Mike and Liz: An Autobiography

Valentine's Day

2012-02-19T17:04:00.004-07:00

Mike and I weren't able to go out on Valentine's Day because of our conflicting work schedules, but it was still great.

Mike came home for lunch on Valentine's Day, and brought me these gorgeous flowers. I LOVE that he put tulips.

His present to me was getting my ring re-set. The old setting made the diamond look a little strange. I love how you can see it's oval shape much better now.

Last night was our official Valentine's Date. We went to The Melting Pot for a delicious fondue dinner. I'd never been there before, but it was delicious. After dinner we saw The Importance of Being Earnest at the Arvada Center. It's one of my favorite plays, and I think it was very well done.

We hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!

Some Random Photos from Our Trip to Utah

2012-02-19T16:54:00.005-07:00

Two weeks ago we went to Utah to spend some time with Matt and the Rinkers before he reported to the MTC. I was very sporadic with my picture taking, unfortunately, so here are a few of the random shots I got throughout the weekend:

Taken at DIA before we left. This was the beginning of a huge snowstorm that hit Denver that weekend. Miraculously, our flight made it out.

We were able to spend an entire day with the Beans! This is at the aquarium in Sandy.

Waiting to be seated at Bombay House for Brian's birthday dinner.

Mike and Brian amused us all by trying a few minutes of Jeff's P90X workout.

Mike, Katie, and I went to the Nickelcade to pass the time before we picked up Samantha from the airport.

We found a few extra minutes to drive past our temple :)

Christmas 2011

2011-12-31T14:07:00.008-07:00

Mike and I had a ton of fun with the Rinkers this Christmas. We only got to stay a week, and I think everyone would agree that that wasn't enough time. But we are grateful for the time we got, and look forward to seeing them in February for Matt's goodbye at the MTC!

Here are some pictures from the week we spent in Sterling, Virginia with my fam:

The day after we arrived, Mike and I spent most of the afternoon helping Katie paint her room:

Exhausted.

We got to go with Matt to the temple!

And afterwards we had Mexican for lunch:

Decorating the tree.

Buckeyes!

Christmas Dinner:

The boys went hiking...

...and the girls went shopping.

I hope you all had a great Christmas, and a marvelous new year!

New Car

2011-12-12T17:59:00.003-07:00

After several years of faithful service, Mike's old Mitsubishi just wasn't cutting it for us anymore, transportation-wise. A couple of weeks ago when we had to get it jumped three times in one weekend, we decided it might be time to start looking for a new vehicle. We learned that the Denver South Mission was selling some of their old ("old" meaning models from 2008 to 2010) cars for very reasonable prices. We contacted the mission, reviewed our finances five or six times, and went to the bank. After a loooong and complicated process, we brought home our new car on Friday! It's a red 2008 Toyota Corolla, and we got a rockin' deal on it. So whenever you're in the market for a new car, check to see if your local LDS mission is selling theirs.

I also need to publicly thank Lee, who helped us navigate the loan process, and my wonderful husband Mike, whose perpetual optimism and saint-like patience with me helped keep my stress levels low during the process. Or lower than they could have been.

EW Reprise - For Jen

2011-12-06T12:59:00.002-07:00

Jen mentioned a couple weeks ago that she missed the little entertaining videos, articles, etc. I used to post on the blog every week. I promised her I'd find something fun and post it, so here it is!

Many of you have probably seen this before, but I totally forgot about it till I heard the song on the radio today. I love Christmastime, and I love men's a cappella groups, so this is double the fun. (I don't, however, love "The 12 Days of Christmas," with the exception of this version.) Fun fact: I saw BYU's men's a cappella group, Vocal Point, perform this a few years ago, and it was just as good as this one.

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas! (And a Happy St. Nicholas Day to you as well!)

Happy Birthday, Samantha!

2011-11-24T07:32:00.007-07:00

Today is Samantha's 22nd birthday! As per tradition, here are some photos of Sam from the last year (plus some bonus embarrassing baby pictures):

Happy birthday, Sami! Have a terrific day!

Pay It Forward

2011-11-04T20:17:00.003-06:00

Tonight Mike and I went to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. After our waitress introduced herself, she asked if we were celebrating anything special, and Mike mentioned that yesterday was our 17-month anniversary. At the end of our meal, our waitress told us that she hoped we'd saved room for dessert, because some very nice people had bought our desserts for us. We asked for more information, and she said, "Just some nice people who heard it was your 17-month anniversary and who appreciate young love." We figured out that it was the couple who had been at the next table (who were celebrating 42 years). We told the waitress we wished we could have thanked them before they left, and she said, "Just pay it forward, that's what they said to me."

So this is our grateful blog post, and a reminder to us, and all of you, to pay it forward whenever you get the chance.

Snow Day!

2011-10-26T16:25:00.004-06:00

So Colorado got hit with the first major snowstorm of the season, and I for one couldn't be more delighted! One nice thing about working in the education industry is that I occasionally still get to enjoy snow days in my 20s! Since I don't have to go into work tonight, Mike and I were able to take Bailey on a (very chilly) walk!

So Bailey found a squirrel and got really excited about it. Mike was surprised that I had never seen her do this before, but I thought it was hilarious so I recorded it. (You may need to turn your monitor sideways to view the video.)

Happy Birthday, Matt!

2011-10-23T06:30:00.013-06:00

Matthew Rinker turns 20 today! We had the privilege of seeing him a whopping four times in the last year, so get ready for lots of photos!

First, a few of the aforementioned oldies I procured (with Matt's help) this summer:

Thanksgiving 2010:

Yes, Matt did spent most of Thanksgiving morning playing Rock Band in an attempt to earn money to buy more guitars.

Bailey was concerned about Matt's post-Thanksgiving dinner condition.

Christmas 2010:

With our beloved Shadow.

Oh these two.

Hot sauce tasting.

Dancing.

"Wrist bump!"

He decided to try on all the hats.

(For a more complete look at what a Rinker Christmas is like, view this video.)

Easter 2011:

Going to the temple with my brother was a super awesome experience.

Utah Road Trip 2011:

Matt and Katie - quite possibly the best combination since chocolate and strawberries (why yes, I am eating a DQ chocolate-covered-strawberries Blizzard as I type this).

Nice.

We love Matt!

This last photo was taken just two days ago via Skype. It's a shot of Matthew opening his mission call. He'll be leaving on February 8, 2012 to serve for two years in the Mexico Guadalajara East mission. It'll be hard not seeing him for two whole years, but we're so proud of him! Happy birthday, Matt! We love you!

Mike's Twenty-Sixth

2011-10-21T13:42:00.007-06:00

I realized I never posted pictures of Mike's birthday! As I mentioned before (I think), we didn't get to do much to celebrate, but I did make him a cake!

Mike couldn't decide what he wanted for his birthday dinner, so we did a whole week of birthday dinners!

Those are his presents on the table: a new wallet, which he desperately needed, and some gift certificates to Harbor Freight Tools, which may just be his new favorite store (thanks to Mom and Dad Rinker for discovering it!).

Cake time!

Brian Came to Visit!

2011-10-21T12:30:00.010-06:00

Brian has joined the ranks of our Repeat Visitors (other notable members: Matt Rinker, Sam Rinker, Dad Rinker). He came to see us last weekend and we had a blast! Some highlights:

Brian's first visit was about a month after we got Bailey. She was still not used to new people, and it took her a while to warm up to him then. This time was rather different.

We went to a Colorado Rapids/Real Salt Lake game!

Goofy.

On a Fall walk with the dog.

Pumpkin Carving!

Bailey felt left out.

Finished products.

This is why we don't have children - the neighbor kids are more than willing to destroy our property to save us the trouble of having kids of our own.

Happy Halloween!

Happy (belated) Birthday, Katie!

2011-10-18T13:16:00.006-06:00

Katie's sweet sixteen was yesterday! Unfortunately I got called into work early, so I couldn't skype with her or post the traditional birthday blog. But here it is, a day late. Enjoy these photos of my amazingly beautiful little sister!

First a few oldies:

Tradition.

Oh Katie and Matt.

Happy birthday, Katie Rinker! We love you!

Happy birthday, Mom!

2011-10-14T11:30:00.005-06:00

Today is Mom Rinker's birthday! She is working all day today (presumably), so I won't get to wish her a happy birthday in person (read: via skype) till later. So in the meantime, some of my favorite Mom photos from the last year!

As you may remember from my Happy Birthday, Dad post, I recently acquired digital copies of several old family photos. So I am counting those as photos from the past year, and including my faves of Mom here:

I admit, I mostly included this one because of adorable little Katie.

Love it.

When I first saw this photo, I fell in love with the dress and how gorgeous my mom looks in it. I sent it to Samantha to show her, and told her I was going to ask Mom for the dress, if she still had it. Sam's reply: "Oh she totally has it! She gave it to me last summer!" .... Heartbreak.

Classic Mom face.

This was their engagement photo. Cute!

And now some ACTUAL photos from the last year (mostly Christmas, since that's the most time I spent with her in the last year):

Overseeing Christmas tree decorating.

Goofy Mom and Sam.

This is a recreation of a similar photo we took about 10 or 12 years ago.

Love.

The girls.

Happy birthday, Mama! We love you, and really appreciate everything you do for us. Hope you have a wonderful wonderful day!

