I have a question that really needs to be answered . . . .

In most situations I understand proper tipping etiquette and I typically am a very generous tipper. I get great service, well I feel like it should not go unnoticed. Pretty much the waiter has to spit in my food in order not to get a 20% tip. When someone really impresses me or let's face it, is extremely good looking I tend to tip above the normal percentage. I have heard that in Utah people are pretty skimpy tippers and no matter how big the bill is, it isn't unheard of for them to only leave a tip of 10% or worse, as little as two or three dollars. I don't want to be that person.

So here is the situation:

When you call in food for take out and go to pick food up at a restaurant and they bring the food out to your car for you (car side service), what, if anything, are you supposed to tip these people?

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

I really attempt not to even think mean thoughts about others. When I find myself conjuring up cruel thoughts, I remind myself quickly of my own imperfections and flaws. It usually cures the problem and I move on with life. Being judgmental is something that I never want to be. I want to give everyone the same benefit of the doubt that I hope that they would offer me.

Today I needed to run some errands. As I was getting some stuff that I needed for later this week, I was passed by a lady wearing a very light colored, thin material skirt. Needless to say, she wasn’t leaving anything to anyone’s imagination. At the first shake of my head and mean thoughts beginning to shape, I immediately took inventory of the contents being held in my hands at that very moment . . . .

-a bottle of Gatorade
-Power bars
-Soft lips
-milk chocolate truffles
-chocolate syrup
-maraschino cherries with stems
-a bottle of Martinelli’s
-champagne glasses
- lingerie
-Trojan pleasure pack
-8 varieties of KY

It’s not polite to judge.

Eyes, ears, hands, feet, socks, shoes, mittens, earrings, contacts, pillow cases, parents, tears, smiles . . .

So many things come in pairs.

Sometimes two can be more difficult than could ever be imagined . . .

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

I had an out of body experience. I realize now why people shake their heads at me. I found myself in the kitchen measuring, chopping and combining ingredients together to create luscious apricot oat bars. At the same time my phone was to my ear and I was walking my mom through making wanton soup. During which I was also watching the World Cup - - USA verses England.

After slipping my concoction into the oven to bake and finishing up the phone call, I flopped down on the couch to put a wedding gift together needed for later.

I found myself completely enthralled with the game . . . . so much so that I soon realized that I was off the couch yelling at the television. Up to this point in my life I have never become so involved in any sport on television besides football. I somewhat regained control over my anxiety and excitement for the game being played a spin around the globe in South Africa in order to sit back down and finish putting the gift together.

I have to admit that I was frustrated during most of the game because I don’t know enough of the rules. I found myself seriously wishing that someone was here that could explain so that I could more fully understand. Luckily someone has explained some of the game rules and regulations to me that I knew enough that I felt justified at yelling at the television.

Really I am a bit of an anomaly. There is a gravitational pull for me to athletics and not that I have an athletic bone in my body. I thoroughly enjoy watching and cheering on people that are though. There is a deep appreciation for those that are athletic and share their talents. However, I feel compelled to completely understand the sport. I refuse to be what I call a “football skank”. Formal definition: a girl that only attends and pretends to enjoy sports long enough to “get the guy” and then suddenly doesn’t want anything to do with it ever again and gets angry when he still wants to watch or go to a game.

There is another gravitational pull for me that is just as deep and drawing . . . cooking. I love to make my house fill with sweet smells of food that could be considered intoxicating. Frankly I don’t do it enough. My dream house has an absolutely fabulous kitchen. I enjoy putting together new and exciting things to try. Sometimes they don’t always turn out, but hey failing happens and just means that I need to try something different the next time.

So there I was barefoot, my house filling with the wonderful smell of cinnamon and screaming at soccer on the television.

What universe did I come from?!

“Smiles don’t have to be saved for sun filled days . . . it’s good to waste them.”

Last year was a bit on the chilly and soggy side also. It was most spectacular to come home, curl up under a blanket on the couch and take an extended Saturday afternoon nap.

Great memories are preciously woven everywhere that always make my heart warm and bring a smile to my lips.

If you go biking with me, you had better be up for a lot of laughing and a grand adventure!

Due to winter still lingering around and busy schedules, I still hadn’t had the opportunity to take my new bike out for a test spin. Tonight I finally christened the bike . . . quite literally.

Remember my post about a friend and I that went biking on a trail out by the airport and got caught in a storm last year? If not, well you will have to dig through my archives to find it because frankly I am too lazy to do it right now.

Anyway . . . .

We again decided to take this trail. It is a great trail for road biking, well unless you are me. The weather was a bit sketchy but both of us felt like it would be fine. We were riding along chatting about nothing in particular when I realized that my back tire had gone flat. Now this was probably only about 5 or 6 miles into our ride and we were hoping to get in at least 20 miles.

So we stopped and pulled the tire off which is where the real fun began. We had all the right tools, just not the strength to get the stupid thing off the rim. After much laughter we were finally able to get it off and pull the flat, lifeless tube out. We had already waved on one biker determined to do it ourselves, but at this point when another male biker asked if we needed help, we gladly accepted.

He kindly put everything back together (more quickly than I could have ever done it) the whole time explaining exactly how to do it. By the time he got everything back in place and ready to push off again the skies started showing us a little flashes of light. They turned back and we pushed forward feeling like it wouldn’t be too bad and thinking that the storm was far enough away that we would be okay.

Well needless to say that luckily it was warmer out this time verses last time because once again the skies opened up and showed us who was boss. The other issue was that I was on a new bike that I hadn’t taken the time to really get to know. I was playing with shifting it and realized only when I had it in the lowest gear that I didn’t know how to get it shift back up. We stopped and attempted to figure out but to no avail. So I got in a great cardio workout on the way back along with a nice shower.

We may not have gotten in the miles, but laughing is great exercise right?!

Thanks Emily for coming with me. I promise that one of these days we will actually do the entire trail AND stay dry doing it.

"You, uh, feelin' Christian?"

I have a few speaking assignments coming up this month. More than my normal one or two. I have a couple of financial classes that I will be teaching, a relief society lesson and don't be shocked . . . I was asked to speak in Sacrament on Father's Day.

So confession 101 . . . I don't normally take a ton of time to prepare. One day I am going to be struck dumb in front of a classroom or while giving a talk because of it. There isn't many things that I will claim as a natural talent, but being comfortable in front of a group is one that may be a prideful downfall. It is another of those things in my world that if I would only put in some effort and time, I would probably grow the talent and be such a better speaker. But because I have never fallen on my face and have always "pulled it off" so I don't.

In an effort to try to improve and be a better teacher/speaker, I have decided that I am going to do more preparation this month.

Here is where you come into play. The topic that I was given for my talk in Sacrament is: the influence of Heavenly Father in your life.

I am not quite sure what to do with that or where to take it. Any ideas or suggestions?

Please help.