It's 2010, people.

This makes me feel better for a number of reasons I will not describe. :) Let's just say it's been a rough week at work. If it weren't for videos like this, I would have dartboards lining my office with certain people's faces on them. Just to keep my sanity.

And yes, I have some left. (sanity.) Thanks for asking.

The dentist and I

(not to be confused with ♫ The Wizard and I ♫)

Today, just as he was about to jam a needle into my gums to numb me up before he drilled my face off, my dentist told me some of his patients have told him they would rather give birth than go to the dentist.

Awesome. Thank you.

And then he had the nerve to ask me if I was nervous.

Okay, seriously, do you think this is my first dental experience?
I only WISH.

I mean, I've never given birth, but I tell you what...I'm a brave kid. I can handle things that make a lot of other kids cry. But seriously? In that very moment, I might have willingly traded my oh so willing drill-master for labor pains and a giant needle in my back.

I also fully reserve the right to retract that statement in the next 10 years or so when I get around to giving birth.

The other thing you should know is that I could brush, floss and rinse 3 times every day AND avoid sugar at all costs (which I almost already do) and I would still have at least two cavities every time I go in for a check-up.

I say this after a lifetime of knowledge. A good many years have been put into this personal research of mine, and even after a pristine cleaning track record any dental hygienist would be proud of, I have yet to ever come away from a dentist appointment with a clean record.

I hate the dentist. But it's not his fault. At least I think it's not his fault.

Sometimes, though, especially when I've been extremely diligent about my oral hygiene, when dear old dentist-man tells me I need my 9 millionth root canal, it always takes every ounce of my self-control to not tell him to go sit in the corner for a few hours without getting paid and think about what he's just told me. Just to make sure he's not telling me LIES.

Also, I don't know why, but I burn through the numb-ness faster than he can ever finish. This means DeeAura gets about four different shots to the face with every side that needs some work. Equals giant headache when he finally IS finished.

* sigh *

I'm just saying this because I just got done with another dentist appointment and I really think it will just never end.

Also, I only had 4 ibuprofen in my purse, and I need muchooooo more.

I guess the plus-side of this moment is that I write to you currently 100% cavity-free.

I do have a cleaning next month, though, so...hey, we'll see.
*grumble*

In addition to all of that, this is the same dentist who used to hit on me and every other female patient while he had his hands in my mouth. There are so many problems with this form of communication...let alone the fact I just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible in the first place.

The ever-present question on my mind was the whereabouts of his wedding ring. Once, I even asked to be scheduled with his older, married, father of 4-5 children brother who also works in the same office. Just to have one flirt-free dental session.

I have no problem whatsoever with it if a guy wants to hit on me. Just...please...not while his hands are jammed in my mouth, seeking out opportunities to drill, and my lip/cheek feels four times its actual size.

Lucky for all of us, he got married recently. :) Now he just asks me about my jeans, my shoes, and my purse, and follows it up with "That looks like something my wife would wear."

His wife better be young, hot, and filthy rich.

LJ, I hope you're taking our mission seriously to still find out if she was a patient. I have serious bets on it. Although...I'd say his marriage has greater chances of survival if he was never her dentist.

Ask me why I pay this man money to bring me pain.
I'm a smart girl, but this feels DUMB.
hahahah
...but ask me tomorrow when I've had more ibuprofen.

2009. Because I can.

I know you're dying to read this.

I was dying to fill it out.
I am not, however, dying to get back to work.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?
Finally went to Seattle. BOOM, baby! uh...also, I went tubing down the Provo river. Remind me to never do that again without a wet-suit. :)

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and do you intend to make any for 2010?

I'd have to go look and see if I did...I actually can't find it right now...BUT: I have made some for this year. In my defense, I usually just make lists of things I want to do, and then I just do them as soon as I can.

What? I see nothing wrong with this method!!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Well, my little sister did. :) She wasn't physically close to me at the time, but....well, I take that back. I was only in the hallway. So, yeah. And he's a cutie!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I knew people that died this year, but no one particularly close to me. Unless you count Patrick Swayze (not close) and all I have to say about that is it resulted in the poor purchasing choice to buy Dirty Dancing and watch it for nostalgia-sake...only to discover how much I wished I'd bought a season of Gilmore Girls instead. * sigh *

5. What countries did you visit?
I feel like this is an unfair question, seeing as I have yet to procure my very own passport, making international travel an direct impossibilty. Alaina told me to just get one the other day, and...I'm starting to feel like that might make me feel better about this questions as a whole.