A Question and a Fixation

2011-10-01T17:56:00.002-06:00

First of all, the question (slash invitation to discussion). I've been seeing a lot of stuff on facebook lately about the book/movie The Help. What did you all think of it? Personally I was a little underwhelmed by the book. I enjoyed it from an entertainment point of view, but I thought the plot and moral was unoriginal (not that I don't think racial equality is an important issue - I just know it has been hashed and rehashed, and I think if it's going to be re-rehashed, it should be done in a new way) and the characters were incredibly flat and underdeveloped. Am I crazy, fellow readers, or do any of you feel the same?

Second of all, the weird fixation: I think this State Farm commercial is hilarious! Every time I see it I laugh. From the face of the falcon owner, to the reaction of the State Farm agent, to the buyer's remorse of the other SF customers ("I shoulda got a falcon!")- excellent. Please tell me I'm not alone in my fascination with this ad?

Happy birthday, Mike!

2011-09-16T10:52:00.021-06:00

It's Michael's 26th birthday today! Unfortunately we both have to work, so there won't be much celebrating until this evening, but in the meantime, here's what Mike was up to during his 26th year!

With his birthday cake last year.

He wanted to make a giant cookie.

Attempting to climb a tree.

Brothers.

Our trip to the zoo!

We went up to the mountains a few times in the last year; it was awesome.

Little Bailey sure loves to snuggle with Mike.

Classy.

Pumpkin.

Trunk or Treat!

Carving our first Thanksgiving turkey.

The effects of Thanksgiving dinner.

My hero! He brought me home a mixer that was on sale on Black Friday.

Stuck in traffic for seven hours in London...

Making buckeyes! A grand Rinker tradition.

Trafalgar Square.

Putting our first Christmas ornament on the tree.

Building a snowman.

London Eye.

On the Eye.

Christmas Eve!

Tasting hot sauce with the men in the family.

We got to visit our proposal site last time we were in London.

Dancing!

"Wrist bump!" - I think this tradition needs to be revived next time we're all together.

Putting together our new kitchen table.

Strawberry?

Manly.

Hiking to the top of the rockslide.

Majestic.

Relaxing after a picnic.

Denver Temple.

On the Georgetown Loop Railroad.

Enjoying the view from the train.

Silly.

Presh.

Eh?

Lending Bailey a hand.

With some ducks.

Colorado National Monument

Playing some ninja game with Matt.

My mom thinks this looks like one of those promo photos for a tv show like Lost.

He loves me!

Look at that smile!

Smolder.

More silliness.

Re-bridals with Kristin.

Fall is back!!

As you can see, I have lots of fun with Mike, and I'm so glad he's a part of my life. I'm totally crazy about him, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I love you, Mikey! Happy birthday!

Happy Anniversary, Bailey!

2011-09-14T08:45:00.013-06:00

Today marks one year since we adopted Bailey from the Dumb Friends League in Denver. She has made great progress since then - she no longer pees on the floor (hooray!), she rarely barks at passersby, and she doesn't freak out (much) when people come over (she especially loves men in suits and ties - we first developed this theory when the missionaries came over and she greeted them as if they were old friends; it was further confirmed when she behaved similarly to our home teachers).

So here are some of our favorite Bailey moments over the last year. Enjoy!

Happy to be home: Sept. 14, 2010

Bailey and the geese.

She loves those ropes.

Scrabble.

What the....?

Ready for a winter walk.

With Matt.

"Aw, Mom, can't I sleep on Uncle Matt's bed tonight?"

Love this one.

Cuddling with Mike.

Holy ears, Batman!

Meeting Samantha.

Up in the mountains.

This is Bailey's favorite way to relax.

Hanging out with Dad Rinker.

Getting spoiled by Katie.

Can you tell who Bailey's favorite human is? Hint: it's not me or Mike.

Watching a bunny eat right outside our patio.

Begging Mike to pick her up so she can see the bunny again.

Just hangin' out.

New rope!

2011-09-08T10:56:00.003-06:00

The first tights wearing day of Fall (!!).....

...calls for a celebratory cup of hot chocolate!

Fifteen

2011-09-03T14:15:00.004-06:00

There will be no such thing as Labor Day Weekend for Mike and Liz this year; Mike had Friday off, but I had to work for a couple hours in the evening, and we both have to work today and Monday (not to mention teaching Nursery tomorrow!).

But on the bright side, it looks like Fall is finally coming to Denver (not to jinx it or anything), and on the even brighter side, today is our 15-month anniversary! Inspired by my parents, Mike and I have an ongoing competition to be the first to remember (or mention, since we both remember) our monthiversary. The victory has gone to me the last few months.

Happy monthiversary!

Current Obsessions

2011-08-27T20:21:00.004-06:00

1. Orange Fanta

But only the European kind. Ever since my parents moved back to the States, I've been lamenting the fact that I won't have access to European Fanta any longer. But don't you worry, because I found a European store here in Denver (actually it's in Aurora, but it's close enough)! When I visited the photo gallery on their website, I was ecstatic to see a picture of Orange Fanta, in the tell-tale curvy European bottle, just waiting for me to purchase it. So one Saturday after work I drove down to the store and bought an Orange Fanta (and a Kinder Bueno, because why not?) and could hardly wait to get home to open it. I was a little nervous because the label was all in Russian (this is more an Eastern European store), and the color was a little off, so I wasn't totally sure it was what I was looking for. I poured myself a little glass as soon as I got home, and while it wasn't as tasty as the British stuff, it still kicked the pants off American Fanta. Why is European Fanta so good you ask? They only use natural ingredients, so the orange flavoring is actual orange juice, and the sugar is natural as well. If you ever find yourself in Europe (or in a European grocery store), I highly recommend picking some of this stuff up.

2. Mike's Homemade Orange Julius

What is up with my current obsession with orange? I don't even like oranges. But Mike makes a delish orange julius, and I often request it as a late night snack. Because he is so sweet, he always makes it for me. What a husband.

3. Crochet

I love to crochet. My good friend Amanda taught me how, and since then I've been experimenting and learning all kinds of stitches. I am currently working on Christmas presents for the sibs, and I'm pretty sure I'll get all of them done within a month, because I just can't stop crocheting!

4. IKEA

Mike and I finally went to the new IKEA in Centennial! I love wandering through the showroom and getting all kinds of ideas, eating Swedish meatballs (so much better than Italian meatballs) in the restaurant, and of course, making purchases. My current obsession with IKEA probably has a lot to do with the fact that yesterday they helped me redecorate our bedroom for under $100. Thanks, IKEA!

5. Pinterest

If you don't know what this is, follow this link now. It's kind of a social networking site that allows you to "pin" and view other people's "pins" of interesting things from around the internet. People pin all sorts of things - wedding ideas, quotes, craft ideas, recipes, DIY, clothes, etc. It's a nice way to organize all that STUFF you find on the internet in one place. Pinterest is where I found this recipe for stuffed zucchini, learned a new method to curl my hair, found a great idea for anniversary photos, began to covet this amazing poster, found out that apparently Neville Longbottom is now attractive, and was inspired to change all the contacts in Mike's phone to Harry Potter characters. As you can see, this is a very useful website. Let me know if you want an invite (or simply request one on the site), and join me in pinning my way to a delicious, decorated, useless quote filled life.

Literary Friday - August

2011-08-19T13:18:00.004-06:00

Literary Fridays may start getting shorter from here on out, on account of my new job decreasing my reading time. But for now, here's a list of what I've read in the last month. As always, let me know if you've read any of these and what you think of them.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

I mentioned here that I try to read the entire series once a year (you can see from the picture how well-loved my copies are), and July seemed as good a time as any to take care of it for this year. With the recent conclusion of the Harry Potter movie franchise, I reflected on the lament of my generation - we've grown up with Harry Potter, and watching it come to an end is like watching our childhood officially end. I understand this sentiment, but I feel like I was never quite that attached to good ol' HP. Narnia is my Harry Potter - the books that I grew up on but never grew out of, the ones that I come back to time and time again, and the ones I'll read to my own kids. So for the benefit of those of you that have not yet read them, we'll look briefly at each book in the series:

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: This is actually probably my least favorite of the series (though of course it's still excellent), but it's obviously necessary. Unfortunately a lot of people seem to read this one and then stop, when the best is yet to come. Press on, people!

Prince Caspian: This is also not a favorite - at times it feels more like a transition book. But it's still a fun read, with some important lessons to share.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: This one IS one of my favorites. The sense of adventure throughout is very refreshing, and the ending is lovely. It also has a great opening line: "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it."

The Silver Chair: This one is certainly the bleakest of the Chronicles, and for that reason it may almost have been my least favorite, except for the fact that it contains what is possibly my favorite passage in all seven books [SPOILER ALERT]: The children, the prince, and Puddleglum are trapped in the Witch's realm, and she is trying to convince them that everything they love and believe in - Aslan, Narnia, even the sun - are just figments of their imagination. They almost believe her, until Puddleglum, my hero, declares, "...So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things - trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important that the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't an Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia..." [END SPOILER] See what I mean? Chills. So you can dismiss these as insignificant children's stories or lighthearted adventure stories, but they are profound, life-changing works of literature, and they deserve a deeper look.

