January, in short

Our new ornament.

We rang in the new year with our wonderful friends.





The frangelico champagne cocktails--my new favorite drink--were a big hit.

The rest of the month was pretty quiet. After December, I had no energy to hang out or to take pictures.

Every year, Rod's work have their Christmas party after the holidays. This year they had it at Vonnie's house, which is conveniently located just a few blocks from ours. It was fun getting to visit with everyone. Emily's little boy, Liam, took a liking to me. I let him open my white elephant gifts, which turned out to be party rat finger lights. What are party rats finger lights you may ask? Well, they are little rat-shaped lights that attach to the ends of your fingers that are ideal for night blogging or going to raves. Needless to say, these gems immediately became Liam's party rats finger lights. After the party, we came home and watched Seven Pounds.

The next was a book club double header, with book club at Kim's on Tuesday for both David Sedaris's Holidays on Ice and Push by Sapphire. The first book was disturbing. The Santaland Diaries, the first short story in the book, was entertaining but the next few stories, especially the uncomfortable holiday letter about drowning babies in the washing machine, were just sick. That put such a bad taste in my mouth that I cannot recommend this book. Push was not any more uplifting. Although the way it was written (as an illiterate person learning to write would spell) was clever, the subject matter was so uncomfortable and hopeless. I'm sure that is what the author intended. It is about an overweight, illiterate, black girl, Precious, growing up in Harlem. She lives with her physically, emotionally, and sexually abusive shut-in mother who makes her eat to keep her fat. Precious gets thrown out of regular high school when she gets pregnant (for the second time) by her father. The graphic description of the abuse was revolting. It makes me sad to think that some people actually grow up under those circumstances. If you have a weak stomach, I suggest the movie.

Saturday night was my other (original) book club at Tricia's house in Heber. Her son, D., is beyond adorable. He had a little bit of stranger danger, but once I snuck him some chocolate cake, he was all smiles. So cute! The book for that night was Andre Agassi's novel Open. I was hooked from the beginning despite the fact that it was non-fiction. Usually when I read, I read to escape. Non-fiction is not generally conducive to escape. But the Pulitzer-prize winning ghost writer describes Agassi's innermost thoughts so beautifully it is impossible not to get sucked in.

The night before, we celebrated Cheryl's birthday with a wine and sushi tasting at Trolley Square. The wine and sushi were both incredible--it's hard to go wrong with that combination--but not entirely filling. So . . . on the way home, we tried drive through sushi. I know what you're thinking, "Is that safe?" But it wasn't bad. The restaurant is owned by the former owner of Ichiban. It wasn't the best sushi I've ever had, but good enough to fill a craving.

Sunday night, we went over to Inga's house to play with Gabe and their new pet.
The next two weeks, the last two weeks in January, was one of those weeks that reminded me just how much I love living here. On Tuesday, I went to the PTC with my friends to see Touch(ed). Every year, the PTC chooses one relatively new, cutting edge play by an up and coming playwright. Touch(ed) is about a woman dealing with her sister's mental illness, struggling between wanting to suppress her suicidal tendencies, but also wanting to stop being her sister's keeper. The Imogen Heap soundtrack alone made this play worth a viewing, but it also posed some interesting questions about our society's tendency to over-medicate and how we deal with mental illness.

Friday, we went to the Beer Hive to celebrate Clem's birthday with dark beer and Mini's finger-licking good cupcakes. Afterwards, we went to Citrus Grill with Jon and Allison for dinner.
The next Friday, I played hookey from work for Parr's annual Snow Pack Inspection Day. It was not only my first time at Snow Basin, but (sadly) my first ski day of the season. vIt was a gorgeous day and a gorgeous resort. But my legs were burning by midday though so Rita and I headed back to sit in the plush lodge early for drinks.

Saturday, I started the day with a Sundance film in Park City. The movie itself was a bit predictable, but it starred Chase Crawford as White Mike, a drug dealer to the spoiled rich teens. In Rod's words, it was a darker, edgier Gossip Girl. I have always thought Chase Crawford was a hottie, but it was really sweet of him to get up early to come to the screening. Apparently most of the other actors, including 50 Cent, were too hung over from the previous night's after party.



Later that same night, I went with Nici and Ry-Ry to Sundance, the actual Sundance, not just the film festival. Before the movie we ate at The Tree Room . . . insert Homer (Simpson)-like drooling here . . . . Their three course tasting menu was to die for. The pepper steak alone made me wish I had a second stomach. I actually ate myself sick. While I was drooling all over myself, Robert Redford sat down at the table next to us.

The film was 8: The Mormon Proposition, an eye-opening film about the Mormon church's role in proposition 8 and the appalling way it has reacted to homosexuality in general. I spent half the movie bawling and the other half being so filled with rage I wanted to put my fist through a wall. I have a hard time reconciling the family-centered church I grew up in (but am no longer a member of) with the hateful church that wants so badly to prevent people who love each other from being together, or worse, who support exiling children from their families. The homelessness (not to mention suicide) problem among homosexual youth in Utah is sickening. Whatever happened to "judge not" or we allow others "to worship how, where, or what they may"? I don't understand the bigotry or the hypocrisy. It was not that long ago that the Mormon's were being persecuted for their marital practices. I know that not everyone in the church believes the same way and there are a lot of good people in it, but it makes me really sad to see all the inexplicable hatred from the church leadership and some of its members.

