It's been far too long...

Hi devoted blog readers...all 3 of you... ;-)

I am very excited, because we've been living in this apartment for a month now and today we finally, FINALLY have internet. HOORAY! I was just blogging at work (it's a great thing to do at 1:30am), but then the stupid IT guys blocked blogspot (because they both have little man syndrome and like to block everything that anybody likes...seriously), so that put an abrupt end to that. Anyhoo, just wanted to say that now I can blog again...so stay posted, there's more blogging to come!

I don't even know...

Today has been kind of a hard day. I had a long talk with my mom about my struggles with the church and I made her really upset. That was not my intention, and I HATED it. I hate making anyone cry, but making my mom cry is just about the worst feeling in the world. She kept saying, "It's not you, I'm just thinking about Karin and Brian (my siblings, neither of whom have anything to do w/the rest of our fam and who have both had their names removed from the records of the church)." But I know that wasn't the truth, it was me. I wasn't trying to hurt her, I just want to be honest.

Then I came to work and I had to fire another employee. This time I did it myself, and it wasn't scary--but I don't really enjoy firing people, it's never very pleasant.

But the kicker came about halfway through my shift as I was sitting and talking with a couple of co-workers about this and that. We were laughing and joking and then Kristy (remember her? The 17-yr old w/a baby at home and another on the way) came running over--literally--because she wanted to show us some pictures of her baby on her cell phone. So we were politely looking and there was one of her baby in a kiddie pool and we commented that she was teaching her how to swim early. She said, "Yeah, she's a really good swimmer and she's only 7 months old!" Then my co-worker said, "Babies can swim before they're born, that's all your baby is doing in there." Kristy said, "Yeah, she did a good job swimming in the pool." She was obviously confused, so I said, "No, he meant the baby inside you."
And then...
Kristy said, "Oh I lost that baby. I went to the doctor and they said I had lost it because I was throwing up all the time so yesterday they cleaned me out."
--PAUSE--
I said, "You had the D&C yesterday? Because I know that takes a few days to recover from." She said yes, but that she hates lying down and she loves work so she wanted to come in even though they told her not to.
--ANOTHER PAUSE--
I made up some excuse to go back to my desk and walked away. And I was SO ANGRY.

Now, I really don't think that typically I'm a weak little girl who can't handle the fact that some people are stupid and say hurtful things...especially without realizing they're hurting someone else. It happens all the time. But I was really bugged that she lied about being pregnant and I REALLY didn't like that she was so nonchalant about losing a baby she never even had.

Ok, I don't have proof she wasn't pregnant...but I have been suspecting it for a while, because every time I'd ask her how far along she was she'd say, "3 months." For one thing, pregnant women rarely measure in months, they measure in weeks. Not to mention she could never tell me her due date. And then there's the fact that there is NO WAY she'd be back at work the day after having the D&C procedure. I mean, I suppose it's possible...but she wouldn't be jumpy and hyper and running around like that. Geez, it took me 2 days just to get the anesthesia out of my freaking system, and another day or two to feel physically normal again. It's just not realistic.

Basically, it stirred up everything I've been trying so very hard not to think about or be upset by. I've mostly shaken it off--I refuse to be devastated by some stupid little teenager who makes up stories to get attention (arrrrrgh I should be nicer...I know she has issues stemming from her childhood--she was a foster child, and obviously has never lived in any kind of stable and nurturing environment). But even so, it still hurts a little, and baffles me even more as to how there is any justice in the world when someone like THAT has a child and there are so many good and deserving people who are unable to (and no, I'm not just talking about Jacob and myself). Ok, that's a drama queen line if I've ever heard one. Sorry.

So I really didn't like that. Tomorrow will be a better day. And I want to end on a happier note, so I will tell you all that there's this new Indian place on University Ave called Tandoori Grill (it used to be Winger's) that has really good food. You should all go there, it will make your lives happy, if only for a moment. The end.

Animal Activists...Terrorists.

As many of you know, this is my cat Michael Jackson (he was very disgruntled after watching us moving stuff all day and then being put in a box and transported to a foreign place). I LOVE my cat, he's basically my child (I know that sounds creepy to you who don't have pets...but work with me here), and I'd be really, REALLY upset if I found out anyone was trying to harm him in any way.

However...would I put on a ski mask and do everything in my power to terrify the family and vandalize the home of someone if I knew they were in some way responsible for him being harmed? NO. Why? Because that's not the appropriate way to handle the situation.

I was reading an article on msnbc.com tonight about animal activists (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25574658/). This is the picture under the headline "Animal Activists Attacking Scientists' Homes: More protesters using firebombs, flooding, acid at researchers’ front doors."

I won't lie, I find this picture distrubing. Especially considering the fact that these people remind me of the terrorists we see in Iraq, Israel and other Islamic countries. These acts of terrorism are pretty much denounced by most U.S. citizens as morally wrong...and yet, we see our animal activist friends imitating them almost exactly.

I am all about the humane treatment of animals, and whether or not it's morally right or wrong to test animals is not what I'd like to discuss (although for the record, I will state that I am not entirely opposed to the medical testing of animals...if we need to test some mice and monkeys to find a cure for cancer or AIDS, then I say by all means do it). What I'd like to discuss is the methodolgy behind it.

I stated to my husband that I don't think these tactics are effective. He reminded me that without said tactics, the U.S. would stil be a British Colony. And it's true...without acts such as the Boston Tea Party (where men disguised themselves...and then vandalized and destroyed property that was not theirs), our country would not be the nation it is today.

My question is, are these tactics still effective presently?

I don't think they are. If you go to YouTube and watch some of the videos of these wackos (ok sorry, it's hard to not be biased...) raiding research facilities and "freeing" the animals, it's pretty scary. I won't reference any videos here...you can look them up for yourself, they're not hard to find. I will admit that it does appear that some of the animals these people retrieve look mistreated...however, I don't feel these individuals are justified in their actions...2 wrongs do not make a right in my opinion, and certainly not in this case.