The Horse and His Boy: Another great one (aren't they all??). I kind of enjoy the slightly muddled chronology of the books, which is why I read them in this order. Some editions will put them in chronological order, but I prefer them this way.

The Magician's Nephew: A great prequel. And it contains more great words to live by: "Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed." Well said, Mr. Lewis! Stupid is not attractive. Thankyougoodnight.

The Last Battle: I have no problem saying that this is possibly the best conclusion to a series ever. It's probably the most profound of the series, and certainly the one that speaks to me on the most personal level. I don't want to say much about this one, because it speaks for itself. Read it.

The Chronicles of Narnia are the books that have most impacted my life, and are quite possibly among the most beautiful books ever written. This is why I refuse to watch the rest of the movies - the books are as close to perfection as possible, and Hollywood's CGI, exaggerated battles, and melodrama detract from my conception of the loveliness of the books. It reminds me of how Lucy describes a sound she hears in Dawn Treader: " 'It would break your heart.' 'Why,' said I, 'was it so sad?' 'Sad? No!' said Lucy." I think that's the perfect way to sum up these books: They're heartbreaking in the best possible way. I will be forever grateful to C.S. Lewis for writing them, and to my dad for introducing me to them.

The Heroine's Bookshelf by Erin Blakemore

This is an analysis of various attributes exemplified by literary heroines and their authors. At some points it read like a literary analysis for a 300-level university English course (I should know, having written my fair share of those!), but it was helpful in the sense that it gave me information about some of my favorite writers, and gave me more to think about about my favorite characters. It also gave me the final push necessary to read some of those classics I just haven't gotten around to.

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris*

This was along the same lines as the other Sedaris collection I read - humorous stories about the lives of him and his family. It was a quick read and a nice pick-me-up.

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

This is the sequel to The Maze Runner. Katie advised me not to read it until the third one came out in October, because the ending was "intense." I ignored her advice (Sorry, Katie!) and read it when Mike brought it home from the library. I liked the book. It was a bit of a shock when I first started reading, because I haven't read any adolescent fiction in a while, so the writing style took me a few chapters to get used to. I don't know if I liked it as much as the first one. It was definitely suspenseful, and I always wanted to keep reading ("just one more chapter before bed"), but I found myself getting incredibly frustrated. During the last few chapters especially, I found myself empathizing too much with the main character, which resulted in me being in a grumpy mood for a good hour after I finished the book. Overall, it was a good book, and I recommend it (but not before you've read The Maze Runner).

Mulliner Nights by P.G. Wodehouse

Here's Wodehouse again! I don't think I could ever get enough of his books. This one is a collection of short stories, all connected by the fact that a Mr. Mulliner is telling these anecdotes at the local pub to the regulars who love to hear about the adventures of his various family members. It's a charming little book, and Wodehouse throws in little humorous touches here and there (like the fact that the pub regulars are not referred to by name, but by the drink they order). This would actually be a great P.G. Wodehouse to start with if you haven't read his books before.

So there's August's LF. I apologize for the Love Song of The Chronicles of Narnia at the beginning, but not really, because I think we all need some kind of literature to be passionate about. Till next month!

Entertainment Wednesday - Wave at the Bus

2011-08-10T10:17:00.003-06:00

August means the end of the summer and the bustle that accompanies back to school preparations. I don't mean to give you parents any ideas, but I thought this was an appropriate post. This is the blog of a man who stood in front of his house every morning to wave at his teenage son as the school bus drove away. Sweet, right? But also incredibly creative. I won't say any more - just take a look for yourself. (The page I link contains the first month's posts - make sure you use the archive menu at the side to see the full year; it's fun to see how it progresses!). Happy Wednesday!

Shadow

2011-08-07T16:37:00.006-06:00

We got Shadow in the summer of 1997. I was 9 years old, and so excited to get a dog. He was just a puppy, and we loved playing with him in our huge Belgian backyard. In the last 14 years, our love for our Shadow puppy has only grown. I think I speak for the whole Rinker family when I say that our sadness bordered on heartbreak in the last month as he got sicker, and this weekend when Dad decided it was time for his suffering to end. Here is my tribute to the best dog anyone could ever ask for.

Shadow experienced more in his lifetime than many humans ever do. He was born in Belgium, and traveled with us to the United States, Guatemala, Canada, and England. It's hard to remember a time when Shadow wasn't a part of our family. He was the gentlest giant I ever met - he grew up with 4 small children and an increasing number of pets, and didn't bat an eye when his ears were tugged, his back was used as a pillow, he was barked at, hissed at, growled at, or had his food stolen by an impatient Lhasa Apso. It won't be the same without him around, and we'll all miss him. But it's nice to think that he's with Kit-Kat, my beloved fat cat, now, and he can stand up without help, roll in the mud, chase tennis balls again, and eat as many 5-pound Hershey bars as he wants! I won't say Rest in Peace, because if I know Shadow, he's not spending the majority of his time resting. But I will say We love you, Shadow.

Vincenzo "Shadow" Rinker

May 22, 1997 - August 6, 2011

A Summertime Day Date

2011-08-05T14:48:00.005-06:00

Mike had the day off today, and I don't have to go in to work till 4:30, so we took advantage of that, and the fact that the Denver Botanical Gardens at Chatfield had a free day today, and went on a little date! It was super hot, which anyone who knows me knows I hate, but it was lots of fun. This branch of the Botanical Gardens is actually an old ranch, so there's not much "garden" to see, but there was a lot of fun stuff there.

We got to pet a goat!

A signpost on the ranch. The "Hitchin' Post" is a little field and gazebo where you can have a wedding. I assume that is also what "Love" is.

The Bee House!

Like I said, the "garden" part of the "Botanical Gardens" was limited.

The granary.

On our way back to the car, we stopped by the old ranch house, which was super cool. These next photos are dedicated to Stephani, who I know will appreciate them.

An old stove/oven. You can see an iron there, waiting to be heated up.

Phonograph.

Sewing machine.

I've always loved the pitcher and wash basin thing.

This was my favorite part of the house. That thing in the middle with two handles is a curling iron.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2011-07-27T01:36:00.008-06:00

Today is Dad's birthday! Happy birthday! Boy are we all in for a treat with today's blog post. Mom and Dad celebrated their 25th anniversary a couple of weeks ago, so while they were here, all of us kids gave them a book that contained photos from the last 25 years. Matt helped a lot by getting all the photos to me for compilation. Thanks to his crazy sneaky photo scanning skills, I now have several pictures from the 1980s and 1990s on my computer, just waiting to be sent out into cyberspace. Here are some great ones of Dad!

I believe this one was taken right after they got engaged?

Wedding announcement photo.

July 16, 1986

This is not the most flattering picture of any of us, but I'm totally digging the straight-leg jeans and boat shoes that Dad's wearing.

Little Liz and Sam!

Little Matt!

Little Katie!

Looking very dapper at the Marine Ball.

These next photos are ones I've taken in the last year (since Dad's last birthday - get it?). Unfortunately I didn't see him too much this year, so there aren't tons.

Fixing a tree ornament at Christmas.

Dad likes to sit and enjoy the bustle of everyone decorating the tree.

Presh.

A new Christmas tradition? Hot sauce tasting on Christmas morning.

Dad's love of puppies is not just limited to the ones he owns. Little Bailey loved him.

Family!

Happy birthday, Dad! I hope you have a wonderful day, and remember how much we love an appreciate you!

Entertainment Wednesday - IKEA

2011-07-26T12:19:00.004-06:00

Entertainment Wednesday is coming by a little early this week, for two reasons: 1) To make up for all the times it's been late. And 2) To get everyone pumped for the IKEA Centennial Grand Opening tomorrow! That's right - IKEA is finally coming to Denver. I know many of you are IKEA skeptics, but I adore it. Time Magazine even featured it on a list of 10 Things That Are Actually Getting Cheaper (I think we can all admit there's a reason IKEA's products are cheap, but that doesn't mean they aren't useful. I especially like their duvets and duvet covers. And dish brushes. And the Poang Chair that they are giving away tomorrow to the first 100 people in line after the first 38 people in line (who get couches).).

So. In honor of the grand opening, here is a nice little tribute to IKEA. Special thanks to Amanda for posting this on facebook ages ago and introducing me to it. I hope you all enjoy. Happy Tuesday!

Garden Update

2011-07-23T13:46:00.003-06:00

You may remember reading about our little garden a few months ago. What ever happened to that thing?

We've been working on it, but for a while it looked less than promising. We had a lot of rain here right after we planted, which was good, but some of our seeds didn't survive. (For example though we planted several corn kernels, only one ever came up. We haven't seen our peppers at all). But since the weather has gotten much warmer and the rain has continued, some of our plants have thrived!

Unfortunately, the plot next to ours seems to have been abandoned, and weeds have taken over that plot and are slowly encroaching on ours.....

So we went to the garden yesterday to do some intense weeding!

While we were there, we decided to harvest two large zucchinis that had grown!

Yum!!

So in short, our garden is hanging in there. Now that the weeds aren't choking our plants, we hope to see even more. There are two more zucchinis growing, and our cucumber plant has a few flowers. We've even got a nice clump of carrots growing (though we've heard that the soil in this garden isn't the greatest for carrots). As for our single stalk of corn? We're not getting our hopes up about that, but there are several more stalks in the garden across the path from ours, so with a little luck, maybe we'll be able to harvest some corn in a couple of months. In the meantime, we'll be making lots of zucchini!

