Last day of this great giveaway!
http://reveriemine.com/
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Anyone NOT on Pinterest?
I was recently invited to Pinterest (yes, you have to be invited. I think it's supposed to make it feel more exclusive.) I am afraid that I am not addicted to it as most of my friends on facebook seem to be. However, I have discovered that it is full of decorating, crafty, artsy, diy, fashion, recipes, and homemade goodness and ideas. It even has a recipe to make your own facial moisturizer on there! I am rather intrigued, but am yet to give it a go.
I have given a few Pinterest inspired ideas a go and most are yet to be completed. I have completed one project and I'm going to display it proudly. Thanks Pinterest, you do have your uses.
I have given a few Pinterest inspired ideas a go and most are yet to be completed. I have completed one project and I'm going to display it proudly. Thanks Pinterest, you do have your uses.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
My September 11th
It has been said that everyone remembers exactly where they were and exactly what they were doing 11 years ago today when that historic and tragic event happened. Unfortunately it seems as though that horrific day is slowly but surely fading from peoples memories. The day itself just seems to slip by unnoticed anymore. I find that rather disheartening because even though the target was the United States it affected the whole world. For one whole day the whole world was in a state of shock, disbelief, and frustration. There was a sense of camaraderie that I had never felt between complete strangers, and even though I wish that the event and the lives lost hadn't taken place it was inspiring to see what people were truly capable of.
Eleven years ago today I was 16 years old and was heading to Utah, and America for the first time in my life. I was fortunate enough to be invited by a family of a missionary so that I could visit BYU and experience what it would be like to attend school here. I was nervous getting on the plane as it was the first time I had ever traveled on my own, but I was head strong and independent, the typical "I know everything" teenager. I found my seat, "perfect a window seat" I thought. The plane was HUGE, United Airlines Boeing 757. No one ended up sitting next to me which was an added bonus, just in case I decided to take a long nap. It was the longest flight I had ever been on, 13 hours. I remember looking at the little plane on the map on the tiny little tv in the headrest in front of me and just willing it to move faster. My legs were aching, I just wanted to stretch. Then the little plane and clock let me know that we were only 45 minutes away from our destination. Chicago! Wohoo!! We had already begun our decent when the pilot came on the speakers and announced;
"This is your Captain speaking, unfortunately we will not be landing in Chicago, we have been rerouted to Toronto because the U.S. airspace is a forbidden zone due to a major security breach. Do not be alarmed. The crew will appreciate your full cooperation and patience. We know just about as much as you do, and we will tell you more when we know more."
So being a naive 16 year old my first thought was, "how am I going to get to Salt Lake?!". Then as I calmed down I overheard an American couple in the seats in front of me saying how something awful must have happened for them to have closed U.S. airspace. There was an eerie silence in the plane. No one even asked the crew members what was happening.
We landed in Toronto roughly 90 minutes later but were told that we were not allowed to pull into a gate. We sat on the runway for two hours until finally a number of buses pulled up outside the plane. Soldiers with guns and dogs poured out of the buses and headed for the plane. I was completely petrified, no one on the plane had any idea what had happened still.
We were shuffled onto the buses and driven to an underground hanger of sorts. We were then sorted into lines in order to go through customs and immigration. Passengers were trying to ask the soldiers what was going on but were given the cold shoulder in return.
It was finally my turn at the window....
"Where are you from?"
"Wales, United Kingdom."
"Where are you going?"
"Salt Lake, Utah."
"Why are you going there?"
"To visit a friend."
"That's it? You've never been here before, why are you visiting this friend now?"
"I was invited by his family to visit because I want to attend school here. He served a mission in Britain for two years so that's why I haven't been here before."
"Are you traveling alone?"
"Yes" I said with tears starting to form in my eyes.
"How old are you?" The gruff and rude expression began to fade from the immigration officers face.
"Sixteen."
"Look, I'm not supposed to do this but all the hotels in the area are booked because we're having a fair at the moment. Here's my phone number if you need somewhere to stay. Try and contact your family."
