4.18.2010

Why my sister makes me laugh...

So, I'm thinking many of you are familiar with The Onion News Network. If you're not, see here (because there is no more reliable source, of course, than Wikipedia. Well, last weekend, I went to visit my little sis in Boulder, Colorado. She and Nick told me Saturday morning about this newspaper they have, called The Onion, and they started relating a story about a man with a mustard addiction. I said, "Um, you mean the National Onion News, as in the fake news, right?" No. They proceeded to tell me it is a real newspaper and this is a true story.

The next day, Heidi brought me a copy of the paper. And what to my wandering eyes did appear? The Onion, just as I had suspected. In all its satirical glory. I miss my sister.

4.05.2010

Dear Fashion Place Mall:

I had a consumer need this evening. I needed a Franklin Covey store. So, I drove to your mall. I intentionally parked near a mall entrance instead of my customary department store entrance with the purpose of finding a directory. Well, guess what. There was no directory there. I walked the whole mall without finding the store I was looking for. I did stop at Down East, which I needed to do.

In comparison with some other malls, I like Fashion Place for its cleanliness and visible security presence. I do not like the feeling of being in a flea market as I walk through the corridors. Your kiosk people are aggressive and persistent. Because I stopped on my way home from covering another building, I was alone. Like a gazelle separated from the herd, I was targeted by the predators on commission. I'm a nice person and I don't like to tell people "no," but I don't have time to stop for everybody to "ask [me] one quick question." And I don't have interest in most of the products. Can't we at least put these folks in more pen-like kiosks like the cellphone guys? That would prevent them from coming after me when I try to keep walking. Please? I'm not going to shop at your mall anymore if I feel like prey in the grasslands. Just saying.

Yours with Frustration,
Jill

4.04.2010

Why do I love Easter?

Christ, our Savior, was resurrected on the 3rd day. Because of this, ALL of humankind have been given the gift of resurrection. Christ, and by extension, the resurrection, is no respector of persons. Each person who has ever and will ever live on this earth will be resurrected. Our bodies will be returned to us, giving each of us the incomprehensible gift of immortality.

We also have access to the great blessings of the atonement. Our Redeemer has paid the price so that the burden of all that is painful and heartbreaking can be lifted from our shoulders. We have only to ask in sincere humility.

And so I add my testimony to the words penned by James E. Faust, sung this morning, "With saints of old, in joyful cry, I too can testify, This is the Christ."

4.01.2010

I'm grateful for...

1. General Conference!!

2. Easter

3. Books

4. Post-it Notes

5. Good Shoes

6. Apples

7. Pillows

8. Cadbury Mini Eggs

9. Pleasure in Cooking

10. Talent for Baking

11. Spring Snowstorms

12. Spring Flowers

13. Tulips peeking up through the snow :)

14. Photographs

15. Agency

16. Access to information

17. People with sense of humor

18. I finally found a face cream that works

19. Roundabouts

20. Scissors

Twenty items because I skipped a week, but it was good to stretch my brain a little.

3.24.2010

Things that don't work

So, I have to register for my 401k by Friday. I've tried twice to do this. I entered the login ID and PIN as they were given to me and, guess what? It wasn't a match. I tried again and it locked me out of my account. So, tonight I tried to call the customer service number with "extended hours." Only extended on the other side of the country, apparently. Too bad I have a job during those hours and all.

I bought a pen light about a month ago. It's basically useless now. This is an important tool in my job and I'm not going to be too friendly about having to get a new one every month. Suggestions?