We're cheap.

THIS IS BY NO MEANS AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST:
Example 1) Recently, on an outing to our nearest Jack In The Box (my priorities have sunk from eating healthy meals at home, to simply ensuring I don't go to bed hungry) this was made manifest in full form. After inhaling a delectable sourdough jack (*favorite) and on the way out of this fine dining establishment, I dumped mine and Matt's tray contents in the handy swinging door marked 'waste'.
It was then, with a look and tone insinuating high treason, Matt said, "Did you really just throw that away?!" I felt panic rise up in my chest and confusion muddle my mind.... "the drink... did you throw it away?!"
Like a forlorn puppy with an untrained bladder, I answered, 'Uh, yeah....' Matt rolled his eyes and shook his head, leaving no question he disapproved. Naturally, we had paid for a drink and Matt did not plan on leaving the restaurant without his free 20oz refill to take home and place in the fridge where it may or may not become flat and watered-down. We did leave. I, without regrets, and Matt, without a drop of diet Coke to rub my nose in.

Example 2) My last, um, 4 haircuts have been at ISU's trusty College of Technology Cosmetology program. (And the one before that, I made Matt do) Today was no different. It was only when my student-hair dresser was removing my protective cape, that my suspicions were fully confirmed and she (with a smile as big as Ronald McDonald's) revealed I was her '1st-ever real haircut on the floor!'. She actually did a good job-- it just took forever and my head hurt afterwards. I would expect a bit more R&R from a haircut, but hey, I'll take what my $3 will buy.

Wait, there's More) I bought Matt a nice, white, church shirt yesterday... on clearance for $12... Memorial Day sale making it $6... and then I brought a dust smudge to the attention of the sales clerk and got it for $3!

My first cell phone was kept in a 'case' I made from fabric and duct tape.

It took us 2 years to cowboy up and purchase mountain bikes. (something worth getting my hands on 8 years ago when I first moved to Pocatello)

We shop at WinCo. Yes, even the produce.

If yard-saling were a sport, we'd be state champions.

We don't have a single piece of furniture that was not pre-owned (unless you count the bookshelves we built)... let's not even talk about the clothing in my closet.

Sometimes I feel fabulously frugal, and sometimes I step back and think we're stingy and silly. Regardless, it's fulfilling to have some self-discipline in these matters. That, and a good bargain gets me high.

Smelly guy, smelly guy.... what are they feeding you?

So, today was smelly guy day at the gym. If you're a guy, smelly (like super BO + rancid curry smelly) and you were lookin' to do some flyaways, I'm sorry you missed it. I wish I had.

In other recent news, I observed some gym guy (not on smelly guy day) doing incline sit-ups as I walked towards the stairs. It was one of those really neat moments in time when you get to watch a person who doesn't know they're being watched even though they're in full-view public. He did a couple sit-ups, then paused mid sit-up to palpate his abs through his white wife-beater for 10 full seconds. This was not enough, however as he then pulled his shirt up (now shaking from holding this half-sit-up position) for an up close gander. I'm not sure if he actually sniffed, tasted, or took photos of his abdomen as I rounded the corner and descended the stairs. Men and their muscles. I hope he found what he was looking for.
In a trip to WinCo today I narrowly escaped being run down by a 30-something woman on a scooter. She, though perfectly capable of walking into the shelves, chose instead to back into a neatly arranged row of chocolate chip granola bars. It should be noted she was wearing a pair of Sketchers- Shape-Ups.

things to accomplish before i die

I first wrote my 'bucket list' in September of 2002 (*please note how this was pre 'Bucket List' movie time and that it was a bit more of an original idea.) Of the productive things I did today (sleep, empty the bathroom garbage, listen to some country music) I took the time to flip through some old journals and reviewed this list. It was quite interesting as I haven't looked at it in a long time...

The are the things I've already done (a few examples):

10) climb Mt. Borah
7) go skydiving
102) witness a miracle
22) learn to juggle (thanx be to Dana)
40) learn to moonwalk (thanx be to Dana)
28) go streaking
85) help build a Habitat for Humanity house
213) ride in a limo
178) try sushi
18) visit Paris with my husband

things I will most likely never do:
217) be on 'American Gladiator'
184) learn sign language (did I ever REALLY want to do that?)
163) teach myself to be ambidextrous
159) find a four-leafed clover
118) be a guest on Oprah (only cause her show is done ;)
86) solve the Rubiks cube
2) win at least 3 state championships (only got one)
45) triple jump 36'
103) wink with my right eye