A Link

2011-07-17T21:05:00.002-06:00

Everyone should go here right now and look at the amazing work my amazing friend Kristin did with our re-bridals. Amazing.

Literary Friday - July

2011-07-15T15:06:00.007-06:00

This is another sparse entry for LF. Traveling to Utah and having family in town limited my reading time, but the reading I did was very good, so this month it's about quality, not quantity.

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean

This was a kind of biography of the periodic table, but it wasn't as dry as it sounds. It's a history told through a series of anecdotes involving the elements (the title refers to gallium, a metal with a low melting point - scientist pranksters have been known to mold the metal into spoons and serve it to friends with tea; when the spoons are used to stir the tea, they melt, inspiring horror in the individuals who watch the tea disintegrate their utensils). There were definitely some very scientific parts, but I feel like I was able to follow almost everything. One of the things I love about reading is that it facilitates one of my other great loves: learning. This is a great example of the type of book that makes me feel like I'm not letting my brain rot. It's not light summer reading by any means, but it's definitely interesting and informative, and it's a great book for a non-scientifically-minded person who wants to learn more about chemistry, physics, and all that stuff.

Something Fresh by P.G. Wodehouse

I warned you that there might be an abundance of Wodehouse in the next few months' Literary Fridays. This is another hilarious novel by Wodehouse. Though he's more well-known for his Jeeves and Wooster books (which are great), I think I prefer the Blandings stories. This one took me less than two days to read, and it had me chuckling the whole time. Note to anyone who cares: P.G. Wodehouse books make a great gift for me. Just sayin'.

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

Another gift from my Uncle Ross. I read another of Robinson's books in my 21st Century Literature class at BYU, but I had a slightly hard time getting into this one. After I started and stopped it a couple times, though, it only took me about a week to get through. Some parts of the story spoke to me in a very emotional way, and I definitely connected with the characters. It has a melancholy, nostalgic tone, but it's very to the point and full of interesting observations. I have no problem recommending this one.

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner

This was a nice foil for Housekeeping - thought-provoking without being bleak. The author of the book recounts his travels to countries deemed by studies to be the happiest, the least happy, as well as some middling countries. He interviews locals, participates in cultural traditions, and tries to understand why happiness varies so much throughout the world and among individuals. The book is subtitled, "One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World." It's not a warm fuzzy book - he has a healthy amount of skepticism and looks at various issues from many different perspectives. It's enlightening, and it definitely made me examine the role of happiness (and the pursuit thereof) in my own life. Recommend.

Sibling Visit #4

2011-07-15T14:16:00.005-06:00

As I mentioned in the previous post, after our trip to Utah, Samantha, Matt, and Katie stayed with us in Denver for a few days. Here are some pictures:

We played MarioKart.

We went out to dinner.

We went up to the mountains.

Matt and Mike and I hiked up the huge rockslide we found on our last visit.

Waiting for us slowpokes.

View from the top.

Poor Bailey - she loves my siblings and get so sad when they leave.

Utah Trip 2011

2011-07-15T10:32:00.009-06:00

Lots of blogging to do today! Here's the first post - all about our trip to Utah. The London Rinkers are officially no longer the London Rinkers - now they are the Maryland Rinkers, or alternatively, the D.C. Rinkers. They moved on July 1st, and on the 5th they flew out to Denver! Sam flew out from Oregon as well, and the next day the seven of us drove two cars to Kaysville, Utah. I stupidly forgot to take pictures of the event that was the reason for our trip - G-pa Rinker made a model of the ship G-pa Jackson was on during the (Korean??) War...from scratch. He presented it to him last week while we were all in town. It was quite awesome (G-pa Jackson's first words when we brought in the large wooden box containing the ship: "That's not big enough, I won't fit in there"). But since there are no photos of it, you'll have to take my word for it. And you can check out the rest of these photos of the short but fun trip:

Ready to go! For the first half of the drive, Mike, Katie, and I rode together.

It was a gorgeous drive.

When we got to Grand Junction, CO, the other car (Dad, Mom, Samantha, Matt) was still a good 45 minutes behind us, so we stopped by Colorado National Monument for a few minutes:

Me and my little sis! (I was on the phone with the other car trying to coordinate lunch plans.)

That big rock back there is the actual monument. There's a flag on top.

After lunch, we got an addition to our car. Hi, Matt!

Welcome to Utah! Thus commenced the slightly more agonizing part of the drive.

It was a long day.

Because we decided to take the long way around instead of taking a treacherous shortcut in the rain, we arrived at my aunt's house in Kaysville a good two hours after the other car. But the next day we were up and at 'em and having fun!

After the ship presentation, the guys got Matt's gun out of storage at Grandma and Grandpa J's and went to the army surplus store and the shooting range...

...While the girls swung in Grandpa's swing for old times' sake, and then went shopping!

Don't ask.

Farr's Ice Cream! I missed this. (P.S. We're all wearing matchy clothes because we'd just come from a family photo shoot with my amazingly talented friend Kristin. You can check out some of the pictures here.)

The next day Katie helped me, Mike, and Kristin with another amazing photo shoot - re-bridals. I didn't get any pictures of that one, since I was busy posing, but let me just say it involved the salt flats, lake stench, and more bugs than I've ever seen in my life (no exaggeration). A huge thanks to Katie and Kristin (and Mike) for being such great sports. Keep an eye on Kristin's blog for the photos, which are sure to be awesome.

I got to see several friends while I was down in Provo one day - Amanda and Melissa (old roommates), Heather (high school bff), and of course, Kristin (oldest friend and choice photographer). Unfortunately, this is the only picture I got...Hi Heather!

We also got to see Brian, Jeff, and Cailey Bean while we were there!

Oh, and we also got to play with Larry and Louise's adorable dog Molly.

As you can see, it was an eventful trip, and we absolutely loved it! We got home on Sunday evening, and Mom and Dad Rinker had to leave the next day...But the Rinker sibs got to stay till Thursday, and we all had a blast! Stay tuned...

Entertainment Wednesday - Time Wasters

2011-07-13T07:27:00.001-06:00

Happy Wednesday!

Please Excuse Our Mess

2011-07-12T21:19:00.002-06:00

Our blog is unwillingly undergoing construction for the next few days, so please excuse the big ugly blank spaces where photos should be. I decided to try Google+ out last night, and as I was exploring, I came across an already-made photo album in my profile - Blogger Pictures. I didn't see the point of having an entire album of blogger photos on my Google+, so I deleted the album. This deleted all photos from 2011 from my blog. After several minutes of tearing my hair out, I decided I wasn't doing any good complaining and screaming in frustration, and decided to slowly re-upload the photos. A lot of forums I've come across contain stories of people who have lost up to 7 years of photos, so I consider myself lucky. So, a word to the wise: Use Google+ if that's your thing, but make sure to keep any blogger albums you find there.

Entertainment Wednesday - Real Estate

2011-06-29T12:34:00.004-06:00

Mike and I have a goal to live in Europe, sooner rather than later. Europe has long been my favorite place in the world, and after two trips to England, and a brief visit to Belgium and France, Mike has been converted to a similar worldview. Apart from the amazing culture, delicious food, and gorgeous scenery, one of our favorite things about Europe (specifically Northwestern Europe) is the houses. We have often lamented over the lack of character and uniqueness of (most) American homes.

HOWEVER. Just in case we end up in the United States long term, I have a Plan B. Though they aren't quite on the same level as English country homes, these houses are steeped in some of the best qualities American history and culture have to offer. I have spent countless minutes on this site coveting the gorgeous houses therein. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

Happy Wednesday!

Current Obsessions

2011-06-20T13:53:00.012-06:00

Here are some things that make me happy so I thought I'd share them with you so that you could be happy too!

1. Yoga for Stress Relief

I mentioned in a previous post that I had taken up yoga. I love it. It is wonderful. I've suffered from insomnia and headaches for as long as I can remember, and back and neck pain for the last couple of years. Sam suggested yoga, so I invested in this dvd, which has worked wonders for me. Anytime I'm feeling a bit blah, I pop this into the dvd player and my new friend Barbara Benagh guides me through poses and stretches that leave me feeling uplifted. I highly recommend this.

2. Magnum Ice Cream

Magnum Ice Cream was a staple of my European childhood. As kids in Belgium, we'd often walk across the street to the bakery and buy donuts and Magnum bars. Then we moved to the Magnum-less United States, and I was sad. Then we moved to Guatemala, where they sold Magnums at Blockbuster, and I was happy again. Then I moved to Utah, where I was deprived of Magnums for almost 5 years. But then, lo and behold, one day a few weeks ago I saw a commercial on television. Rachel Bilson, stuck in a traffic jam, sees a Magnum ice cream truck ahead and runs to it. At the end of the commercial, the announcer said the words, "Now available for the first time in America." And I heard the angels of heaven sing. For those of you who have not tried this deliciousness yet, and for those of you in the U.S. who have missed these yummies as much as I have, please head to your nearest grocery store (I know for sure that Target carries them) and try them. You can thank me by sending me money to buy more Magnums.