I'm getting a passport, okay??

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you didn't have in 2009?

A passport. (bahaha) Also, I think maybe I should finally finish my Nauvoo photo-book/journal and just get it printed already.

Oh. Also, according to my very nosey dentist, I should get a boyfriend.

Whatever.

7. What dates will be etched into your memory from 2009 and why?

Ah, well, none in particular, really. I mean, they were nice and all...but none need necessarily be etched in my memory.

Oh. :) Well...maybe....sometime in May. That's when I read the quote about reading the scriptures for 30 minutes each morning. I'd have to say that was the most SIGNIFICANT change I made this year.

And I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

8. What is your biggest achievement of the year?

Ah, crap. Just refer to #7.

Also, I'd also say it was an achievement to jump and find out where I'd land. Even if it surprised me. :)

9. What is your biggest failure?

Hmm. Well...I failed a lot. But I wouldn't call any of them EPIC.

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury?

If I did, I have completely forgotten about said illness or injury.

11. What is the best thing you bought?

The $1 tacos at the Latino Festival. Between that and the occasional Horchata from Bajios, I'm set for life.

Also, I'd have to say the True Religion jeans at a fraction of the full-price I got just after Christmas...PRICELESS. :)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My cousin Crystal got married, and I'm pretty sure I did a party dance in my cubicle while * no one * could see me when I found out. :)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled or depressed?

Let's just say I couldn't get my jaw off the floor for a day or two. (You have no idea who you are. Also, you never read this blog. But I'm still not going to say your name.)

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent and car payment. Uh...this is probably why I don't visit other countries. * sick *

15. What did you get really excited about?

Seattle! The gym? (my sanity this summer) Roadtrips! Alaina moving in! Uh...Rodeos! GOing to Arizona when it's cold in Utah!
16. What songs will remind you of 2009 and why?

All things Miley Cyrus. (Carla, I blame you for this, actually.) :)

Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNzrwh2Z2hQ&feature=player_embedded

You're welcome.

17. Compared to last year...
a. happier or sadder? Hmmm...better. Better for both.
b. thinner or fatter? Duh, fatter. Fatter is always better. Double oreos...oh, wait, I forgot about thin mints...
c. richer or poorer? HA. I think I broke even. :)

18. What do you wish you had done more of?

Playing. Straight up. Though...I did much better this year than last year.

19. What do you wish you had done less of?

Working. :) (I mean this in a healthy manner. I am grateful for work and my job. I'm just saying...)

20. How did you spend Christmas?

When I wasn't in Savior of the World, I was at home with the family in good 'ol Brigham City. That will never get old to me. :)

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Uh-huh. Nah, nevermind.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Ooooo. Maybe "Lie to Me" or...uh...actually...

Actually, I watched very little TV this year. Who knew? :)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate at this time last year?

Uhm, no. :) Hating is too hard.

24. What is the best book you read?
Actually, it's a toss-up between "Mary Martha and Me" and "A Heart Like His"

I know, they're not fictional, and not getting made into major motion pictures anytime soon, but they were phenomenal.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Hahha...well...http://deeaura.blogspot.com/2009/09/send-it-on-thank-you-disney.html

Insert giant grin. :)

26. What did you want and get?

Happiness.

27. What did you want and not get?

A rich husband. :) bahahahha....

28. What was your favorite film this year?

I actually didn't see that many movies this year...but I laughed a surprising number of times in "Star Trek."

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I celebrated. And I was 27. Still am. :)

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More love, less stress.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2009?

scarves. scarves, scarves, scarves, scarves, and more scarves. boots/flats. skinny jeans. (that I finally purchased in December. leave me alone.) :)

32. What kept you sane?

The scriptures, prayer, and the gym.

No...really...

Well, and then there was gmail chat, but even that deserved a good punch in the face eventually. :)

33. What celebrity did you fancy the most?

Ayeyaeyae. :) Patrick Dempsey, probably. :)

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The fact that there are political issues?

35. Who do you miss?

Carla Morgan.

36. Who was the best person you met?

It's a toss-up between Carla Morgan and Colin Bennett.