things I could and should be doing now:
14) run a half marathon
34) learn to cross country ski
58) read the entire bible
224) learn to play Moonlight Sonata on the piano
221) learn German
150) make caramel like my moms
117) be able to identify every country on a map
87) have a 6-pack (pretty sure this is the closest I'll ever get)
60) sew
106) ollie on a skateboard

and things I most look forward to:
153) canoe Loch Ness
161) get a puppy for Christmas
223) earn a Master's degree
214) grow a live oak in my yard
30) experience childbirth (naturally)
26) see a whale in the wild
68) hand milk a cow (I've milked a goat... Kris, Katie, I may could use your help on this one)
90) buy someone a car
131) run all the stairs in the Empire State Building
171) climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
134) visit my ancestors hometowns in Wales and Sweden
140) bungee jump off a bridge
185) write a meaningful fiery letter to the editor
206) hug a giant sequoia

43) WRITE A BOOK

Best be picking a few and getting going...

LOVE AT EYE LEVEL

So, I wrote an essay for a contest in the Idaho State Journal called 'Why I Said Yes'. It's the first time I've written anything in a long time. I didn't win. Or get runner-up. Here it is anyway:

I first spied him as I maneuvered my ’92 Buick Skylark into a narrow parking spot at Idaho State University’s Bengal Studios. He was keying into apartment 106, and I was his building manager. In the short moments it took to gather my books, bag, and stethoscope, I also gathered Matthew Preslar’s muscular build, clean-shaven jaw line, and overall aura of ‘having it together’. I smiled and thought to myself, ‘Well, shoot. If he were just a little taller…’.

Not only was Matt a bona fide pharmacy student, he was an Idaho farm boy who loved to read and had a girlfriend. I was a senior nursing student busy with a slew of extracurriculars. We made small talk at church, and he started coming to a dinner club I had with a few other residents. Fall became winter, he lost the girlfriend and we found a platonic friendship; discussing politics, medicine, and our mutual love of all fresh fruit. I became exceedingly impressed with Matt, but was not yet smitten by him. After all, I was going to graduate, volunteer as a nurse in wild Africa, road bike through Europe, and publish a best-seller.

As buds reappeared on trees and squirrels reappeared on the Hutchinson Quadrangle, Matt and I carpooled, ate late-night burritos from Rolberto’s, and held heated debates regarding the coolness/lameness of the Los Angeles Lakers. We sat a little closer, smiled a little bigger, and (gasp!) held hands!

However, our story didn’t truly begin until one blissful, balmy, summer’s day in 2008. Atop a rocky cliff overlooking Willow Creek near Bone, Idaho and with an ever-so-faint smirk on his face, Matt asked me what my 5-year plan was. I spouted off a tentative plan and he did the same, ending with “…but mostly, I want to be with you.” ‘Great!’ I thought, simply hoping we would no longer discuss our future in only hypothetical terms. He continued, surprising me to happy tears, “…so, I was wondering… if you would marry me.” His voice was a little shaky and I asked him if he was serious at least twice before telling him I would be honored to be his wife.

It was only after the rush of endorphins had waned that Matt explained, “Sorry, I didn’t kneel… I didn’t want to fall off the cliff.”

I’ve learned that Matt is a picky eater, he hates dancing, and he turns the thermostat down when I’m not looking. He also works hard, helps others, and makes me laugh every day. I’m so thankful for the thousands of reasons he’s given me to have said yes that summer day. I’m not the kind to tell you marriage is bliss, or that a dream wedding is the answer to all of life’s questions and challenges. But I will tell you this: when we kiss hello, I don’t have to kink my neck or stand tip-toed. Matt is all that I want and more than I deserve.

DAYS 7 & 8

Well, I like to eat... pretty much everywhere, but especially places with a good steak, shrimp alfredo, and/or roasted pineapple. My makeup is nothing special, save to say when I wear it my co-workers are like, "Oh, you did.. something.. to your eyes today!" I love Burt's Bees! Chapstick is the best and this soap is AMAZING $7 for a bar that's lasted me a loooooong time. That is all.

DAYS 3,4,5 &6

Yep, bought some very exciting dryer sheets recently.

I would be happy with a puppy, kitten, duckling, piglet, filly, baby panda, lambs, or a baby donkey. (see how easy I am to please?) One day we WILL have a baby llama who will grow into an adult llama who will protect our sheep from predators. That is my plan.

I have several hundred wedding pictures on cd, but this one from our engagement (2.5 years ago & with my best friend) remains my all-time favorite. Thank you, Shirleen! (Matt's mom has mad photography skills)

*Can't freaking make this post put the pictures and text where I want... gah!

Day 2: You Are What You Eat

Well, technically, I should be posting a picture of Guittard chocolate chips, cinnamon hearts, and juju hearts. Alas, what can I post?! I ate them all. For dinner.