What Clark has been up to...

Clark has made a commitment to "sound proof" our extra bedroom so that we can play drums and not tee off the neighbors. Here is some of his beautiful work. And yes, those are egg cartons and crates and cereal boxes as well. The brown sheets are some sort of sound-muting insulation we found at Home Depot. And the shower curtain? Well, that just ties the room together.


Inspecting a work well done.


We will definitely have to spackle the walls like crazy when we move out.


Nail holes everywhere...

And Introducing....
Nolan Van Hoy!!
(Clark's alias in his band.)

Nothing says creepy like men's traditional glasses, a polyester shirt, and a gun belt buckle. Clark is so happy to finally own a prescription pair of men's traditional glasses. Thank you, www.zennioptical.com.


Would you let this man babysit your kids? Handsome devil, he is!

Classic

I think everyone can enjoy this 10 second video Clark and I have been enjoying for years now:

Let's put aside our empathy, people. This is hilarious, plain and simple.

The Best and Most Friendly Place on Earth

Clark and I took a two day trip up to the best and most friendly place on earth. Look at the sign in the picture. States it right there.

(Goshen is in Idaho, just so ya know. Because I didn't know until I went...)

I got to meet lots of fun Palmer relatives and spend some QT with Grandma and Richard. And guess what? Aside from the above picture and a few others, we took ZERO photos of family. We suck, I know. We totally forgot about the camera when it came to socializing and catching up.

No matter. We will be going up again soon. We're excited to go hiking with Uncle Brent. And I think I should bring up my American Girl dolls to have a doll party with Aunt Amie and all the girls :) And I want to go walking with Grandma. I bet she is a brisk walker.

Anywhoo, here are the few other photos we took. Wish they were of family. Next time I will leave the camera in my purse and not in the freezing car!

Our very first stop in Goshen: the cemetery where Clark's Grandpa is buried. When we got back into the car I asked Clark whether we should start thinking about investing in burial plots. He asked where. I answered Pasco. He asked why. I answered because we grew up there... and so ensued our morbidly romantic conversation. We still have not decided on a burial plot plan. Perhaps it is too soon. But you really never know when your time is going to come.

What I presume was the old hospital in Idaho Falls?
Where we spent some of our QT time Grandma and Richard.

We look forward to going back! The weather was fine and the socializing even finer! Thank you, Rosemary and Brent for opening your home to us! (And for the yummy food!)

Lent

This year for Lent I have decided to give up junk food. That's right. No ice cream, no cake, no cookies, no brownies, no soda, no doughnuts, no fun... for 46 days.

In years past I have given up cookies, only to replace the cookies with doughnuts. I have given up soda, but I rarely drink soda as it is. Looking back, what was I thinking. Did I really believe that giving up something I barely consume would be a sacrifice?

If you know me well, you know I love my sweets. This is going to be a challenge for me. The only form of chocolate I can have is in the form of a protein bar. And let me tell you, protein bars never curb my sweet cravings.

Good bye:

And

I had to con Clark into giving junk food up with me. Sadly, I need someone else to be accountable for me. And he's going the extra mile. In addition to junk food he is giving up pizza and Doritos.

Of course, on a spiritual level we are going to strive to read more of the scriptures daily, but I'm not concerned about doing that. Giving up junk food is going to be the real sacrifice.

Is anyone else giving anything up or doing a little extra something this Lent? Do share :)

Most Romantic Gift Idea EVER

Nothing says, "I love you," like a heart shaped pizza. Thank you, Papa Murphy's.

Jist In Time for Valentine's Day...

A Redneck Love Poem:

SUSIE LEE DONE FELL IN LOVE,

SHE PLANNED TO MARRY JOE,

SHE WAS SO HAPPY 'BOUT IT ALL,

SHE TOLD HER PAPPY SO.

PAPPY TOLD HER SUSIE GAL,

YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER.

I'D JUST AS SOON YO' MA DON'T KNOW,

BUT JOE IS YO' HALF BROTHER.

SO SUSIE PUT ASIDE HER JOE,

AND PLANNED TO MARRY WILL.

BUT AFTER TELLING PAPPY THIS,

HE SAID, 'THERE'S TROUBLE STILL.'

YOU CAN'T MARRY WILL, MY GAL,

AND PLEASE DON'T TELL YO' MOTHER.

BUT WILL AND JOE, AND SEVERAL MO'

I KNOW IS YO' HALF BROTHER.

