almost all the elements for a perfect weekend

Last weekend was awesome.  If I were to distill out the elements for a perfect weekend, it might go like this:

•  Long.  I had a packed weekend, and there was still a Monday to get things done.  I love to thoroughly enjoy a 4-day weekend!

• Good friends- Good people are essential to any run at perfection.  Thanks to Jonathan and Laurie for making this one happen.

• An outdoor adventure- two breathtaking snowshoe outings will fit the bill.  What's a little cold when you get views like this?

Laurie has snowboard model hair.   I just have hat hair.

•  Something new - Because we stayed in Tahoe, we were able to go out for a midnight snowshoe expedition.  I'd never done that before, and now I am a fan!  The full moon on the clean, white snow was so beautiful!  We turned off our headlamps and just enjoyed the night.
• Good food, preferably prepared by someone else.  Due to our friend's generous hospitality, we were well taken care of.
• Church.  I would be nothing without the gospel of Jesus Christ. Since we were at someone else's ward, even church was relaxing. (shh, don't tell my ward I was playing hookey!)

• Relaxation  Staying in the cabin in Tahoe was serene and peaceful, not to mention gorgeous- well, except for the shoveling and the snow throwing.  Nap, book, games, and adventures all fit in nicely.
• Plenty of Oreo Cakesters were involved.



Cadbury Mini Eggs are back in the store!
I don't have to wait for the Easter Bunny to bring me the good stuff.

• Productivity- Got my taxes done.  And, thanks to the ants, mandatory cleanings left the kitchen sparkling.
• satisfaction- the gaping hole in my cabinet finally has new doors.  Bonus- the icemaker in the fridge is also repaired!  
• bargain shopping!  Mostly essentials, but I also got running shoes for $25 because they were in the kids' section.

Not that everything was perfect.  Bad weather forced us to scrap plans for snowshoeing earlier in the day, and meant a lot of friends couldn't come.  Ants invaded my kitchen- twice!- and the shower. I managed to burn the rice and ruin the dinner for someone I was trying to impress.  And there is one huge element still missing in my life.  But overall, it was a brilliant weekend.  This is the kind of weekend satisfaction that makes at least two work weeks bearable.  I vote for a four day weekend every month!  Who's with me??  We could all use some time to just chill.

Jonathan, just chillin' with a sandwich.

That's the way she goes. . .

In other major news of the week, our Plant Diva has returned to the desert.  Amber, who was getting really sick of working in the Sacramento office, has started her Mojave Desert field season and therefore moved to Pasedena.  How cool is a job leading Treasure Hunts?  She's out looking for rare plants, and the even rarer Hot Date.

We sent her off in true Casita style, with plenty of friends dropping by to wish her well, eat ice cream, chat, and, well, dance like crazy.  This time the dancing was assisted by K'nect.  Make no mistake- Annie dances like this no matter what the environment.

Good luck, Amber!  We'll miss you!

The Week of Kings

Late on Monday afternoon, my friend Bonnie texted me with the offer of a free Kings ticket.  I jumped at the chance.  Bonnie works for a non-profit organization that occasionally is gifted unused Kings tix, and apparently there are quite a few going unused, because we had great seats.

The Boys choked but the girls had fun!

The Kings were ahead of the Jazz at the end of the first quarter! And the second!  Things were really looking up.  They were not behind at the end of the third (tied).  neck and neck through the fourth- great ball play- rebounds reappeared- and they lost in the last 2 minutes.  Owwww.

Wait- is that the same game?  Then why are these people smiling?  Why yes, it is.  Unbeknownst to me, BOTH my roommies were also at the game.  They were sitting with the "BYU Alumni" section, which explains why I didn't know about it. Ironically, Toren and Amber are U of U people, and Bonnie is a BYU fanatic.  Fortunately we can all get along- although we still apparently disagree about what team to cheer for.

Bonnie also had tickets for Wednesday's game.  She couldn't go, so she gave her two tickets to me.  I apparently have no spontaneously available friends left, because in spite of my best efforts, I couldn't find anyone to go with me.  There was a time when that would have kept me home, but I had free $50 tickets and nothing else to do.  I'm brave, and my hair was already cute enough to go out- so I bought myself a cupcake and took myself to the game.
Fortunately, one of Bonnie's coworkers had the seats next to me and joined in the cheers and chatter that make basketball fun.
2nd night, same story.  The Kings lost to the Mavericks 100-102.

The best shot of the night was by this guy, Bobby Jovanov.  A beautiful halfcourt swisher won him a CAR!!  maybe we should offer the Kings cars for baskets- or offer Bobby a contract!