I was ever so grateful for that kind act of charity. That woman had never met me before and knew nothing about me but she was willing to open up her home to me at a time of need.
We were then shuffled into a baggage claim area and were broken up into groups of 6-8 people. We sat on a hard cold tile floor for six hours waiting for our baggage to make its way through. People were still attempting to talk to soldiers to find out what had happened. They would say nothing to any of us. I noticed that people were allowed to use the phones. I asked the soldier standing over our group if I could use the phone and he just nodded and pointed me in the direction.
I dug through my purse for some quarters because I knew I would need a few of them for the international call. I knew that I had to let me parents know where I was because I was supposed to call them from Utah to let them know that I had arrived safely.
Alas, all I had was American money, not Canadian. It was the last straw. I went to the bathroom, closed the door of the stall and just cried. I was scared, lost, and worst of all completely alone. Through my sobs I heard a quiet tap on the door.
"Are you okay?"
"No" was all I could muster.
I exited the stall and washed my face. Tracy asked how old I was and asked me what she could do. I explained that all I wanted to do was call home to let me parents know where I was. She took me to her friends, Melissa, Lynn, Liz and Wendi. Wendi had her 4 month old daughter Cierra with her. She took me to the payphones and made a international collect call for me.
I heard the operator asking my father if he would accept the call from me and I heard him practically shout yes and with a frog in his throat yell for my mother telling her that I was on the phone. They were so relieved to hear from me. My mother told me that planes had been flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by Kamikaze pilots. She went on to tell me that the planes used were American Airlines and United Airlines Boeing 757's. The news had given a phone number of a hot-line to call if you had friends and family traveling on that day. My mother obviously called but was told by the operator that they had no record of me and so she should expect the worst. My mother was then worried about the situation and asked where I would go and what I would do.
Wendi asked if she could speak with my parents. I handed her the receiver and I began to realize the magnitude of what had taken place today. Wendi introduced herself and told my parents that she would be taking me with her and gave my mother her home address and phone number so that she could contact Wendi's husband to verify who she was. I can't imagine how my parents must have felt during this whole episode. But one again I was so overcome with gratitude that this woman was willing to accept a stranger and bring her to her home.
When we were finally released from the holding area we made our way to the airline taxi station where I was handed a newspaper with a picture of the World Trade Center. It still seemed so unreal. We made our way to the Toronto train station where we caught a train to Windsor which would enable us to cross the border into Michigan and head to Detroit for the evening. The train ride to Windsor was very somber. Canadians had put the American flag on their flag poles and hung them at half mast. It was such a powerful sign of respect. People on the train were sharing each others stories and it amazed me how united everyone was. Complete strangers talking and embracing as though they had been friends for years.
When we reached Liz's home in Detroit we were all completely emotionally and physically drained. Before we went to bed we watched the news and the scene on the tv was still unreal. I felt as though I was watching a scene from a movie rather than a current event.
I was fortunate enough to spend the next few days with Wendi and her wonderful family. I am so grateful to her for being so charitable and truly and example of complete selflessness. I was so sad to leave them when I continued onto Utah, but hope that I will be able to meet up with them again one day.
My 9/11 experience was lucky compared to what could have been on that day. To all the families who were not so fortunate I offer my deepest condolences, and hope that you will all find comfort in the fact that there were many heroes from the ordinary that day and that mankind truly is capable of truly magnificent selflessness and love. Keep the memory of 9/11 alive and remember why we should all be a united front against radicals and terrorists.
Melissa, Tracy, Liz, Wendi and Lynn.
Me in Michigan with little Cierra
Caitlin, Carson, me and Cierra at the Cider Mill before I left for Utah :(
Jim and me. This was in Utah, Jim served in my ward when my mother was young. I was able to stay with him and his family the next time I visited and what an amazing bunch they are!