BUT MAMA KNEW AND SAID, 'MY CHILD,

JUST DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.'

MARRY WILL OR MARRY JOE;

YOU AIN'T NO KIN TO PAPPY.

*****************************

(Kinda brings a tear to yer eye, don't it!)

Little Black Dress

I pee my pants a little every time I look at this dress. Just imagine it without the scarf and the necklace.

Love at first sight. (**sigh**)

CUTENESS

"The denim dress all baby girls should own."

--Rachel Tobler

Do you like how I incorporated my own quote into this post?
I bought this dress for a friend's adorable baby girl a couple of months ago, and now I wish I had bought the store out! Seriously, it almost makes me baby hungry. Almost.

My sister is prego with baby #3 and they found out it is going to be a girl! Katie didn't find out the sex with her second baby child and wanted to be surprised with the birth of her third as well but curiousity got the better of her and her family.


When I bought the above dress I was contemplating buying one for my sister just in case the baby was a girl. Now I know it's going to be a girl. And I have not the dress all little baby girls should own. Dang it.



But the good news is that I found a close second. A very close second. So similar that it can rival the above dress in cuteness. They're both made by Carter's. They're both denim. With belts. And some plaid.

As Kevin on The Office would say : "Niiiiiiiiice."

Maybe I shouldn't be posting this but there is probably only a 2.4% chance Katie will look at my blog. She's just not into the blog scene.

Walk About

I went on a walk about the other day to familiarize myself with the Avenues neighborhood. Can I help it if I am secretly loving where we live right now? I thought I would be miserable in Utah but SLC proper is actually pretty awesome. I guess I will survive the year we plan on being here.

This is probably one of the most cleverly named establishments in SLC. Kudos, Jack Mormon Coffee Company.

Here we have a beautiful protestant church...

Competing with the Catholic church right next door. See, Mormons aren't the only people in Utah. Maybe I should show my Mom these pictures. Then maybe she would visit me...

I love this one. This cathederal totally reminded me of the gothic cathederals we saw in Italy, France, Germany and Spain a few years ago. Looking forward to attending and Easter of Christmas Mass here.

Oh, and look. Straight shot to the LDS Temple. So many pretty religious structures, all in one city!

On my walk about I noticed many homes for sale. Here is a picture of one of said homes. Looks nice, don't you think. Would you believe the owner wants $675,000 for it!? Ummm, it's very nice, but come on. This is Utah and not California. I guess you pay premium to live in the Avenues?...and I guess the fact that it is across the street from a park that overlooks the capitol plays a factor, too. But still...

Chillin' at a little park that overlooks Canyon Road (where I go running) and the Capitol. One of my date ideas for the spring is to have a little picnic at this park with the Clarkman. Is that lame? I thought it was an excellent idea but Clark wasn't all that enthusiastic. Too bad, the picnic will prevail.

Can't wait to make more discoveries here in SLC. I hope next time Clark can come with me rather than sleep. Boy, work does put a damper on things sometimes.

She's back, but it wasn't a pleasant experience.

The other weekend we went down to Vegas to get Gretchen (and participate in the Mom Tobler catering event). The trip back was, I believe, an unpleasant and upsetting experience for Gretchen. She worked herself into a frenzy within the first 5 minutes and would not stop panting, leading us to believe she was dehydrated. She kept tearing at the nylon/mesh cage with her claws so I eventually took her out of the cage to hold her on my lap. She freaked out even more and tried to escape through the windshield. So we zipped her back up into her cage and draped a sheet over it and ignored her cries for help. Within 30 minutes she quieted down and remained in a hopeless state for the majority of the drive. Occasionally she'd work up enough strength to try to tear through the cage, all to no avail. She also managed to tip her kitty litter box upside down at one point. Poor thing, once we got her home we noticed that she had rubbed her nose raw against the nylon/mesh trying to escape.

Here she is in her cage...

A closer look reveals that she won't even acknowledge us...she is so hopeless and helpless.

Straight up terrified.

And still terrified.

Oh wait, what is this?? Gretchen LOVES her little kitty bed. Thanks Mom Tobler for donating the bed to us. She loves it! And she is getting way more comfortable with her new home.

Now she only gets skittish and scared when hearing wierd noises, like when the heater kicks on above our bed.

But usually she's happy as can be on her kitty bed.