And what about the families of these people...are they to be subject to the terrorist tactics just because their father/husband participates in the testing of animals?

"...Kordower has not faced attacks or protests. University of Utah neuroscientist Audie Leventhal has.
The Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for dousing a home owned by Leventhal with glass-eating acid and covering it with animal rights slogans. Leventhal estimated the damage at $20,000. At another home, the group claimed responsibility for putting glue in the house's locks and pouring salt to destroy the front lawn.

'Even if I retire, I'm going to tell them I didn't retire,' said the 56-year-old scientist. "There's no way they're winning."
Still, he said, he has mostly been living out of state since the protests began two years ago. He said he refuses to teach classes to avoid having a fixed time and place where activists can find him. His wife got so scared after activists scaled the gate at their home in a Salt Lake City suburb that she bought a gun, Leventhal said."

I find it completely unacceptable that these fanatics feel justified in making the lives of these people hell. It infuriates me as much as the terrorists who took down the WTC felt justified in killing thousands of people simply because they were citizens of a country whose goverment was (and still is) hated.

Bottom line is...I wish these people would take a step back and realize that not only are these tactics extremely harmful, they're not effective in the way they're meant to be. These methods don't work any more, and the only attention the activists are drawing to themselves is negative. The only thing they're doing, honestly...in my opinion of course...is making people either fear or hate them. So who will listen? Who will really hear their "message?" Ummmmm....

Ok...deep breath...stepping off the soap box...

Moving

We moved the other week. I hate moving. With my entire soul, I hate moving. But instead of writing a novel complaining about it, I will just display the pictures I took to document the experience...or a very small fraction of it, anyway.

Here's what's left of our living room at our old place after almost an entire day of lugging box after box after box...

And here's the spare bedroom at our old place...

Here we have the living room at our new apartment...

And here's the living room/itty bitty kitchen. Good times.

By the end of the day, we were all really tired...and when I get tired, I get loopy (no I did NOT wear that helmet all day...I was trying it on and decided it looked so good I'd take a picture...like I said, REALLY tired...).

Jacob loves moving about as much as I do...

Jacob's little brother Chris has been staying w/us for the past couple weeks, and I told him if he wouldn't let me take a picture of his face I was gonna take one of his butt while he was helping set up the computer...and he said "OK" so I did.

However, there is one thing I really REALLY like about the new apartment, which made lugging all our crap in the extreme heat worth it. And that is, of course...the view. Here's what I see when I walk into our living room.

And lasty, here's a shot of what it looks like when the sun sets...

Amazing, huh? We like it.

AWESOME.

Anyone who knows me knows that listening to music is to me as breathing air is to the human race...yeah, it's that important. If I had more money, I'd travel the country and the world attending concerts of my favorite vocalists and bands. Being in Utah doesn't always allow for the best selection of concerts, and unfortunately I don't have the funds to travel to LA or NYC to see all the artists I like. However, last night I think Kajsia (my sister) and I totally hit the jackpot...because we got to attend a concert of one of our most (if not THE MOST) favorite bands EVER...

...that's right...The Veronicas. Now, I know most of you are thinking...who in the WORLD are The Veronicas? Well, they're identical twins from Australia who happen to both sing really well, and who write music that's TOTALLY Julie and Kajsia-friendly. Kajsia somehow discovered them one day, and she then converted me...and now we're on a mission to convert the world. Ok, just kidding...but I DO have links to a couple of their songs on my blog, you know, in case you're interested (hint hint...).

Anyway, these girls are HUGE in Australia, have won all sorts of awards and pretty much every show they do over there sells out in minutes. However, they're basically unknown over here in the states...which means they don't perform here much, and DEFINITELY not in Utah.

So, we discovered that they're currently on tour w/Natasha Bedingfield right now, and originally Kajsia and I were going to drive out to San Diego to see them this weekend, but we learned they'd added a show last minute in SLC...and NOT ONLY would it be closer to home, but they were headlining. How lucky is that???

Anyway, the venue was called Kilby Court...I'd never heard of it before, and it took a really long time to find...not because it was in a tricky location, but merely because instead of a club or a commercial-looking building, it was literally someone's garage. I'm not even exaggerating on that one. It was a garage with a stage in one of the corners. There were at most 75 people...we all squished in there and fought for the standing room by the A/C. I had my doubts about whether or not it would be enjoyable. The first band kinda sucked, and I was REALLY annoyed by a couple of immature guys standing in front of us (seriously guys...girls do NOT think you're cool when you dance around like an idiot to songs you don't even know, or like...just CHILL and let those of us who are there because we actually KNOW what's going on enjoy it, ok???), but as soon as The Veronicas came on stage and started singing...it was all good, baby.

No, this is not a picture from the concert last night...there were WAY too many tall people in front of me, and as much as I tried I just couldn't get a good shot of them (not to mention they're really short, we could only see them from their shoulders up). But yeah, seriously...there's something about attending a concert that intimate that I find so enjoyable. I mean, yeah, the venue was not that impressive and yeah, we were surrounded by super annoying high school kids...but at the same time...we were less than 10 feet from these performers we've idolized for so long. We knew all the songs and they seemed genuinely impressed that these weirdo Utah people even knew who they are (and Kajsia swears they smiled at her during one of the songs...I'm pretty sure I made eye contact w/one of them too but maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part)...it was just awesome. Kajsia and I spent the entire ride home talking about them like we were friends or something. I know, we're total dorks...

...and just the fact that I'm actually writing a big huge blog about this is very indicative of just how incredibly dorky I actually am. But I don't care. It was amazing.