3. Mastermind

Mike recently brought this game home from work, and I've been obsessed with it ever since. It's a logic game, and in the last couple of weeks, we've played it until our brains have felt like mush, and I STILL want to keep playing. Friends, it's been proven that crossword puzzles, sudoku, and games like this help stave off Alzheimer's, so investing in this game would be a wise, healthy idea.

4. Chocolate Zucchini Cake

I made this for Father's Day yesterday, and it keeps calling to me from the kitchen. A couple of months ago, I made this cake three times in as many weeks. It's amazing. It's a recipe my mom got from my aunt Laura and always used for my dad's birthday when I was growing up. It will change your life. If you'd like the recipe, I will gladly give it to you. You're welcome.

5. Melanie and Marko's Routine from Last Week's So You Think You Can Dance

Some of you don't like SYTYCD. Some of you don't know what it is. I don't care. Watch this video. It is quite possibly one of the most beautiful routines I've seen on the show (along with the routine Travis Wall choreographed for Robert last year). I may or may not have listened to the song, "Turn to Stone" by Ingrid Michaelson on repeat in the car just now on the way to and from the grocery store. Melanie and Marko are definitely my favorite pair on the show, and that opinion was solidified by this dance. You can watch the full version here - it includes commentary by the judges, bios of the dancers (Marko dances that beautifully even though he has a bullet lodged in his shoulder from being held at gunpoint), and the background story to the dance itself. This is everything I look for in art (music, literature, dance, etc.) - it's emotional, unique, inspirational, thought-provoking, and beautiful.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T00:16:00.011-06:00

A quick Father's Day post for some of the best fathers I know.

Lee:

Thank you for being such a loving and accepting father-in-law to me. I feel very blessed to have married into such an incredible family. And thanks for doing such a great job raising Mike. I know he learned how to be a great husband (and father, probably!) from your wonderful example. We love you!

Dad:

I find myself struggling to find the right words to express my appreciation for all you've done for me. We were best buds when I was a kid, and though the nature of our relationship has changed, I still count you as one of my best friends. Thank you for always making sure we knew how important we are to you, and for giving us support and unconditional love. I'm so grateful you're my dad. We love you.

Literary Friday - June

2011-06-17T07:51:00.005-06:00

Looking back over my reading material from May/June, I'm a little underwhelmed. I definitely read some good books, but none of them jump out at me as remarkable reads, or even anything I'd read again. That said, I would recommend most of them, so if you're interested, read on.

(As always, asterisks denote books that contain material that may offend or shock some readers.)

I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson

Regular readers of Literary Friday will recognize this name, as I previously discussed two of his other books. I was drawn to this book not just because of my past experiences with the author, but because the title and premise of the book are excellent summations of how I sometimes still feel in the United States. This is a collection of articles the author wrote for a British newspaper after he moved back to the U.S. after living in England for 20 years. Unfortunately, I returned it to the library before I had a chance to copy down passages from pages I'd dog-eared to share with you all (but that's probably just as well, because as I found things that I identified with, I ended up marking about half of the book). This is definitely an interesting read, especially if you can relate to the sensation of feeling like a stranger in your own country.

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole*

This book is on many lists of classic 20th century literature, so I decided to see what all the fuss was about. It was hailed as a comedy, but I honestly found very little actual humor in it. The book was too long and the main character too unlikable (I guess that's the point, but I found it extremely irritating to read about him). It was a book that I felt obligated to finish, but no desire to keep reading, so it took me a while. However, it was well-written and even thought provoking at some points, so I can't complain too much.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris*

I had previously read excerpts and individual essays by Sedaris, but never an entire collection of his writing. So I was browsing the library (never a good idea - always go with a list of books you want), and I came upon this collection that Matt had actually bought at a thrift store while he was here for Easter. The essays are based mainly on experiences from the author's own life, but I think it's definitely relatable (I particularly liked the article about his boyfriend's childhood overseas and the short essay about crossword puzzles). It's a very funny book and at times I even laughed out loud. I definitely recommend this.

Flush by Virginia Woolf

Definitely my favorite read of the month. This is a biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's cocker spaniel (yes you read that right). It's a nice lighthearted and uplifting story about the life of a dog and his relationship with his human friends. I didn't realize until halfway through that as a biography, it would probably include a scene of the subject's death, and I hadn't been prepared for a dog death scene when I started reading. But other than that, it was a nice happy book, and every time I read it I found myself wanting to cuddle with my own furry friend Bailey.

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel*

I guess I'm several years late on this book - I remember it being kind of a big deal when I was younger, but I never read it until now. It was well-written and interesting, but it seemed to lack a certain something (a deeper message?) and I found myself liking the characters less and less as the book progressed. It was not bad, but it wasn't great, and if I had to describe it in one word, I would use "meh."

Sorry to end on that ambivalent note, but I hope you're all having a great, literature-filled summer! Let me know if you read or have read any of these books, and what you think of them!

Entertainment Wednesday - "We Kissed on the Lips! Wooo!"

2011-06-15T10:47:00.004-06:00

When my brother was a toddler (probably about three years old), he kissed a little girl in our ward and someone caught it on camera. The resulting photo was a source of embarrassment for him for years to come. I imagine this video, on the other hand, will be something this kid shows anyone who will give him the time of day. It makes me laugh. Enjoy, and Happy Wednesday!

One Year Anniversary

2011-06-04T10:33:00.012-06:00

As you may or may not know, yesterday marked one year of marriage for Mike and me. His boss was kind enough to let him have Thursday and Friday off work, so we decided to take advantage of it and get away from Denver and go up to the mountains for a couple of days. Best decision ever! (Besides deciding to get married, of course.) We dropped Bailey off at a Pet Hotel, and drove up to Georgetown, Colorado. We had an amazing time being in nature, away from the bustle (and heat!) of the city. We wish we could have stayed up there an extra day, but we still have plenty of time to enjoy the mountains. Here are a few photos from our trip.

On the road.

We got to our destination around 2:30 pm, and our first order of business (after getting lunch), was to ride the Georgetown Loop Railroad - a train route originally built for mining purposes.

The Devil's Gate Station

Waiting for the train and enjoying the scenery.

Watching the train pull into the station.

It was Mike's first time on a train. He was so excited!

Crossing the bridge.

We got to see some beautiful sights during the ride.

This is a view of Georgetown from the train.

So Mike and I have the best luck with hotels (with the exception of the Idaho Falls Motel 6, where we stayed on a night that happened to be Beer Fest). We've always stayed in amazing places. This trip was no exception. We found the Hotel Chateau Chamonix, a very well-priced little hotel (no more than 10 or 15 rooms) owned by a French lady and her husband. It was AMAZING.

The outside of the hotel. Gorgeous, no? It only gets better.

Our room. We had a nice fireplace, a patio, a little sitting area, and a box in the wall where our breakfast (croissants, pain au chocolat, and fruit) was delivered in the morning!

Bathroom.

My favorite soap!

Yes, our room was RIGHT on Clear Creek.

View from the patio.

Oh, in case you were wondering if we had a private hot tub on our patio with a beautiful view of the mountains, the answer is yes.

That night we had dinner at the Euro Grill. Like our French Hotel, this place was also the real deal - all the employees were European. I had the chicken schnitzel and Mike had homemade meatloaf. Then we had apple strudel and crepes for dessert. Yum!

Unfortunately the next morning we had to leave. We took a quick photo of the mountains outside the hotel, and were on our way.

...But not without a quick stop at the Georgetown Valley Candy Company!

So thus ends our first year of marriage. It was a great year, and we're looking forward to an even better second year.

Entertainment Wednesday - Twain and Cooper

2011-06-01T07:15:00.004-06:00

Today's EW indulges the English nerd in me, so feel free to be bored by it.

In one of my high school English classes we had to do reports on early-19th century American authors, and my friend and I were assigned James Fenimore Cooper. I wasn't thrilled about this (despite my Dad's sense of pride over the fact that apparently Cooper's main character is based on one of my great-great-ancestors), because I was never really able to get into his stories.

Luckily for us, part of the assignment was to find a critique of the author and present that along with our other research. I happened to stumble upon a hilariously scathing article written by one Mark Twain, and this was enough to make me enjoy the project. So for your education and entertainment, here is a link to the article. I find it incredibly funny, but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. So: 100 points for actually reading it, and 1000 points if you find it as amusing as I do.

Happy Wednesday!

Something That Made Our Day

2011-05-23T18:56:00.003-06:00

Thanks, Sarah and Emily!!

Literary Friday - May

2011-05-20T00:59:00.012-06:00

I feel like my literary pursuits this month were pleasantly diverse. They ran the gamut from short and sweet (I got through the first three in a week) to more of a time commitment; from comic book to informational non-fiction; from purely entertaining to incredibly thought-provoking. In short, a successful month!

Here are my thoughts on the books I read. Asterisks denote books that contain material that may offend or shock some more sensitive readers (ask me for more details).

Galahad at Blandings by P.G. Wodehouse

I'm pretty sure I included Wodehouse on my list of faves several months ago. If I didn't, please consider this an addendum, because he definitely belongs on the list. This book is hilarious and a super quick read - it took maybe a total of four hours to read. It's full of mistaken identities, a castle, petty theft, and a pleasing combination of mild slapstick, wit, and situational humor (what else could you ask for??). It contains such gems as "When she spoke, she was, as aunts go, quite civil, not actually cooing to him like a turtle dove accosting its loved one, but with nothing in her manner reminiscent of the bucko mate of an old-fashioned hell ship addressing an able-bodied seaman whose activities had dissatisfied him." Do not be surprised if you see Wodehouse in the next few Literary Fridays.