37. Valuable life lesson learned in 2009?

No matter what happens, no matter who messed up, and no matter how big of a mess it is, you can always choose to be happy instead.

Be considerate of the feelings of others, but don't forget to be honest with yourself and consider your own feelings as well.

Also, on a much more materialistic note: Kenny Chesney concerts are just not for sober people.

38. What is the one thing you said this year that you never thought you'd say?

"I forgive you." - but just because I never thought I'd get the opportunity to say it out loud to that individual.

oh, and "Wait. Was that the Jonas Brothers? Go back, go back!!!"

39. What was the one thing you heard that you never thought you would hear?

Taylor Swift singing in-tune on live television. But it only happened once, and I'm not even 100% sure she wasn't lip-syncing to herself.

40. What do you anticipate will be the biggest change in your life in 2010?

School. Either that, or moving. Time will only tell!

You're welcome, world. :)

New Year's Eve. In a van down by the river.

You think I'm kidding, but I'm not.

Okay, the river part is a lie.

So...New Years Eve. Last year, I fell asleep before midnight on very comfortable carpet with very warm blankets while "watching" Audrey Hepburn movies with my friends also "watching." Picture evidence of how much fun we were having:
And it's a good thing I bought those stupid crowns and noise-makers so everyone would know we weren't on drugs or something instead of just wishing we could go back to sleep. :)

Clearly I had to find some way to top my 2008 going in to 2009 experience.

...which was obviously going to be difficult.

First of all, I had a performance. Yes, I spent New Year's Eve...evening...doing Savior of the World. I guess I could've been upset or complained, but due to my past New Year's Eve behavior, let's just say I didn't think it was all that bad. :)

For the record, I usually love New Year's Eve. And by love, I mean, to me it says playing card games until 3 a.m. with my crazy family, eating cheese and crackers, and finally dying off to "It's a Wonderful Life" or something akin to it. I know. PARTY GIRL.

But THIS YEAR. :) This year, my parents and two youngest siblings came to see the performance that night. My mom and little brother hadn't seen it yet, and tickets were actually available for that night. Miracle of miracles, they got in. :)

So what did I do after the performance? Why, I did what all sensible party girls do and ditched every party I knew about to go hang out with them. :)

And by hang out...I mean...we went grocery shopping?

What? JUDGERS. Wait for it!

The result: I got groceries. duh. Also, the only place we knew of that would actually be open (sorry, employees...) was this Wal-mart down on 1300 south. It has a parking terrace. I've been there before, and both times, I considered the danger of NOT packing heat in said area.

Seriously. It's a little scary.

When we finished shopping and got out to my car and my parent's van, I saw what the plan had been all along. :) My mom had enough cheese and crackers and imitation crab to keep us going for quite a while, and my little brother had somehow managed to convince my mom that TWO giant containers of Jell-o were necessary for a truly classy New Year's Eve treat-night in the van.

In a van. In a ghetto parking terrace. Not packing heat. Eating cheese and crackers. Chugging orange carbonation and chocolate milk. (not simultaneously) Watching my brother try to live up to his promise to eat the entire container of orange jello salad. CLASSY.

Insert huge, happy grin.
Now laugh hysterically because there's no way little Adam can eat that much Jell-o. :)

It cracks me up all over again just thinking about the awesomeness. Mehehehehhehe...

I think the only thing more awesome is shooting off fireworks and eating lil smokies while chillin in the back of a pickup truck in my local ShopKo parking lot.

...which, come to think of it, is a stellar idea for next year.

My family is hysterical just in case you didn't know.

Welcome, 2010! If the rest of you is this funny, I'm sooo in. :)

♫ Singing your heart out ♫

Oh, how I love this show. Even backstage is fantastic. :) I learn something new every night, and even though I've been ridiculously tired lately, there's still a part of me that wishes it would never end. Every word in the script is something I want to have on permanent recall in my brain.

I sometimes feel like it's beyond my own capabilities to give everything I want to give to that expression.

Lately, the part that strikes me most every night is when the angel comes to the shepherds.

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2: 10-11)

Who recognized, that night, that the Savior of the world had been born? Only a few. How often do I miss those things? Such is the challenge of life, I think.