Eleven years ago today I was 16 years old and was heading to Utah, and America for the first time in my life. I was fortunate enough to be invited by a family of a missionary so that I could visit BYU and experience what it would be like to attend school here. I was nervous getting on the plane as it was the first time I had ever traveled on my own, but I was head strong and independent, the typical "I know everything" teenager. I found my seat, "perfect a window seat" I thought. The plane was HUGE, United Airlines Boeing 757. No one ended up sitting next to me which was an added bonus, just in case I decided to take a long nap. It was the longest flight I had ever been on, 13 hours. I remember looking at the little plane on the map on the tiny little tv in the headrest in front of me and just willing it to move faster. My legs were aching, I just wanted to stretch. Then the little plane and clock let me know that we were only 45 minutes away from our destination. Chicago! Wohoo!! We had already begun our decent when the pilot came on the speakers and announced;
"This is your Captain speaking, unfortunately we will not be landing in Chicago, we have been rerouted to Toronto because the U.S. airspace is a forbidden zone due to a major security breach. Do not be alarmed. The crew will appreciate your full cooperation and patience. We know just about as much as you do, and we will tell you more when we know more."
So being a naive 16 year old my first thought was, "how am I going to get to Salt Lake?!". Then as I calmed down I overheard an American couple in the seats in front of me saying how something awful must have happened for them to have closed U.S. airspace. There was an eerie silence in the plane. No one even asked the crew members what was happening.
We landed in Toronto roughly 90 minutes later but were told that we were not allowed to pull into a gate. We sat on the runway for two hours until finally a number of buses pulled up outside the plane. Soldiers with guns and dogs poured out of the buses and headed for the plane. I was completely petrified, no one on the plane had any idea what had happened still.
We were shuffled onto the buses and driven to an underground hanger of sorts. We were then sorted into lines in order to go through customs and immigration. Passengers were trying to ask the soldiers what was going on but were given the cold shoulder in return.
It was finally my turn at the window....
"Where are you from?"
"Wales, United Kingdom."
"Where are you going?"
"Salt Lake, Utah."
"Why are you going there?"
"To visit a friend."
"That's it? You've never been here before, why are you visiting this friend now?"
"I was invited by his family to visit because I want to attend school here. He served a mission in Britain for two years so that's why I haven't been here before."
"Are you traveling alone?"
"Yes" I said with tears starting to form in my eyes.
"How old are you?" The gruff and rude expression began to fade from the immigration officers face.
"Sixteen."
"Look, I'm not supposed to do this but all the hotels in the area are booked because we're having a fair at the moment. Here's my phone number if you need somewhere to stay. Try and contact your family."
I was ever so grateful for that kind act of charity. That woman had never met me before and knew nothing about me but she was willing to open up her home to me at a time of need.
We were then shuffled into a baggage claim area and were broken up into groups of 6-8 people. We sat on a hard cold tile floor for six hours waiting for our baggage to make its way through. People were still attempting to talk to soldiers to find out what had happened. They would say nothing to any of us. I noticed that people were allowed to use the phones. I asked the soldier standing over our group if I could use the phone and he just nodded and pointed me in the direction.
I dug through my purse for some quarters because I knew I would need a few of them for the international call. I knew that I had to let me parents know where I was because I was supposed to call them from Utah to let them know that I had arrived safely.
Alas, all I had was American money, not Canadian. It was the last straw. I went to the bathroom, closed the door of the stall and just cried. I was scared, lost, and worst of all completely alone. Through my sobs I heard a quiet tap on the door.
"Are you okay?"
"No" was all I could muster.
I exited the stall and washed my face. Tracy asked how old I was and asked me what she could do. I explained that all I wanted to do was call home to let me parents know where I was. She took me to her friends, Melissa, Lynn, Liz and Wendi. Wendi had her 4 month old daughter Cierra with her. She took me to the payphones and made a international collect call for me.