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger*

I'm not really sure where to start on this one. I don't want to give too much of it away, because part of the beauty is reading it without really knowing where it's going. There's not much of a plot, in the sense that most people are accustomed to, but it's very enthralling. The ending kind of went in a direction I wasn't expecting, but that made it all the more poignant, beautiful, and touching. There is some language, but compared to Salinger's more well-known Catcher in the Rye, it's relatively tame. I highly recommend it.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

A children's book about a girl given the gift of obedience at birth - she has to obey any command given to her. It's quite simple, but surprisingly intelligent and insightful for children's literature. I recommend reading this instead of watching the Anne Hathaway movie version, which is a total waste of time.

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss*

Samantha brought this with her for my birthday when she came for Easter! I was very excited, because after reading Great House (given to me by Matt for Christmas), I had wanted to read more by this author. It was easier to get through than Great House, and it reminds me a lot of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (which I also loved). This book follows the lives of Leo Gursky and Alma Singer, two unrelated people living in New York. It also involves the stories of other people in their lives, and eventually weaves everything together in a very moving finale. Simply stated, this is another lovely story by Krauss. It has some language, and mostly unobjectionable content, and it's well worth the time it takes to read (it took me two days - it's an easy read, but mostly I just couldn't put it down).

The Days are Just Packed by Bill Watterson

Some may debate the literary merits of a comic book, but it's something I read this month, so it must be included. It was very entertaining of course, and there's not much to say other than that - it's just Watterson's usual juxtaposition of relevant philosophic insight with the life of a six-year-old boy.

A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman

This is just what it sounds like - a kind of biography of the five senses - and I expected it to be a lot more scientific and informational than it was. Instead, it was a blend of poetry and information. It doesn't just give information about the senses, but engages the senses through vivid description and imagery and creates a beautiful portrait of the interconnectivity of life. (From the chapter on smell, for example: "One of the tests of real writers, especially poets, is how well they write about smells. If they can't describe the scent of sanctity in a church, can you trust them to describe the suburbs of the heart?") This book is ideal for someone who wants to learn more about the senses and the way we experience the world, and who, at the same time, appreciates the beauty and power of words (I'm looking at you, Samantha).

The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment by A.J. Jacobs

This is the third book by this author I've read. It's an episodic collection along the same lines as The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically - a compilation of the strange things he's done. These experiments include posing as a woman on an online dating site to help his sons' nanny find a boyfriend; outsourcing everything in his life to India; spending a month doing everything his wife tells him to do; etc. All of these experiments he undergoes for reasons - to learn more about human nature, to improve himself, to understand culture. It's mildly enlightening and highly entertaining.

A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami*

This is another one of those "been meaning to read" authors. The story is rather interesting, described on the back of the book as "a marvelous hybrid of mythology and mystery." It's mainly about an advertising executive in Japan in the 1970s who, at the command of a mysterious man, goes on a quest in search of a specific sheep. It sounds strange, and it is, but I admit I was expecting a different kind of bizarreness. There are definitely undertones of philosophy and analysis, but at some points, it seems almost like a slightly more profound John Grisham novel (which is fine, especially for summer reading, but I generally like my literature to be more than just plot). That said, it was suspenseful and engaging, and I have no problem recommending it.

Entertainment Wednesday - Your Mom

2011-05-18T15:03:00.006-06:00

I've never been a big fan of "yo mama" jokes, but a few years ago while I was living in Provo, two friends of mine (word, Amanda and Pablo!) and started a long-lasting "your mom" joke war. The only stipulation - all jokes had to be clean and appropriate. This rule kept us on our toes and forced us to be creative. (This quirky tradition may have contributed to our lack of other friends.)

So it was that period in my life that I thought of when I found this little list on McSweeney's. It made me chuckle. So have fun reading it, and, as I inevitably do when on this site, finding other humorous gems (sensitive readers should be aware that some content on the website is questionable, though the articles I referenced here are PG-rated).

The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden, So That's What We'll Do

2011-05-16T15:41:00.006-06:00

Does anyone else remember singing this song in Primary? I don't even know which prophet said it (Kimball? Grant?), but planting a garden never struck me as the most salvific of doctrines.

Nevertheless, when Mike discovered that we could get a plot of land at a community garden near our apartment, we decided it would be a fun thing to do together, and a great way to save money in an economy where a red pepper costs more than a gallon of milk (which also costs more than it should).

So we were assigned a plot a few weeks ago, and after Mothers' Day (which is the "safe time" to plant around here), Mike weeded the garden and got it ready for planting. This afternoon after his morning class, we went to the garden, tilled the soil, and planted our seeds. Neither of us has done much gardening in the past, so we're relying a lot on Julie's expertise and a little good luck, but hopefully in a few months we'll have a nice cornucopia of home-grown deliciousness!

Supplies. Notice the awesome girly gardening gloves that Mike picked out for me. Our garden will consist of green peppers (which can also be grown into red peppers!), zucchini (which we've been told does very well in the soil at this garden), cucumbers, corn, and carrots.

Starting to till (that's right - we hand-tilled our garden! The collective opinion of the internet seems to be that hand-tilling is often more beneficial than rototilling. Plus we don't have a roto-tiller).

Breaking up clumps of dirt.

Preparing the soil for the corn.

Our garden! (It doesn't look like much now, but just you wait!)

So now presumably the really hard part (or at least the most labor-intensive part) is over. We'll be as diligent as we can in watering, weeding, and otherwise caring for our little plants. But for now, we're going to relax at home and bask in the satisfaction of a good hard day's work. And nurse the blisters on my hands.

Things That Made Me Happy This Morning Despite the Unseasonably Cold Weather

2011-05-12T08:41:00.000-06:00

1. A loving husband. I woke up an hour before the alarm went off (which I hate) because of a nightmare, but Mike talked to me about our summer plans to cheer me up till I went back to sleep.

2. Lemon and honey. My mom always made me warm lemon and honey to drink when my throat hurt, and this morning I made some for myself, and it was delicious. And sure enough, my throat is all better!

3. Yoga. I've been meaning to give it a try for a while now, and after Samantha suggested it a couple weeks ago as a solution to the neck and back problems I've been having, I invested in a DVD. Last night and this morning I tried a couple of the workouts, and they are great! (Though I have yet to be able to bend over and rest my head on the floor....)

4. Reader's Digest. Whenever the RD comes in the mail, I am happy. I don't know why. Reader's Digest just makes me happy. Our June/July edition came yesterday, and I spent this morning reading it. It is great.

Happy Mothers' Day to Two of my Favorite Mothers!

2011-05-08T09:43:00.006-06:00

To Julie:

Thank you for being so welcoming to me and supportive of me and Mike. You're a wonderful mother-in-law, and I'm so glad I get to be part of your family. I also want to thank you for being such a great mother to Mike - for raising an amazing man who is now an amazing husband. We love you!

To Mom:

I don't know how to start thanking you for all you've done for me. You taught me so much as a little girl, and even now I'm still learning so much from your example. I know you STILL don't like Mothers' Day, but I hope you know how much you mean to me and to our family. Thank you for your support, your example, your love, and your friendship. You've always been my hero, and if I am half as good a mother as you are, I'll count it a success. We love you.

Entertainment Wednesday - Target

2011-05-04T07:11:00.005-06:00

Some of you may have seen some of Target's short commercials recently. If not, they're all on YouTube for your convenience! After Matt posted this one on Mike's facebook wall, we spent a good fifteen minutes watching all the other ones. Here are some of our favorites (it's fun to try to guess what the advertised product will be):

And a special bonus one just for Katie:

LOST

Feel free to knock yourself out watching the links on the sidebar of each of these. Happy Wednesday!

Reactions to Current Events

2011-05-02T19:37:00.006-06:00

I was getting online last night for my last quick gmail check of the day. As my homepage, CNN, loaded, I was greeted with the news of Osama Bin Laden's death. It was late and I was exhausted, so I didn't have much of a reaction at the time, but since then, I've been a little troubled about the news and the nation's reaction to it. First let me just say that these are my own personal feelings, and I don't mean to offend anyone. As I've hinted at in a previous post, I tend to have exaggerated and even unreasonable responses to more serious events like death, catastrophe, and really anything remotely tragic. This case is no exception. I find it incredibly relieving bin Laden is gone, but I can't help but feel a little uneasy about the overwhelmingly celebratory reaction to the news. Don't get me wrong - I think we can and should feel relieved, and even grateful (I know the sense of justice must be especially strong for those who lost loved ones in 9/11, and I'm incredibly glad for this closure they are getting), but to be so festive about death (especially a violent death) seems mildly morbid to me. Bin Laden's own followers rejoiced in a similar manner after their heinous acts of 9/11, which they thought justified. Maybe bin Laden got what he deserved, but that's not for me to decide. I accept the news; breathe a sigh of relief; congratulate the current president, former president, and armed forces for accomplishing their goal; and move on with my life.

Here is a link to a CNN article that discusses this very issue, without necessarily taking a side. Read it if you're interested, and definitely let me know where you stand on this tricky issue.