And speaking of remembering: This past Saturday, Aubrey and I had the opportunity to go up to Salt Lake a few hours earlier. Our friend, Greg, invited us to come up and sing to his beautiful sister who is in the LDS Hospital there. She was diagnosed with leukemia just last month and has been in the hospital ever since. Our other friend, Brian, came as well. I didn't think my heart could overflow any more than it has been these past few weeks, but standing in that little hospital room, singing Christmas hymns to her, I could barely contain my emotions. It felt to me like the room would burst with every word. Singing about the birth of the Savior in that tiny room to this woman who is going through so much...

It is no wonder to me that the gift he gave to us is called the atonement...

"Silent Night"

Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace;
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!

Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth; Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792–1848; trans. by John F. Young, 1820–1885

Music: Franz Gruber, 1787–1863

Luke 2:7–14

Alma 7:10–12

Being there in that room with her made me even more grateful he was born.

http://melanieballs.blogspot.com/

I think she's beautiful and brave and fantastic.
...and I don't even know her.

This is why I sing. For days like this, and for moments like that. I can't take any credit for them; but I'm lucky enough to be part of them.

Err....The Mary Fight.

"The better Mary"???? THE BETTER MARY!??!?!? *shriek of protest*

Dearest darlingest Crystal cousin of mine,

At this season, this time of year, can't we just put this behind us? And by that, I mean, won't you just back off already and just let me be Mary? I mean, really, can't you see how you're totally blocking me in this picture? Just because I once was a darling little blonde doesn't mean you can just romp all over everything with your brunette-ness. Look at me! I was a natural with my little prayer shawl and my hands in such prayerful poses...I mean, you'd make a really great angel or something. Don't get me wrong. Just...back off my moment, okay?

I'm just trying to follow counsel... (See quote innocently inserted below.)

This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again. –Howard W. Hunter, “The Gifts of Christmas,” Ensign, Dec 2002, 16

I'm willing to mend our quarrel...are you? Mmm'kay, good. I'm soooo super glad we've discussed this. :)

With much love and cousinly devotion,
your dearest darlingest cousin DeeAura

Oh my heck. If you only knew how much we love Christmas Eve every year for this very reason. :) I love traditions, I love Christmas, and I love my family. Every year, we all get together on Christmas Eve and eat food and sing carols and hymns, and reenact the Christmas story - complete with dress-ups - (as I know a lot of people do, but...)

But every year, Crystal and I laugh and joke about the year all the girl cousins fought over who got to be Mary. As you can see, the result was four Marys and my little brother getting caught in the middle of everything. :) (He might've been the baby Jesus that year. A little overgrown, but you get the picture.) I'd like to state for the record, however, that it is not always a joke. May the Mary Fight endure the wide expanse of space and time. :)

Okay, so Crystal already wrote about it, and insisted she was "the better Mary". In complete and utter retaliation, I shamelessly stole that top picture from her.
But. She didn't have this: (insert Yzma cackle from Emperor's New Groove for full effect.)best. wise man/shepherd. ever.
I can't wait for him to come back.
start the chant!
Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve! :)

race you to the stable, cousin.
mark, set, go. :)

(...that's absolutely appropriate, by the way...)

All I really ever wanted for Christmas...

Maybe I'm behind where I should be. But for the first time, maybe in my life, I recently realized that I truly do not want anything for Christmas. It's not that I don't need anything; or that I couldn't write a wish list.

It's just that it hit me more than ever this year that the real reason for our celebration this year...and every year...is that Jesus Christ, the savior of all mankind, came to the earth - was born, lived, and gave his own life - for us. He came in humble and yet glorious and miraculous circumstances. He lived a life devoted to teaching us how to live...how to truly be happy. And then he suffered the pains and afflictions of every human soul so that it might be possible for us to return and live again with the loving Heavenly Father of us all who is God.

His birth, His life, His sacrifice, is everything I need. This time of year is a reminder to me and to us all of the beginning of that life and love that will enable us to have every needful thing. That knowledge keeps growing within me...and I only want more than anything to give everyone I know even just a piece of that for Christmas this year.
I know He is real. I know he came for us. I know He loves me, and that He loves all of us. Because of Him...I have every needful thing. He is the great hope of mankind; the Savior and redeemer of our souls. He came as every other child comes - and yet has the ability to change our lives beyond any one person we will ever know. How grateful I am for that night so long ago!

“For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing…. Wherefore, by the ministering of angels and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.” – Moroni 7:22, 25

He is real. He does love us, and we have every reason to rejoice!
Merry Christmas. :)