Thank goodness she's getting comfortable here in SLC. We didn't want to have a cat that hid under the bed for weeks. Fortunately she only hid under the bed for one night. She even cuddled with me on the couch last night as I watched episode after episode of LA Ink on Netflix. We are glad to have Gretchen back. When she isn't scared of the world she is so fun to annoy and be around!

Cramped Space

Yep, this is where we let loose, git er done. Wish there was just a tad more leg room so we don't have to sit diagonally....

I miss this ball of fur...

I can't wait to nuzzle this kitty cat and lay on her stomach to hear her purr...

Freezing 24/7

I can never seem to get warm here. I know, I know, it's not that cold. But for someone who has lived in Arizona where its 100+ degrees 5 months of the year, 35 degree weather is miserably cold.



What show-offs. I'd like to see them withstand 113 degree weather. That's right. Sit in a lawn chair outside on the asphalt for 30 minutes around 3 pm in the middle of July. I dare you crazy canuks! HHHHmmmmmpppfff.

(I think I am just jealous they can tolerate the cold so well...)

Miracle Ring

"All I need is a miracle, all is need is you." I had this song by Mike and the Mechanics in my head ALL night after seeing these rings.

Unfortunately I zero quarters on my person and so I still don't have a miracle ring.

But I'll get one, oh yes, I will. Clark and I happen to love Catholic relics/memorabilia. You should see our bathroom. Maybe I will post a picture sometime...anywhoo, I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did.

A sigh of relief...we finally have internet!

Hot damn, we're back!

Greetings from the land of Subaru Outbacks!!

Here are some of our New Year's Eve pics. Way too many pictures of Clarkage and myself. What can I say? I love us. And when the photographer (aka Tomas) never wants to be in the pictures it ends up being just me and my lover.

Our "awesome" New Year's Eve feast at Beto's, or what we know as Filberto's in AZ. I don't know that I felt 100% satisfied after my meal...

Off to Temple Square...few connections in Utah = little else to do on New Year's Eve. But it was beautiful nevertheless.

And cold.

Good thing I was prepared and purchased a warm coat before I left.

I'm reunited with my lover, ohhhh yeah.

Pretty pretty.

I don't think I would have gotten over this quickly had the circumstances led to a midnight bath.

I loved all the nativity scenes and the racially diverse Mary, Jesus, Joseph, shepherds, angels, etc..

Like this one. I really liked this one.

Even had to get a picture with it.

Yep, I liked this one, too.

Ahhhh, it was a fun even if it was less than eventful. I'm just happy to be back with my Clark. Well that's the conclusion of our New Year's Eve photos...so on to other news.

(No, we are not pregnant.)

Below is a picture of Clark's beloved towel, gifted to him by Diane Wamsley for his high school graduation. This towel has followed him everywhere. It followed him onto his mission where he used it daily (I hope?) for two years straight. It followed him back to Vegas. It followed him to Arizona, from Kevin's bachelor pad to my tiny apartment to the condo and to our house. And it has followed him to Utah.

After so many years of use (8 years, actually), this towel has a nasty, mildewy odor to it. When washed it smells fine. But immediately after being used it radiates a most aweful smell.

So the time has come to bid farewell to Clark's beloved towel. How it shall be retired I know not. Garbage? Cut up as rags? A bonfire tribute? I just hope Clark doesn't cry.

Farewell, good friend.

Last but not least, caramel corn on the cob, anyone? We found these at the store. I think people thought we were crazy laughing hysterically at these "ears" of corn. But they are scrumptious and made right here in Utah.


So... the transition has been pretty good. The job is going well even if Clark and I have opposite/conflicting schedules at the moment. This too shall pass. I love being able to walk to and from work. It's glorious. I haven't driven my car in 4 days. Probably not a good idea to let it sit in the cold but I love not having to drive. The grocery store is literally a minute walk from the house and I just got a library card and walked to a library branch that was three blocks away. Running trails are near by and we get to see Gretchen and Mom and Dad Tobler next weekend (PS, Mom and Dad Tobler, will you be in Vegas the 29-31st? Please say yes, because we are coming!)

Life is good and for once, I can't complain. Nothing beats being with your spouse, that's for sure!

No Internet

...really sucks. We have to wait until Tuesday to have it installed. Seriously? Yes, seriously. Things are done differently in Utah, I guess. And we actually ordered it on the 4th.

GUH.

I hate feeling disconnected from...the world.

Peace out. I'll be back on or around next Tuesday. I'm really excited to show off my awesome New Year's Eve photos. Because they are awesome to me :)

Take care all, drive safe, and have a good rest of the week!