Easter (AKA Brother (and Sister) Visit #3)

2011-04-28T11:40:00.011-06:00

On Saturday afternoon, Mike and I drove to the airport to pick up Matt so he could spend Easter with us. When we pulled up to the curb where he was waiting, he asked, "Is it okay if I brought a friend?" Confused, I looked around and saw Samantha coming towards us! She and Dad Rinker had orchestrated the whole surprise - even Matt wasn't expecting to see her waiting at his gate when he arrived in Denver! Thus commenced an excellent Easter week.

The Easter Bunny came while we were at the airport and left lots of yummy candy-filled plastic eggs for us. We also got to decorate some eggs of our own.

Matt and Mike had fun with our new Wii....

...and Bailey had fun with her new friend Sam.

She also really liked Matt.

On Monday after Mike's class, we drove up to the mountains to hike around.

We enjoyed the view.

And Bailey loved it, of course.

While the guys decided to do some hiking around this rocky slope, Sam, Bailey, and I enjoyed the peaceful view.

We found this gorgeous canyon.

Later we had a picnic!

And received a late Easter package from the London Rinkers! Yummm.

On Wednesday we got to go to the Denver temple with Matt to do baptisms. We had a great time.

*Notable events not pictured: The church meeting where Mike and I were sustained as Primary workers, Easter dinner, our trip to Carrabba's, playing Ticket to Ride and Yahtzee, our thrift store shopping adventure, Sam giving me a very relaxing shiatsu massage, and Matt's infamous hack of Samantha's facebook.

But all good things come to an end, and yesterday Samantha flew back to Portland, and Matt left this morning. So even though I'm super sad that they're gone, we had tons of fun, and we're so excited to see them in Utah when Matt reports to the MTC!

Girls Who Read

2011-04-26T11:17:00.006-06:00

Samantha found this this morning and read it to me. It made me smile, so I am reposting it here. It looks like the original author is one Rosemarie Urquico. Enjoy!

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag.She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

Entertainment Wednesday - Helpful Hints

2011-04-20T10:48:00.003-06:00

So this edition of Entertainment Wednesday might not be as entertaining as it is helpful and/or enlightening. My roommate before I got married had a subscription to Real Simple magazine, and one of my favorite parts was the New Uses for Old Things section. Luckily for all of us, they have a website where similar information can be found! Enjoy!

I DID IT!!!!

2011-04-16T12:18:00.018-06:00

Those of you who know me well may recall my fondness for doing New York Times crossword puzzles. Those of you who know me really well may be aware of my ongoing struggle to finish a Friday puzzle (NYT crosswords get progressively harder from Monday to Friday). I've been getting closer the last few weeks, but there are always three or four frustrating clues I can't figure out.

But today, I am happy to report that after years of trying, I have finally succeeded! I finished yesterday's puzzle in a surprisingly short amount of time (less than an hour!). I checked my answers with Rex Parker's, (a very good resource for crossword puzzlers - he not only provides the answers, but he explains many of the more obscure clues. Yesterday's explanations even included a clip from Arrested Development!), and though I did get one single letter wrong I'm counting it as a victory!

Literary Friday - April

2011-04-15T15:57:00.009-06:00

Happy Friday to all! I don't have much to say by way of introduction to this post, so let's dive right in, shall we? Here are my thoughts and recommendations on books I read this past month (I apologize for the small number - moving took up quite a bit of time this month). I hope you find it informative.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

I adore Oscar Wilde, as I've said before. I started reading this play last month because I had a hankering to watch the Colin Firth version of it, but couldn't find it at a nearby Blockbuster. So I read the play as a substitute (though I did later rent the movie). Though I'd read it several times before, I found it as entertaining as ever. It's jam-packed with amusement, and I found some hilarious Wildean witticism in almost every single line (no exaggeration). It's very short and doesn't take long to get through, but it's highly entertaining. Recommend.

Grimm's Fairy Tales

I have this compilation in the Barnes and Noble classics edition (a marvelous line of books - classic literature for about 6 dollars a book). I enjoyed reading these - they were nice, light-hearted fun (though perhaps not so light-hearted as Disney would have you believe). They're fairy tales (obviously), so they are hardly realistic, but sometimes it's nice to put on the literature-sponsored rose-colored glasses. It reminds me of a line from The Importance of Being Earnest: "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means." So these would be a good thing to read if you're craving something like that, or if you want a little more background on the familiar stories like Cinderella. (P.S. I used to have the Hans Christian Anderson B&N Classics edition - did someone borrow it?)

Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen

This non-fiction book, written by a historian/college professor, is a kind of exposé on the inaccuracy and incompleteness of history textbooks and courses (mainly at the high school U.S. History level). I do agree with the underlying claim of the book that textbooks and classes need to be more accurate and complete (though I feel like my high school history classes were more complete than most, but that may be because I attended high school outside of the United States). However, the author has a clear anti-conservative and vaguely anti-religious bias that I found mildly irritating and even distracting at some points. Additionally, I found some clear exaggerations and mistakes regarding issues with which I am very familiar (including the LDS church and BYU), so I'm left to wonder if there are similar exaggerations and false claims elsewhere in the book. But overall, it was very informative and I did learn a few things I hadn't known before. Also, I did enjoy the last few chapters, which talked about the logistical reasons behind inaccurate history teaching, including problems with our country's education system, which I would like to see improved before I have kids that have to deal with it. So in a nutshell, I recommend this book if you're willing to put in the time it takes to get through it, and to take it with a grain of salt.

Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson

I adore Shakespeare even more than I adore Oscar Wilde. I got this book for my birthday from my grandma, and was very excited to read it, especially after having recently read another of Bryson's books, At Home. This one is much shorter than the other one, and I got through it much quicker, and I loved it. It's basically a biography of Shakespeare, but it feels much more credible than other Shakespeare sources simply because the author acknowledges that there is so much that isn't known about the Bard. Very few hard facts are presented - it's more like a book of possibilities. The last chapter, about the anti-Stratfordian movement, is a little derisive, but I do agree with his overall assessment. I definitely recommend this book to anyone. If you're a Shakespeare devotee like me, it'll make you appreciate him even more. If you're one of those that finds Shakespeare overrated, this will help you see the other side of the argument (also if you're one of those, don't ever let me know unless you want to get into a lengthy discussion).

As always, let me know if you have read/are reading any of these books, and what you think of them!

P.S. I hope you all checked out Google's homepage today!

Entertainment Wednesday - Those Jokesters at Google

2011-04-07T07:24:00.002-06:00

If you are at all familiar with Google, you may know about the fun-loving hoaxes they like to carry out. Last year, for example, they switched names with Topeka, Kansas. Many GMail users may have already noticed this year's Google April Fools Day Joke, but for those of you who haven't, click here and learn all about GMail Motion!

Happy Wednesday!

A New Home for Mike and Liz

2011-04-04T09:16:00.012-06:00

After several months of living in an area of town that was...less than completely safe, Mike and I decided that a change of scenery might be beneficial. So we found a new apartment in a very nice area of Denver, and as we went through the leasing process, everything fell into place perfectly. We moved on March 24th, and things are finally mostly set up into something resembling a home. So here are some photos of our transition!

Before the move, I spent weeks stressing out about how we were going to get Mike's huge piano to our new place. Luckily, our missionaries helped us out, and it was a lot easier than anyone expected. (Especially for me - all I had to do was make some breakfast to keep the men energized while they moved all the heavy stuff!)

One thing I was most excited about (besides the safety of our new area) was the fact that we have washer and dryer hookups in our apartment! So we bought a good quality used set. Mike, who has never hooked up a washer/dryer before, got it all taken care of! I used these last week, and nothing flooded or caught fire, so I think he did a pretty good job!

KITCHEN/DINING

Before:

(Okay, so this isn't technically before, because I took this photo after we'd moved a few boxes into the apartment. But you get the idea.)

After:

I like that this kitchen is a walk-through. In the old place I felt like I was in a cave every time I cooked. This kitchen also has a little "order up" counter looking out into the living room (so I can watch Jeopardy! while I make dinner!).

This is our dining area. We had to put the piano in here because it didn't fit anywhere else. I think it makes it look kind of like a saloon.

This is the hallway right around the corner from the dining room. Mike and I fingerpainted these masterpieces on a date right before we got engaged. Can you guess whose is whose?

BEDROOM

Before:

After:

This bedroom is a little smaller than our old one, but despite the fact that we had to put the bookshelves in the bedroom, it turned out pretty well. We also have a walk-in closet now, and it's nice not to have to share a one-person closet anymore!

These are hanging up in the bedroom. Some of our engagement photos, our marriage certificate, and a nice photo of our temple (Bountiful) that Katie made and gave us.

BATHROOM

Before:

Unfortunately I didn't take any before pictures, but this one definitely needed some work. The bathroom was much larger than our old one, but unfortunately it was cavernous and echo-y. I'm a bath person, so I decided to make the bathroom more relaxing and welcoming.

After:

The shower curtain we got at Target for quite cheap. Mike put up that shelf and we used it to hold sand-filled candle holders with little white candles. The set of plastic drawers below it is a great place to keep my make-up, first aid stuff, etc., but I covered it with a blue cloth to make it prettier.

This little display on top of the drawers is actually a serving platter we got for our wedding. Since Mike and I do very little entertaining, I decided that rather than let it sit in our cupboard gathering dust, I'd use it in the bathroom to hold soap and bath salts (added bonus: the bath salts make the bathroom smell really nice!).