I heard the operator asking my father if he would accept the call from me and I heard him practically shout yes and with a frog in his throat yell for my mother telling her that I was on the phone. They were so relieved to hear from me. My mother told me that planes had been flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by Kamikaze pilots. She went on to tell me that the planes used were American Airlines and United Airlines Boeing 757's. The news had given a phone number of a hot-line to call if you had friends and family traveling on that day. My mother obviously called but was told by the operator that they had no record of me and so she should expect the worst. My mother was then worried about the situation and asked where I would go and what I would do.
Wendi asked if she could speak with my parents. I handed her the receiver and I began to realize the magnitude of what had taken place today. Wendi introduced herself and told my parents that she would be taking me with her and gave my mother her home address and phone number so that she could contact Wendi's husband to verify who she was. I can't imagine how my parents must have felt during this whole episode. But one again I was so overcome with gratitude that this woman was willing to accept a stranger and bring her to her home.
When we were finally released from the holding area we made our way to the airline taxi station where I was handed a newspaper with a picture of the World Trade Center. It still seemed so unreal. We made our way to the Toronto train station where we caught a train to Windsor which would enable us to cross the border into Michigan and head to Detroit for the evening. The train ride to Windsor was very somber. Canadians had put the American flag on their flag poles and hung them at half mast. It was such a powerful sign of respect. People on the train were sharing each others stories and it amazed me how united everyone was. Complete strangers talking and embracing as though they had been friends for years.
When we reached Liz's home in Detroit we were all completely emotionally and physically drained. Before we went to bed we watched the news and the scene on the tv was still unreal. I felt as though I was watching a scene from a movie rather than a current event.
I was fortunate enough to spend the next few days with Wendi and her wonderful family. I am so grateful to her for being so charitable and truly and example of complete selflessness. I was so sad to leave them when I continued onto Utah, but hope that I will be able to meet up with them again one day.
My 9/11 experience was lucky compared to what could have been on that day. To all the families who were not so fortunate I offer my deepest condolences, and hope that you will all find comfort in the fact that there were many heroes from the ordinary that day and that mankind truly is capable of truly magnificent selflessness and love. Keep the memory of 9/11 alive and remember why we should all be a united front against radicals and terrorists.
Melissa, Tracy, Liz, Wendi and Lynn.
Me in Michigan with little Cierra
Caitlin, Carson, me and Cierra at the Cider Mill before I left for Utah :(
Jim and me. This was in Utah, Jim served in my ward when my mother was young. I was able to stay with him and his family the next time I visited and what an amazing bunch they are!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wolfsangel
I enjoyed the "historical" aspect of the book but I did not enjoy most of the main characters. The characters I actually wanted to read about were just pawns, Authun and scar face lady (can't remember her name right now). Those two were the courageous, honorable and interesting characters for myself.
I also felt like I was in a whirlwind, the plot jumping back and forth, I had to re read a few chapters which, in my opinion, signifies poor plotting of events. I think the author had a good idea but wasn't able to present it as effectively as he could have.
Also, I feel like the book had a poor ending. The last 100 pages felt very rushed, and there were loose ends. I HATE loose ends!
I think it was definitely worth a read and maybe I'll give it a second chance down the road.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Confessor
Great end to the series, even though I'm sad to say farewell to the amazing Richard. The last book reminded me of why I fell in love with this series to begin with. It was a great tie in to the first book of the series. I love the way Terry Goodkind writes and I will definitely be re reading this series. 
Ranger's Apprentice: Erak's Ransom
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Gargoyle
Interesting....
I didn't love this book. But I didn't hate it either. It had a good premise and I loved the history aspect to the story. I think my main problem with this book is that I could never completely connect to the main character/narrator. I found him selfish, arrogant and even though he was a tragic figure for the most part I could not pity him.
Worth a read. But if you don't watch rated R movies this probably isn't the book for you.... it can be graphic in areas.
I didn't love this book. But I didn't hate it either. It had a good premise and I loved the history aspect to the story. I think my main problem with this book is that I could never completely connect to the main character/narrator. I found him selfish, arrogant and even though he was a tragic figure for the most part I could not pity him.
Worth a read. But if you don't watch rated R movies this probably isn't the book for you.... it can be graphic in areas.
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