The Rest of December

Even though most of December was mostly occupied with other things, we did manage to participate in a few of the Christmas festivities. We had a toned down version of our annual Eggnog Bash. This is one of the few parties that we do each year with just a small group of friends from our law school class. I made toffee for the candy exchange. It was a big hit. While we were talking with our friends we also realized that we have now all been friends for nearly a decade. You know what they say about time flying . . .














In the week leading up to Christmas, I saw A Christmas Story at the PTC (aw . . . so nostalgic) and went to the WLU Christmas Party, Mike and Kim's Christmas Party, and Daisy's 40th Birthday dinner.

For Christmas, we were back in Idaho. Grandma was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve so we were able to celebrate at home. We woke up early and opened presents with Grandma and Grandpa before heading to Rigby for Christmas morning with Mom Dena, Jayde, Jordan, Ryan, Daniel, Brittany, Dustin, Bradley, and their new dog Tiny.
Santa brought us a Wii. It will be the first gaming system in our house.




We had Christmas Dinner at Uncle Dennis and Aunt Brenda's

and stopped by the farm to see Zach on our way home.
The next night, we celebrated Bug's birthday at Dad's house in Roberts.


Jayde, Ryan, Rod and I made a second trip to the Ririe Bar that weekend. It was fun (but sometimes awkward) to run into old friends.

We made it back to SLC just in time for our annual New Year's Eve Party.

November (in Short)

This month, I had a mediation, several depositions, and a hearing at work. Rod was also out of town nearly every week for work. When we were home, we spent so much time at fundraisers and award dinners during the week that most of our weekends were spent hibernating.

The first weekend was the annual Women Lawyer's Retreat at Deer Valley. I stayed overnight on Friday and shared a condo with Cheryl. We ended up hosting the after party. When lady lawyers let loose, it really gets crazy! :)

Saturday night, Toddy introduced me to the joys of Wendover. It was a lot more fun than I expected. I spent most of the night playing video poker and being confused by the craps table. Does anyone really understand how that game is played?

The next week I spent preparing for my mediation, but I managed to fit in a night at the theater--the PTC version of Is He Dead? was hilarious--and the Utah Aid's Foundation Red Party Fundraiser. The Fundraiser was a blast. Everyone was dressed in crazy red outfits. I had my palm read (by someone who clearly was not psychic) and got asked for my phone number by a guy selling boas in his boxer briefs. HA!
My mediation was in San Francisco with the famous Tony Piaza. The first night there, the second Sunday in November, my friend Ryan and his friends showed me around the Castro neighborhood. They introduced me to a very hip bar, The Blackbird, and one of the top five best drinks I've ever had, the Early Bird. It has St. Germains, an elder flower liquor, in it. Yummy! I also could not help but check out the macaroons at Hot Kiss.

The next day, Piaza helped us get a fantastic result for our client. We were finished by midday and spent the rest of the day celebrating. What trip to San Francisco would be complete without a trip to Fisherman's Wharf? Then we wined and dined, finishing the night with jaeger bombs at an Irish pub.

Back in Salt Lake, on Tuesday, we took dinner over to Keli and Dave to see their adorable new son (little A). He was just a few weeks old and SO tiny.
The next night was a bit nerve-wracking. I was a pupilage group leader with Judge Kate Toomey for Inn of Courts, and our topic was dress, demeanor, and candor in the courtroom. We did "No Exit: A Judges Hell." It was basically a day in the life of a judge with lawyers behaving badly. Think lawyers dressed in short skirts, tank dresses, birkenstocks, etc., badmouthing each other and disrespecting the judge. It was quite entertaining, but a lot of work.

The next night, Thursday, was the FBA awards dinner. I had the honor of presenting the Pro Bono Award to Holland & Hart and the four attorneys that accepted and won a case through the FBA's Pro Bono Appointment Wheel. The case involved a constitutional challenge to a sex offender registry statute. The Court found that certain portions of the statute were unconstitutional, and, while the case was on appeal, the Legislature amended the statute to remove the disputed language. I was proud to be a part of the appointment wheel and all of the good results it has had during this last year. The awards dinner is one of my favorite legal events. It is so fun to see so many of my friends in one place. The honorees are always very inspirational.

After such an exhausting week, we wanted to spend the whole weekend in bed. And we did, literally. We bought a new tempurpedic mattress. And we were so excited about it, that we made Digiorno and cut and bake cookies, rented a movie, and ate and watched the movie on my laptop in our bed. Ha! Yes, we are easily amused. Here is a pic of Rumba helping me break in the bed (by walking on it for 10 minutes).


The next week was Thanksgiving, which we spent in Idaho. We spent most of our time with my mom, who came all the way from Denver, and grandparents. We had such a good time. Grandma was feeling better than I had seen her in a long time. We spent a lot of time playing Rummikub and with Zach, my new little (second) cousin.







I also started a project that I have been wanting to do for a long time. I videotaped my grandparents talking about their lives, their courtship, and their children. I filled one 90 minute tape before the battery ran out. I just hope that I get a chance to finish it.

After Thanksgiving at Grandma's, we had dessert/late dinner at Mom Dena's house.
The next night we had dinner at Dad's. I took advantage of the good light to get a few pictures of Riley and Dustin playing in the yard.



On Saturday night, Jayde, Ryan, Rod, and I did a very lonely pub crawl in Rigby, before ending up at the Ririe bar. Who would have thought that the Ririe bar would be the happening place to be? Ririe is half the size of Rigby and Rigby is a one stoplight town. Too funny!

Not to sound too cheesy, but this month presented so many opportunities for giving thanks. We are truly surrounded by so many wonderful friends and family.