To fix the echo in the bathroom, I made a wall hanging out of fabric and a canvas purchased at Hobby Lobby.

LIVING ROOM

Before:

After:

This is the overlook from the kitchen to the living room.

The piano bench wouldn't fit with the piano in the dining room, so I used it as an extra surface to hold our photos and random odds and ends.

Fireplace, reading nook, and tv.

Couches and the clock wall.

We were a little worried about how Bailey would handle the move. She doesn't do well with change, and it often takes her a long time to adjust.

...But she seems to be doing just fine.

Birthday

2011-03-29T12:13:00.004-06:00

I had a great birthday yesterday, thanks to everyone I love. Mike only had class till noon yesterday, so I got to spend most of the day with him. We Skyped with my parents, Katie, and Sam for a while, then Matt called and I got to talk to him too. We spent most of the afternoon getting stuff together for our new apartment (pictures forthcoming), which was fun, but a little exhausting.

Then Mike took me to Little India, our favorite Indian place. It was delicious. We got samosas, naan, and yummy chicken dishes. Our waiter was very friendly and kindly took this picture for us.

When we got home, it was cake time! I had made a cake earlier (chocolate zucchini - yummy!), so I quickly whipped up some frosting (chocolate of course). And yes, despite Mike's protestations I did insist on making my own birthday cake. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have gotten to cook at all yesterday!

Frosting!

We ate cake while talking to Julie and Lee on Skype, which was a nice way to wrap up a great birthday.

And now, I have just remembered that I have some leftover chicken tikka masala in the fridge, so I must go eat some lunch. Thanks again for all the birthday wishes!

Entertainment Wednesday (ish) - We Didn't Start the Fire

2011-03-25T15:25:00.004-06:00

I apologize for the lateness of Entertainment Wednesday (again), but we've been moving the last couple of days and it's been a little hectic. So here it is!

I assume most of you have heard of Billy Joel, and I hope at least some of you have heard his musical rundown of mid-20th century history, "We Didn't Start the Fire" (if not, or if you'd care to refresh your memory, please click here before continuing). Not being born until nearly the end of the 1980s, I of course didn't experience most of what Joel talks about in this song. AP U.S. History educated me on some of these events, and my own extra-curricular literary pursuits were also informative. Luckily, trusty old Wikipedia has information on every single incident mentioned in the song, and it's very interesting. Check it out.

*Bonus: The 100 Hour Board, at the request of a couple of readers, wrote additional verses to the song, alluding to events of the 1990s and 2000s. These are also interesting.

Springtime is Picnic Time!

2011-03-22T10:32:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was the first day of spring, as well as the anniversary of the day Mike and I got engaged. Mike has an awesome Monday schedule this quarter, so after he got home at 12:30, we decided to go on a picnic to celebrate spring, engagement, and warm weather.

We packed up a picnic basket of yummy food - pasta salad, Goldfish, strawberries, chocolate milk, and one of Mike's favorite Brazilian treats - brigadiero.

We decided that the setting of our picnic would be the park across the street from our new apartment. It was a gorgeous day, and we found a great spot in the shade.

Yum!

I hope everyone else is enjoying springtime as much as we are!

Happy Betroth-iversary!

2011-03-21T08:23:00.004-06:00

One year ago today, Mike and I got engaged in merry old England! Happy betroth-iversary!

Literary Friday - March

2011-03-18T12:47:00.008-06:00

I have always been a sensitive person. I have recollections from my childhood of my parents scolding one of my siblings for upsetting me. "Liz is sensitive," they would say, and it was true. I've noticed over the last couple of years, however, that this trait seems to be ballooning a little. Nowadays, anything from a news article about bullying to an emotionally intense movie to a tragic event in the life of a friend can set me off on a crying jag and a week of introspective contemplation.

The reason I use this confession as a prelude to March's Literary Friday is simply to justify my lack of literary pursuits this month. I find myself taking longer to get through books and taking longer breaks between reads in order to thoroughly and completely ponder through things I've read, as well as regain my emotional strength after a particularly trying story. So I apologize for the small number of books this month, and I'll try to make it up next month. But for now, I hope this is at least a little helpful! Happy Friday!

Selected Stories of O. Henry

I picked this book up at Pioneer Book (formerly in Provo, now in Orem), a used bookstore, for 3 dollars. It's been sitting on my shelf for a while now, and after last month's short story renaissance, I decided to sit down and make it through the whole book. Of course I had read "The Gift of the Magi" before, but I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity of O. Henry's other stories. He has a clear preference for stories in western settings and about city life, and of course he is the master of the twist ending. The stories were nothing life-changing, but some of them did make me think a little deeper, and all in all it was fun to read.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

I got this book for Christmas a couple years ago from my Uncle Ross, who always gives the best presents (especially since they are always books!). It's another one I've been meaning to get to for a while now, and I'm very glad I finally did. It's the story of a few individuals in a Southern town during the Great Depression. It's one of those stories that goes right to your heart without a lot of contrived, formulaic nonsense. It's an insightful look into the human condition, and while it's quite heartbreaking, it's necessarily so. I definitely recommend this if you're in the mood for a more contemplative reading experience.

Love's Labour's Lost by William Shakespeare

I can't sing Shakespeare's praises loudly enough. He's a master. I had never read Love's Labour's Lost, so I figured it would be a fun, quick read, and it was. It's not as engaging as some of Shakespeare's other comedies, but I enjoyed it. I was a bit surprised at the way it ended, but was very satisfied. This is a fun one to read if you're into Shakespeare at all.

Earthquake in Japan

2011-03-11T13:13:00.003-07:00

I'm sure I don't have to explain this disaster in Japan - if you've watched the news, gotten online, or had a conversation with an adult today, you already know about it. Whenever I hear about incidents like this, I tend to feel helpless and small. But I'm not, and neither are you! There are a ton of ways to help out with the relief efforts. For those of you that are interested in helping out, I've compiled a list of organizations that are taking donations. Unfortunately, monetary donations are about all we in the U.S. can do at the moment, unless you speak Japanese and/or have medical training (in which case you can volunteer with one of these organizations to provide healthcare services). I'm sure in the next couple of days there will be other areas that need our help as well.

This is by no means a complete list of ways to help, so feel free to research other ways as well. At times like these, I think it's incredibly important to be grateful for the blessings in our lives, and to show love for others. We're all in this life together.

Operation USA is a disaster relief organization that provides financial and other contributions in a variety of disasters and situations.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is best known for the medical assistance they provide in various tragic situations. You can click here to donate online (make sure to specify that you want your donation to go to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund), or you can text "redcross" to 90999 to make a $10 donation, which will show up on your cell phone bill.

AmeriCares provides humanitarian, medical, and financial relief in disasters.

Save the Children is an organization that provides assistance and relief to children and families who are at risk after natural disasters or other tragedies. You can click here to donate to their Children's Emergency Fund, which will provide aid to ensure survival and protection of children involved in the earthquake.

Globalgiving.com collects donations for a variety of causes, and they have set up a Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. Click here to donate. You even have the option to donate on behalf or in memory of someone.

For on-going coverage of the disaster, including ways to get involved, go to CNN.com.

Entertainment Wednesday - The 100 Hour Board

2011-03-09T11:02:00.003-07:00

This is probably the best-kept secret at BYU, and a great way to pass time. The 100 Hour Board is a question-answer forum created by BYU students. It's completely anonymous - both the askers and the answerers write under pseudonyms. Anyone can ask a question about anything, and it is answered within 100 hours by a panel of regular writers (chosen by a secret-ish process). It's very informative, and also a lot of fun once you've become a more regular reader and you understand the inside jokes of the Board and personalities of various writers. So check it out if you feel so inclined. I haven't kept up with it much since I left BYU, but I'll go back once in a while to see how it is.

Happy Wednesday!

Greg, Hayley, Lee, and the Kids Came to Denver, and This is the Only Picture I Got...

2011-03-07T08:31:00.005-07:00

...But isn't it a cute one??

Happy Birthday!

2011-03-02T07:13:00.004-07:00

Today is Theodor Geisel's birthday. So everyone read a Dr. Seuss book today, or at least try to be extra whimsical!

Super Mario Brothers!

2011-02-24T17:06:00.008-07:00

What's better than playing Super Mario on Wii? Putting together a Super Mario puzzle!*

Our favorite thing to do is spend time together, and we love finding new ways to do that. And one of Mike's favorite things is finding good deals, so when he found this 550 piece Super Mario Bros. puzzle on clearance at Target the other day, he jumped at the bargain.

So this is how we've been spending our free time the last couple of days.

Sorting pieces.

Tada!

*This is debatable.

Entertainment Wednesday - Happy Birthday, Wikipedia!

2011-02-23T09:37:00.004-07:00

Wikipedia turns 10 years old this year! We all know and love that great informational site. Whether you use it to satisfy your curiosity on a tidbit you heard in passing, or to brush up on your knowledge of current events, or to settle an argument with a friend, or to pass time during a slow day at work, you can't deny its usefulness. Last month, Time compiled a list of the Top 10 Unforgettable Entries on Wikipedia. Check it out, and enjoy. You might be surprised at how enthralled you get.

Happy Wednesday!