetic.

My dreams of being a singer seem delusional considering I am mediocre at both performing and singing. Yet, I persist in daydreaming of starring roles in Broadway musicals, and of being the lead in a super hip band. I can just feel the microphone and hot lights. I picture myself with my hair dyed and wearing lots of makeup. I picture high heels and slinky dresses.

So after all this daydreaming you'd think that at least some of this fantasy has come true. Surely you at least have your hair dyed you say.

Nope. In fact, the most interesting thing about my daydreams are that I seem to try to do the exact opposite of what I fantasize about. I wear moccasins and fitted T-shirts with the same pair of Levies just about every day. Sometimes I change up the Levies for a knee length skirt.
I know what your thinking. "But Cherie, you sound totally awesome." And you would be right. I am. But it just isn't the high heeled slutty look I long for.

Alas, I must concede that I am probably never going to be famous. Especially for my singing abilities. When you sing with five year olds every day you start to realize the truth about your own voice. Because you just can't escape it. I am constantly singing and shouting. (not at the kids just over them.) My voice is always the loudest in the room and I am talking all day long. The more I hear my own voice, the more I realize; I am not the singer I wish I was.

candy weighing both of my pockets down

I don't know about you, but there are albums out there that I just can't get enough of. I listen to them in my car for months at a time and hum them at work, then come home and listen to them on my computer. I am fully aware of what a geek I am but it feels so good.

Joanna Newsom's two albums have been that way for me. I just downloaded her second album Ys and I am being so annoying about it.

Take a listen. Disclaimer: Her voice is really weird.

Sadie

A Day Well Done

Well I must say that I sure like blogging. It's the only place were I can openly talk about myself and where it is well understood that this space is all about me.

Yep, no bones about it this place is for me to talk about me. When in life does a person take the opportunity to be this selfish? I can't think of a time besides therapy sessions. And those are expensive. Blogging costs only your time.

How delightful.

First thing this morning I get up to eat breakfast only to find that Patsy, the dog, has wet herself and her bed. You see patsy becomes incontinent when she takes antibiotics. And if you remember from my earlier post, she has recently been to the vet where she received an antibiotic in the form of a shot. We mistakenly thought that we were clear because she had no problems the next day. Ha! Silly us!

Poor Patsy must now wear her diaper. How humiliating.








Later that day I went shopping for new running clothes for my birthday. Now, this should have been really fun except I hate shopping and ended up crying in the car. Lucky for me Andy was with me and at the next store. He stood outside my dressing room and helped me pick out stuff. What a great guy.

Lastly, Andy orchestrated a big dinner at a little Indian restaurant. It was great and all my friends attended. The manager actually locked the doors because there were so many there and not enough staff to help. We had the whole restaurant to ourselves.

Afterwards most of our party came over to sit in our back yard and chat.

It was a good day.